Over the years, the bonds of friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos as a whole, and between Dak Lak Province and the southern Lao provinces in particular, has continued to deepen, delivering practical and effective outcomes.

Comprehensive cooperation: Key achievements

During the 2022 - 2025 period, cooperation between the Dak Lak PPC and the Champasak Provincial Administration Committee of the Lao People's Democratic Republic achieved significant outcomes in external relations, economy, education, culture and social welfare.

The both sides regularly exchanged high-level delegations and extended greetings on major national holidays, including Bunpimay, the Laos's traditional New Year, combined with Viet Nam's Lunar New Year, thereby strengthening the political foundations of their relationship and longstanding bonds of friendship.

The effectiveness of their cooperation agreement has been demonstrated through key economic projects and people-to-people exchanges. A notable example is the project to plant 10,000 hectares of rubber along with other industrial crops across four southern Lao provinces, implemented by Dak Lak Rubber Investment JSC (DRI) with total investment of nearly 71 million USD. In addition to delivering economic benefits, with consolidated revenue reaching 511.30 billion VND in the first half of 2026, up 63.01% year on year, the project has created stable jobs for more than 2,500 workers, over 90% of whom are Lao nationals. It has also contributed to social welfare through support for the construction of charitable housing, roads, health stations and schools, as well as contributions to the Bright Future Fund, helping improve living conditions for ethnic communities in Laos.

Education together with training have also received due attention, with Lao students welcomed to study in Dak Lak. Cultural and sporting exchanges, together with support for the Vietnamese community in Champasak, have been organised regularly, generating positive effects across the community.

The Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee (Viet Nam) and the Champasak Provincial Administration Committee (Laos) signing a cooperation agreement for the 2026 - 2030 period.

Elevating bilateral cooperation

For the 2026 - 2030 period, the cooperation agreement between the two provinces has been reviewed and upgraded, with strategic priorities designed to make cooperation more substantive as well as in-depth. Both sides have agreed to aim for annual growth of 15 - 20% in bilateral trade and services, encourage business networking along with trade promotion, set up product exhibition spaces, and promote the development of 5 - 10 new investment projects over five years, with a focus on high-tech agriculture coupled with agricultural product processing.

In education and human resource development, Dak Lak Province will provide five full scholarships for Champasak officials and students to pursue bachelor’s degrees in Dak Lak. Champasak Province will provide two scholarships for Dak Lak officials, civil servants and students to study the Lao language. The both localities will also promote annual student exchanges.

In security and people-to-people exchanges, Dak Lak and Champasak provinces will work closely on information sharing, drug crime prevention and suppression, alongside efforts to ensure peace and stability in border areas along with throughout their respective territories. They will also encourage mass organisations, youth unions and veterans' associations to expand people-to-people exchanges as well as further reinforce their special bonds of solidarity.

Emphasising the strategic significance of bilateral cooperation, Dak Lak PPC Vice Chairman, comrade Nguyen Thien Van, stated: “The signing of the Dak Lak - Champasak Cooperation Agreement for the 2026 - 2030 period in mid-August is particularly significant as Viet Nam and Laos are actively preparing to mark the 65th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962 - 2027) alongside the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July 18, 1977 - 2027) in 2027. This agreement will help consolidate as well as further deepen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos in the new period.”

Translated by KHUONG THAO