Mrs Suanesavanh Vignaket.

Laos, Vietnam deepen ties in information, culture and tourism

Laos and Vietnam are building on past successes in the fields of information, culture and tourism and are expanding their ties towards greater achievements in the future.
This was the message delivered by the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Suanesavanh Vignaket, during a media interview on Sunday to mark the Friendship and Solidarity Year of Laos-Vietnam 2022.
Mrs Suanesavanh described how the ministry had worked closely with Vietnamese ministries, such as the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Vietnamese media organisations had close links with Lao media outlets, she said, including radio, television and newspapers.
Laos’ Ministry of Information, Information and Tourism is continuing to work with Vietnam to train personnel and develop infrastructure through the provision of equipment and training courses for media officials. Vietnam has also provided assistance to build radio and television broadcasting stations in the provinces of Luang Prabang, Champassak, Oudomxay, Savannakhet, Bokeo and Xaysomboun.
In 2021 and 2022, the Vietnamese government also provided financing for a radio and television station in Huaphan province.
Mrs Suanesavanh said that in celebration of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year, the two countries’ ministries of information, culture and tourism were joining in activities to mark the special occasion.
These include a seminar on the training of media officials jointly organised by Laos and Vietnam, joint production of material for Lao and Vietnamese newspapers, radio and television, and the production of stories and articles. State media personnel interviewed the heads of Lao and Vietnamese businesses as well as consul generals in Laos and Vietnam.
The celebrations also include reciprocal visits by delegations from the two countries’ parties and governments, with events to be broadcast live this month on radio, television and via video link, as well as extensive coverage in newspapers.
There will also be meetings to discuss the management of Lao and Vietnamese cultural affairs in three provinces of Laos, as well as an exhibition of photos depicting the longstanding friendship and solidarity between Laos and Vietnam, which will take place in December.
A commemorative magazine will be published to celebrate the occasion, and there will be a book exhibition on Laos-Vietnam cooperation at the State Printing House.
Events will be co-organised with the Vietnamese Cultural Centre, including film screenings and other activities.
Cooperation in the field of culture and tourism has been evidenced through Vietnam’s assistance in building the National Arts School in Laos at a cost of 77 billion Vietnamese dong, which was completed in 2010. Lao authorities are currently working with their Vietnamese counterparts to prepare the necessary documents to submit the Hin Nam No National Park to UNESCO for consideration as a world heritage site. This area connects to a national park in Vietnam that has already been recognised as a world heritage site, so there are high hopes that the bid for UN recognition will be successful.
Cooperation in tourism has proved useful for the two countries in promoting tourism in the region and beyond. The aim is to build the tourist industries of Laos and Vietnam into a competitive market sector. There are plans to hold a Ho Chi Minh International Tourism Exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City each year, which would display products from various regions for sale.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update July 12, 2022)