With the aim of promoting the national image and Vietnamese brands, developing Ho Chi Minh City's key products, and strengthening economic cooperation, trade, investment, tourism, and cultural activities between Ho Chi Minh City and provinces with friendly relations and cooperation with Laos, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee directed the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Center (ITPC), in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Culture and Sports, to partner with the Department of Industry and Trade of Savannakhet Province, Laos, to organize the "4th Ho Chi Minh City and Friendly Provinces Exhibition in Savannakhet." The event featured over 200 booths.

The "4th Ho Chi Minh City and Friendly Provinces Exhibition in Savannakhet" provided exhibition spaces for businesses from Lao localities; exhibition spaces for businesses from Vietnamese provinces with friendly and cooperative relations with Savannakhet; exhibition spaces for businesses from Ho Chi Minh City; spaces for businesses to introduce and promote products, and trade networking; and exhibition spaces showcasing the friendship, culture, and tourism between Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnamese and Lao friendly provinces. The exhibition showcased strong products in agriculture, spices, coffee, dried fruits, confectionery, wood products, essential oils, traditional handicrafts, functional foods, beverages, cosmetics, and apparel. Vietnamese products at the exhibition received positive feedback for their quality and suitability for the Lao market. The exhibition space for Vietnamese goods in Savannakhet welcomed visitors from April 3 to 7.

As part of the "4th Ho Chi Minh City and Friendly Provinces Exhibition in Savannakhet," the Trade and Investment Promotion Conference between the provinces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2024 took place on the morning of April 4. The conference was organized by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Vietnam in Savannakhet and various departments of Savannakhet Province. Nearly 150 delegates attended, including nearly 100 businesses and investors from Laos and Vietnam. Through the conference, Lao localities promoted and introduced their strengths, potential, and investment, trade, and tourism environments, as well as their development orientations. The conference provided an opportunity for Vietnamese and Lao businesses and investors to connect and enhance cooperation in investment, trade, and tourism in the coming period.

Mr. Ha Phuoc Thang, Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City National Assembly Delegation, emphasized that the 2024 Vietnam-Laos Trade and Investment Promotion Conference is a significant event that both the Vietnamese government and Ho Chi Minh City are eager to organize. The conference aims to realize the goals of economic recovery, promote growth, and sustainably develop bilateral trade agreements, especially the Vietnam-Laos Bilateral Trade Agreement. Additionally, it seeks to further strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and Laos, creating numerous opportunities for businesses from both countries to connect and explore cooperative development prospects.