PM Phạm Minh Chính (second, left) presents Lao PM Sonexay Siphandone with a calligraphy with Vietnamese words which read Việt Nam-Laos friendship is forever green and solid for generations

HÀ NỘI - Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and his spouse guided visiting Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his spouse in their tour of Ngọc Sơn Temple and around Hoàn Kiếm Lake in Hà Nội on Sunday.

PM Chính and his wife introduced the Lao guests to Tháp Bút (pen tower), Đài Nghiên (ink slab tower), Thê Húc Bridge, Ngọc Sơn Temple, and especially the turtles in the lake and the legend of Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

Legend has it that King Lê Lợi returned his magic sword to the Golden Turtle in the lake after defeating the Ming Empire.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake with Ngọc Sơn Temple on the lake was recognised as a special national relic site in 2013.

On the occasion of the New Year and the upcoming Lunar New Year of the Dragon, PM Chính presented PM Sonexay with a calligraphy with Vietnamese words which read Việt Nam-Laos friendship is forever green and solid for generations.

After their trip, the two PMs and their wives had an exchange with Vietnamese and Lao students.

The two PMs expressed their hope that Vietnamese and Lao students in particular and youngsters in general would exert efforts in studying, practising, developing themselves and building their own careers, thus realising their dreams, implementing their social responsibility and contributing to national defence and construction in each country.

They should maintain and promote their national identity, while staying united and supporting each other, writing more golden pages of the close brotherhood, great friendly neighbourhood, and the special and rare solidarity as well as the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Việt Nam and Laos have enjoyed fruitful education-training cooperation

In the 2011-2021 period, Việt Nam received nearly 30,000 Lao students for training. Meanwhile, since 1982, the Lao Government has trained nearly 5,000 officials and students of Việt Nam.

Vietnamese, Lao PMs’ spouses visit SOS Children's Village

The spouses of the Vietnamese and Lao Prime Ministers, Lê Thị Bích Trân and Vandara Siphandone, visited and gave gifts to children with difficult circumstances at SOS Children’s Village Thái Bình in the northern province of Thái Bình on Sunday afternoon.

According to Director of SOS Children’s Village Thái Bình Nguyễn Văn Tân, established in 2013, the village provides disadvantaged children with family-based care with favourable conditions for their full development. From December 22, 2013 to December 2023, the facility nursed and provided support for 218 children. Currently, it is taking care of 136 kids.

On the same day, the two ladies visited a tussore silk weaving village in Nam Cao Commune, Kiến Xương District. In Nam Cao Commune, they visited an over-100-year-old house with the typical style in the North and a weaving cooperative, watched artisans' silk spinning performance, and listened to Chèo (classical opera) singing while enjoying green tea and “cáy” cake – a specialty of the province. They also experienced silk spinning with local artisans.

The weaving profession in the commune is more than 400 years old and has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. Currently, about 200 households in the village are still involved in the traditional profession. The village's silk products are being exported to countries, including Laos, Thailand, and Europe. VNA/VNS