On January 13 in Hanoi, the Vietnam–Laos Friendship Association celebrated its golden jubilee, marking 50 years since its establishment on January 15, 1975. The ceremony was both a commemoration of its proud history and a reaffirmation of its mission to nurture the enduring bond between the peoples of Vietnam and Laos. On this occasion, President Lương Cường sent a congratulatory letter, while National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn offered a flower basket to the Association in recognition of its remarkable contributions.

The event gathered an impressive audience, reflecting the significance of this milestone. Attendees included senior Party and State leaders such as Mr. Đỗ Văn Chiến, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee; Mr. Phan Anh Sơn, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO); Mr. Nguyễn Đắc Vinh, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Education and President of the Vietnam–Laos Friendship Association; and Ms. Khamphao Ernthavanh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Vietnam. Also present were former leaders of VUFO and the Association, representatives of ministries, mass organizations, veterans who once served in Laos, and Lao students currently studying in Vietnam.

In his remarks, Mr. Nguyễn Đắc Vinh reflected on the Association’s 50-year journey. Founded in the final months of the historic struggle for national liberation in both countries, the Association has since grown into a broad-based, nationwide network. From just a handful of members in 1975, it has expanded significantly: today, 39 of Vietnam’s 63 provinces and cities have their own Vietnam–Laos Friendship Associations. All five centrally run cities and all ten provinces bordering Laos maintain active local chapters, with many extending their work to district and commune levels.

In addition to its local chapters, the Association counts ten agencies and organizations as collective members. Its membership is vast and diverse, comprising tens of thousands of former experts and volunteer soldiers who once lived and worked in Laos, as well as officials from central and local agencies, mass organizations, armed forces, businesses, and ordinary citizens. This breadth has enabled the Association to channel solidarity into every corner of society.

Over the decades, the Association has organized countless exchanges, cultural activities, and cooperative programs—fostering mutual understanding, strengthening friendship, and contributing to the comprehensive Vietnam–Laos partnership. Mr. Vinh emphasized that the Association must continue to innovate in both content and methods of operation to meet the expectations of the Party and State in the new era. He stressed the importance of strengthening education and public outreach, deepening people-to-people exchanges, and paying special attention to the younger generations, who will carry this legacy into the future.

As it charts the way forward, the Vietnam–Laos Friendship Association has outlined a vision centered on expansion and renewal. Its goals include consolidating its organizational system, fostering greater cooperation in education and training, and prioritizing youth exchanges and joint learning opportunities. The Association also seeks to enhance economic collaboration by encouraging stronger ties between Vietnamese and Lao enterprises, promoting trade and investment, and supporting regular exchanges between veterans’ associations. These initiatives will ensure that solidarity—once forged in struggle—remains vibrant and meaningful in a rapidly changing world.

Delivering his address, Mr. Đỗ Văn Chiến affirmed that Vietnam–Laos friendship is not an ordinary bilateral relationship but rather a “great, special, and comprehensive” bond built over many historical stages and tested through shared sacrifices. This relationship, he stressed, will remain evergreen, inseparable from the destinies of both nations.

Mr. Chiến praised the Association’s remarkable growth over the past five decades, particularly in border provinces where people-to-people exchanges have strengthened trust and solidarity. He underscored the Association’s success in educating younger generations about this special tradition, ensuring that the legacy of unity is passed down and renewed.

Looking to the future, Mr. Chiến urged the Association to deepen its cooperation with the Laos–Vietnam Friendship Association, align activities with the strategic orientations of both Parties and States, and effectively implement cooperation agreements and Joint Statements. He emphasized the need for broader communication, knowledge-sharing, and mutual support in national development. Importantly, he highlighted the responsibility to strengthen education about the trilateral relationship among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, particularly among youth, to prepare them for the role of custodians of regional solidarity.

He also called for more intensive cooperation along the shared border, with initiatives that promote peace, stability, and prosperity. This includes fostering cross-border exchanges, building trust, and supporting grassroots development projects that directly benefit local communities.

Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh of Laos warmly congratulated the Association on its 50th anniversary. She praised its vital role in promoting great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations. She pointed to successful initiatives such as cultural and sports exchanges, the program “Following in the Footsteps of the Two Leaders”, and reunions of Lao alumni returning to their former schools in Vietnam—all of which have deepened mutual understanding and reinforced the emotional ties between the two peoples.

Amid complex regional and global challenges, Ambassador Ernthavanh encouraged both the Vietnam–Laos and Laos–Vietnam Friendship Associations to diversify their activities and engage more social groups, from youth and women’s organizations to business communities. She recommended closer collaboration with state agencies, local authorities, the Lao Embassy in Hanoi, and the Lao Consulates General in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Above all, she stressed the importance of continuing to educate younger generations so they may inherit and strengthen this extraordinary friendship.

In recognition of outstanding service, the Presidium of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations awarded the Commemorative Medal “For Peace and Friendship Among Nations” to 14 individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing Vietnam–Laos people-to-people diplomacy. This gesture symbolized not only gratitude but also inspiration for future generations to carry forward the mission of solidarity.

As the Vietnam–Laos Friendship Association marks its 50th anniversary, it stands as a living bridge linking the past with the future. From its birth in the heat of revolutionary struggle to its role today in strengthening cultural, economic, and educational ties, the Association embodies the spirit of a relationship that is both historic and forward-looking.

Half a century on, the Vietnam–Laos bond remains a source of strength, resilience, and inspiration. As both nations continue their journeys toward peace, prosperity, and sustainable development, the Association will remain at the heart of this extraordinary friendship—ensuring that the relationship between Vietnam and Laos remains, as both sides proudly affirm, “forever green and everlasting.”