The meeting brought together representatives from Houaphan, Xiengkhuang and Bolikhamsai provinces. The two sides have established and signed agreements on joint patrols along land borders and border rivers and streams, with each agreement valid for five years and subject to renewal.
Since the beginning of 2026, the Nghe An Border Guard Command has coordinated with Lao border protection forces and local authorities to conduct two provincial-level joint patrols involving 30 officers and soldiers, as well as 23 joint patrols between border guard stations and border guard companies, involving 126 personnel.
The two sides have also conducted 87 unilateral patrols involving 643 officers and soldiers, contributing to the protection of border lines and markers and the maintenance of political security and social order in border areas.
Immigration control and crime prevention have also been strengthened. The authorities handled 12 cases involving 17 people entering or leaving the country illegally, processed 35 information sources related to national security, and arrested two people in two drug-related cases, seizing 3,200 synthetic drug tablets. They also dealt with cases of smuggling and the illegal transportation of livestock, imposing total fines of 697 million VND (26,670 USD).
The Nghe An Border Guard Command has helped establish 21 pairs of twinned border villages and fostered partnerships between 10 Vietnamese border guard stations and eight Lao border guard companies and two border-gate police stations.
It is also providing monthly support of 500,000 VND (19 USD) to 13 disadvantaged Lao students from the three provinces.
At the meeting, the parties signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation. They agreed to strengthen border management, closely monitor cross-border movement, combat illegal immigration and transnational crime, particularly drug trafficking, and coordinate joint investigations when necessary. They will also enhance information sharing, disaster prevention and search and rescue, while promoting exchanges between border units and communities to build a peaceful, friendly, stable and sustainably developing Viet Nam-Laos border.
