Dien Bien (VNA) – The Department of Education and Training in the northwestern province of Dien Bien on September 23 opened a Vietnamese language training course for 41 students from the three northern Lao provinces of Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, and Phongsaly.
This initiative is part of the cooperation programme on education and training between Dien Bien and northern Lao provinces for the 2021–2025 period, with an orientation towards 2030.
During the course, students will study Vietnamese across four basic skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – to prepare for the official language proficiency exam. Upon completion of the training lasting until July 2026, participants will sit the exam, based on Vietnam’s six-level framework for foreign learners. Accordingly, those entering colleges and vocational institutions must achieve Level B1 (3/6), while university entrants are required to attain Level B2 (4/6).
At the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Dien Bien People’s Committee Vu A Bang highlighted the political significance of the programme to building high-quality human resources for northern Laos and to strengthening the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos.
Beyond classroom study, the Lao students will be encouraged to take part in cultural exchanges, sports and real-life experiences, helping them to practice Vietnamese while gaining a deeper understanding of the local life and culture.
Speaking on behalf of the three northern Lao provinces, deputy head of the organisation board of the Phongsaly Party Committee Somchit Hongvilaychit expressed his hope that Dien Bien will continue to train Lao students effectively, equipping them with professional expertise to serve their home provinces.
The official stressed that such efforts further consolidate the profound friendship and solidarity between the two Parties and States, and particularly between Dien Bien and the northern Lao provinces.
Since launching the education cooperation scheme, Dien Bien has trained nearly 1,000 students and officials from northern Laos. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the Vietnamese locality is also finalising a policy revision resolution to better support Lao students learning and living there. Proposed changes include raising monthly living allowances for Lao students at intermediate and college levels from 2.34 million VND (88.59 USD) to 3.5 million VND per person, and increasing short-term training allowances to 4.7 million VND per month/.
Vietnamese community in Laos honour mother tougue
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam underscored that language is not only a tool of communications but also the soul of culture and national identity, stating preserving the Vietnamese language is preserving the nation’s roots and reinforcing the bonds between the overseas Vietnamese and their homeland.
