At the same time, it marked the maturity of the Vietnam People’s Army in conducting noble international service and emphasized the sound guideline and strategy of the Communist Party of Vietnam on the duty of joining hands with Laos in carrying out the revolution. 

Combat alliance fights against common foes

Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh considered the Laos - Vietnam long-lasting traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation the most unique ties in the world. Thus, their combat alliance is a testament to this special bilateral ties.

She underlined that with the spirit of proletarian internationalism and following President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching that “helping the friend means helping ourselves,” volunteer soldiers and advisors of Vietnam overcame all difficulties to support the Lao people and military, upholding the international spirit. Vietnamese troops not only joined hands with the Lao peers in the fight against invaders and their puppets, but also directly participated in developing the Lao armed forces, strengthening the organization of local people’s authorities and socio-economic and cultural posture, contributing to creating a continuous system of resistance bases across Laos. This laid a strong foundation for the success of the Lao revolution, completely liberating the country from foreign invaders in 1975.

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Lao people welcome Vietnamese volunteer soldiers.

Within 30 years of conducting the revolutionary resistance war (1945-1975) and over the first ten years of building and protecting the people’s democratic political system (1976-1989), the Vietnam People’s Army stood side by side with the Lao people and military to share difficulties, and fight and defeat the common enemy to achieve the final success of the Lao revolution.

During the resistance war against the French colonialists, the Vietnam-Laos combat alliance drove the enemy in Indochinese theater of war into passivity. Especially, their glorious feats-of-arms in joint campaigns in Laos in the 1953-1954 period contributed to the success of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954, forcing the French government to sign the Geneva Agreement in July 1954, recognizing the independence of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

During the resistance war against the U.S. imperialists, the Vietnam - Laos combat alliance launched dozens of campaigns to defeat American strategies, creating a turning point for the Lao revolution in the struggle to reach the final victory in 1975.

Meanwhile, in the 1976-1989 period, the Vietnam - Laos combat alliance, with Vietnamese voluntary soldiers as the core force, achieved many feats-of-arms, especially the liberation of Phou Bia area in 1978 and Buom Loong area in 1985, making contribution to stabilizing Laos’ social order and security, reinforcing Laos’ defensive posture, and safeguarding Laos’ territorial sovereignty and people’s governance.

Military Region 5 excellently fulfills duty of supporting Lao revolution

Lieutenant General Thai Dai Ngoc, Commander of the Military Region 5 Command, underlined the role of Military Region 5 in boosting the solidarity and friendship with people in Southern Laos. In the two resistance wars against foreign invaders as well as the national cause of construction and protection, the armed forces of Military Region 5 excellently fulfilled the duty of supporting the Lao revolution.

Shortly after gaining independence in 1945, Vietnam and Laos had to face the invasion by the French colonialists. In order to secure revolutionary achievements, the two countries signed an agreement on the forming of the Vietnam - Laos alliance to fight the common enemy. Along with other regions bordering with Laos, Military Region 5 sent forces to Lower Laos to help disseminate the Lao revolution’s guidelines, build local political system at all levels, and form revolutionary armed units. Hence, the Lao revolution set up a strong people's warfare posture, boosting the resistance movement in Lower Laos, fostering cooperation with Vietnam’s resistance movement to bring the two countries’ resistance war against the French colonialists to the complete victory in 1954.

In the resistance war against the U.S. imperialists, following an agreement of the two Parties and Governments, Military Region 5 teamed up with units of Vietnam’s volunteer soldiers and military advisors to the Lao revolution to establish bases, fight the enemy, and expand the liberated area in Southern Laos.

After 1975, there were many challenges facing the newly-established Lao People’s Democratic Republic. At the request of the Lao Government and people, Vietnam continued to send volunteer soldiers and advisors to help Laos build and protect the democracy. In Southern Laos, Command 579 of Military Region 5 coordinated with Lao forces to launch a campaign to liberate former Area C from Pol Pot and build defensive posture to protect Laos’ national sovereignty and security. The two countries’ forces also worked together to eliminate counter-revolutionary forces. In 1989, under an agreement between the Vietnamese and Lao Governments, Regiment 676 of Military Region 5 returned home.

Since the 1990s, Military Region 5 has closely worked with Lao localities and forces to ensure social order and security along the shared borderline; help them reinforce the strength of armed forces, build infrastructure, develop economy, respond to natural disasters and diseases; and repatriate remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors who lost their lives in Southern Laos.

Sentiments of Vietnamese soldiers and people in the Northwestern region towards Lao people

Lieutenant General Pham Duc Duyen, Political Commissar of the Military Region 2 Command, held that, thoroughly grasping the Party’s viewpoint and President Ho Chi Minh’s thought that “helping the people of the neighboring country means helping ourselves,” during the struggle for national independence and the cause of national construction and defense, the military and people of the Northwestern region of Vietnam have made effort to assist Laos in all aspects, contributing to the revolutionary cause of each country and strengthening the special solidarity and combat alliance between Vietnam and Laos.

During the resistance war against the French colonialists, the Northwestern region served as a “rear” and “launching area” for Vietnamese and Lao forces to advance into Upper Laos, establish resistance bases, and develop revolutionary armed forces, laying the foundation for the establishment of the Lao People’s Army in January 1949. In the 1953-1954 Winter-Spring Campaign, the Vietnam-Laos Combat Alliance coordinated in Indochina, forcing the enemy into a defensive posture, which enabled Vietnam to achieve decisive Dien Bien Phu Victory, forcing France to sign the Geneva Agreement in 1954, recognizing the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the three Indochinese nations. During the resistance war against the U.S. imperialists, the Northwestern Military Region of Vietnam deployed volunteer units to assist Laos in building political and armed forces, while expanding liberated areas, significantly contributing to the failure of the U.S. strategies in Laos.

Following the liberation of Laos, officials and soldiers of Military Region 2 continued supporting the Northern provinces of Laos in building infrastructure and worked with the Lao People’s Army to protect national sovereignty in border areas. Recently, under the direction of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, Military Region 2 and relevant agencies and localities have closely coordinated with Lao forces to “build a borderline of peace and friendship,” directed the search, collection, and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military advisors who sacrificed their lives in Laos; effectively implemented defense cooperation programs, supported Laos in infrastructure construction and economic development; and promoted people-to-people and military diplomacy, fostering relations with the Lao People’s Army and localities.

It can be affirmed that the wholehearted contribution of the military and people in the Northwestern region to supporting the Lao revolution has strengthened the steadfast solidarity and lasting friendship between the peoples and militaries of Vietnam and Laos, deserving the trust the two parties, states, and peoples.

Translated by Minh Anh