Border Guard Higher School 1, the successor of School T2, was responsible for teaching Lao pupils. When the Lao Chief-of-the-General Staff was young and studied at the school, he was adopted by a Vietnamese woman as her child.
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The Lao Chief-of-the-General Staff and Deputy-Defense Minister is welcomed at the Higher Border Guard School 1 |
At the school, the Lao senior military officer was received by Major General Bui Duc Hanh, Deputy-Commander of the Border Guard Force; Major General Phan Sy Minh, Deputy-Chief of General Department 2; Major General Hoang Cong Ham, Deputy-Commander of Military Region 1 and the leadership of the school.
At the meeting, a representative of the school briefed the Vietnamese and Lao visitors on the school’s history as well as its education and training activities and exchange programs between its staff and Lao alumni over the past years.
Speaking at the meeting, the Lao senior military officer reviewed his deep memories of the times when he was studying at School T2. He stressed that he was well brought up, loved and wholeheartedly taught by the school’s staff; as a result, he learnt much knowledge and gained living experience and skills, which served as an important foundation for his later career development.
The Lao guest then toured around the school, spent much time in the Lao Students Commemoration House, and planted trees in the campus.
Also on March 21, General Suvon Luongbunmi visited his adoptive mother, whose name is Ngo Thi Hung, living in Phuc Dinh village, Phuc Hoa commune, Tan Yen district, Bac Giang province.
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The Lao General and his Vietnamese adoptive mother |
In 1972, School T2 moved all students to Phuc Dinh village to avoid US bombing. Like other families in the village, Ms. Hung’s family took care of three young Lao students, including Suvon Luongbunmi. Living with her family for some time, Suvon Luongbunmi felt the love of the Vietnamese family for him, and decided to recognize Ms. Hung as his adoptive mother.
Meeting with his adoptive mother as well as other family members after years, the high-ranking Lao military officer was moved. He and the family recalled the time they were together 40 years ago.
He said that mother Hung and other local people supported and took good care of Lao students although they experienced a lot of difficulties and hardships in life, during the fierce war-time. “We were growing in the warm arms of mother Hung and other Vietnamese adoptive mothers as well as local people. This has been a clear and lively demonstration of the special solidarity, unbreakably close and loyal friendship between Vietnam and Laos”, the Lao military officer underlined.
Holding his Vietnamese adoptive mother, he wished she could have good health and encourage her children and grandchildren to be good citizens as well as contribute to strengthening the Vietnam-Laos special relationship.
Translated by Thu Nguyen