Vietnamese delegates recently visit the Paxason newspaper in Vientiane.

Vietnam - a true friend to Laos in the media sector

This story marks the Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 and celebrates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Laos-Vietnam Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

Laos’ information sector has grown and made good progress in terms of quality and quantity, and is largely the result of years of cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.
The history of cooperation in the field of information began during the period of fighting to free Laos from foreign aggressors, when Vietnam provided all the necessary facilities for Laos to generate useful information through radio programmes that were broadcast across the country. At that time, it was very difficult to broadcast over radio in Laos.
The Pathetlao Radio was established in Vietnam (the predecessor of Lao National Radio) on August 13, 1960, after which President Khamtay Siphandone became the Director General of the Pathetlao Radio in Laos, serving in the post from 1960-62.
Laos and Vietnam have partnered in the field of information since the Lao Issara newspaper (today known as the Pasaxon newspaper) was established in 1950.
The purpose of this newspaper was to serve as an instrument in the revolutionary struggle in response to the needs of the Indochina Communist Party during the 1950s, which in Laos was known as the Phak Khaen Lao (Lao Territory Party).
The Pasaxon has continued to work with Vietnam’s Nhan dan newspaper and Vietnamese media outlets ever since.
A senior official at the Pasaxon newspaper, which is published daily, said the Vietnamese newspaper trains 15 officials in Vietnam every year in accordance with the needs of the Pasaxon for help from Vietnam.
Staff from the two newspapers exchange visits every year to share lessons in the work of the newspaper. Vietnamese media organisations maintain close links with Lao media outlets, including radio, television and newspaper. 
Laos’ Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Suanesavanh Vignaket, recently told Lao and Vietnamese media organisations that Laos and Vietnam are building on past successes in the field of information, culture and tourism and that the two countries will continue to expand cooperation towards greater achievements in the future.
The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in Laos and the Ministry of Information and Communication, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Vietnam have worked together and will continue in this partnership for the benefit of the two countries.
In the past as at present, Vietnam has helped to train personnel and provided support for the building of radio and television broadcasting stations in Luang Prabang, Champassak, Oudomxay, Savannakhet, Bokeo and Xaysomboun provinces.
Mrs Suanesavanh said that in 2021-2022, the Vietnamese government also provided financing for a radio and television station in Huaphan province.
A large number of personnel from media outlets across Laos have been trained at the Cultural, Mass Media and Tourism Institute by Vietnamese staff. They have visited Vietnamese media outlets to learn about aspects of the media profession. The two countries have walked side by side in order to jointly develop this important field.
Vietnam has provided assistance for Laos in a genuine spirit of solidarity on the part of its government and people.
The Vietnamese funded the construction of the National Arts School in Vientiane at a cost of more than 70 billion Vietnamese dong.
This was an enormous help and a big gift for Laos to have a school for the development and preservation of Lao culture through the education of young people. The school building opened to use in 2010s and numerous members of the younger generation have enjoyed their studies at the National Arts School.
The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has also worked with Vietnamese counterparts in efforts to submit the Hin Ham No National Park to UNESCO for consideration as a world heritage site. The two countries worked together on the application because the Hin Nam Ho National Park links to a national park in Vietnam that has already been recognised as a world heritage site.
Mrs Suanesavanh also said cooperation in tourism has proved useful for the two countries in promoting tourism more broadly in the region. Laos and Vietnam plan to develop their tourist industries to be a competitive market sector.
 Laos and Vietnam will continue to partner in the fields of information, culture and tourism well into the future.  

By Phon Thikeo
(Latest Update July 17, 2022)