The time-honoured friendship, loyal and pure bond between Vietnam and Laos was established by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane, and President Souphanouvong, and has been painstakingly nurtured over time.
This relationship has become a priceless asset of the two nations, a common law of development, and a decisive factor in the success of each country’s revolution.
As neighbouring countries sharing a border and backed by the majestic Truong Son mountain range, Vietnam and Laos enjoy numerous similarities and interactions in economic, cultural, social, and political spheres.
Since the official establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962, the two countries have together weathered many ups and downs in history, always safeguarding and continuously fostering their increasingly close-knit relationship.
President Luong Cuong’s State visit to Laos takes place amid continued positive developments in the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. Political ties are increasingly close and built on trust, with party-to-party relations playing a key orienting role.
The two sides successfully organised a meeting between the Politburos of Vietnam and Laos in September 2024, the 47th Session of the Vietnam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee in January 2025, and the meeting of the top leaders of the three parties of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in February 2025, with mutual visits also being held regularly.
Economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries has seen many positive changes. The year 2024 was a vibrant milestone, with two-way trade reaching 2.2 billion USD, a 33.9% increase over 2023.
In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the figure reached 980.1 million USD, up 105.5% year on year. The two sides aim to raise bilateral trade turnover to 5 billion USD in the next two to three years. Vietnam currently has 267 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of 5.63 billion USD.
As a key pillar in Vietnam–Laos relations, defence and security cooperation continues to be strengthened both in quality and quantity. The two sides actively implement signed agreements and cooperation plans. Cooperation in culture, education, and training continues to be promoted.
In 2025, Vietnam is offering 1,160 scholarships for Lao officials, students, and pupils to study in Vietnam and will continue to provide additional scholarships as requested by Laos to strengthen ties between the younger generations and foster the faithful, pure, and special solidarity between the two nations.
The two countries are also enhancing mutual support at regional and international forums, especially within ASEAN, the United Nations, and Mekong sub-regional mechanisms.
In 2024, Vietnam supported and assisted Laos in successfully assuming the role of ASEAN Chair and Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). Laos, in return, was one of the first countries to support Vietnam’s candidacy for re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term.
Looking back on the proud history and the fruitful cooperation achieved so far, the peoples of Vietnam and Laos can be proud of the formation and development of their unique and special relationship.
This is a vital foundation and a great source of strength for the two countries to continue writing new chapters in their enduring friendship and cooperation.
President Luong Cuong’s state visit to Laos reaffirms Vietnam’s consistent policy of attaching great importance to and prioritising its great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos.
The visit aims to strengthen the trust and bond between the top leaders of both countries, promote fruitful cooperation between the two governments, and reaffirm Vietnam’s support for Laos in its renewal process, international integration, and its successful organisation of the 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.
May President Luong Cuong’s visit be crowned a great success, further deepening the sustainable Vietnam–Laos relationship in a more practical and effective manner while bringing prosperity to both peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and around the world.
