The Union of Da Nang Friendship Organisations and the Lao Consulate General in Da Nang recently jointly held a celebration for the 70th anniversary of the traditional day of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts in Laos (30 October ) in the city.

The Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee cum Chairman of the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Association in the city, Mr Ho Ky Minh, (1st from left) honouring Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who once served in Laos

In his remarks at the event, the Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee cum Chairman of the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Association in the city, Mr Ho Ky Minh, remarked that, the two countries actively conducted great mutual support during their resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, as well as during the cause of the national construction and protection in the peacetime.

He also highly praised Vietnamese veterans for active engagement in activities launched by the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Association in the city, and setting a bright example for younger generations to follow, despite their age.

Lao Consul General Viengxay Phommachanh highly applauded Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts for their great devotion to his country, expressing the desire that the cooperative ties, long-lasting special solidarity and traditional friendship between the two countries would be fostered in the coming time. 

From 1945 to 1947, the Vietnamese Party Central Committee and its government decided to develop overseas Vietnamese liberation troops in Laos.

On 30 October, 1949, the executive board of the Indochinese Communist Party Central Committee decided that the Vietnamese armed forces in Laos would be organised as voluntary soldiers.

Together with the Lao army, Vietnamese revolunary soliders launched a number of campaigns and attacks against French colonialists and American imperialists, with the legendary Truong Son – Ho Chi Minh Trail becoming a symbol of Viet Nam – Laos special solidarity and combatant alliance during the fight against the US.

From 1973 – 1975, part of the Vietnamese voluntary soldiers stayed in Laos to help protect liberated areas, towards the national liberation and the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in late 1975.