The close-knit ties between the two peoples, which were built on the sweat, effort, blood, and bones of former generations, tempered in the fire of revolutionary struggles, have become a great and inseparable friendship. In particular, the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos were a shining symbol of the relations of faithfulness and steadfast solidarity.
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Vietnamese volunteer soldiers bid farewell to Lao people before returning home. (“Vietnam-Laos Special Relations” Photobook/ Vietnam News Agency Publishing House) |
Vietnam and Laos are two close neighbors sharing mountains and rivers, together drinking the water of the Mekong River, leaning against the Truong Son Mountain range. The two countries have many similarities in history, economy, culture, and the two peoples are brave, resilient in fighting against foreign invaders, full of humanity, sharing the same basic interests of independence, self-control and the legitimate desire for peace and development.
Under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Indochina, later the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the Vietnam-Laos relationship has been further expanded and deepened. The people of the two countries strongly promoted the spirit of independence, self-reliance and power of each nation, while strengthening the close ties between the people of the two countries to move together in the resistance wars against common enemies.
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Lao people welcome Vietnamese volunteer soldiers. (“Vietnam-Laos Special Relations” Photobook/ Vietnam News Agency Publishing House) |
With the spirit of proletarian internationalism and following President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching that “helping people of the neighboring country is helping ourselves,” tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors, many of whom were only eighteen or twenty at that time, performed international duties in Laos. They, together with the military and people of Laos, overcame difficulties and hardships, bravely fought shoulder to shoulder in the long-term struggle against the French colonialists and the U.S. imperialists.
Lao leaders and people have repeatedly affirmed that in most battlefields in Laos, there were footprints of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors and there was no victory without their sacrifices and contribution.
Up to now, many remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos have not been found yet. “With steadfast ideals, Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors, together with the Lao military and people, bravely fought to regain independence and freedom for Laos. They were never afraid or discouraged in the face of difficulties and hardships and upheld the international spirit. Many of them laid down their lives in Laos. People of Laos always remember and will never forget that great sacrifice,” General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith emphasized during the get-together for former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos on September 11, 2024, during his state visit to Vietnam.
For nearly 40 years of performing the international duty in Laos, Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors successfully completed their missions, stood side by side with the Lao military and people to resiliently and bravely fight, and obtain many remarkable feats-of-arms, becoming an immortal epic about the special solidarity between the two Parties, States, militaries and peoples, contributing to the glorious revolutionary cause of Vietnam and Laos.
The Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors always keep in mind the sharing of General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith about the four words in the Vietnam-Laos relationship: comradeship, brotherhood, friendship and special solidarity.
With glorious feats-of-arms and great contribution to the two countries’ revolutions, the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos were honored with the Gold Star Order, the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and State of Vietnam; the National Gold Order by the Party and State of Laos, and many other noble awards.
Time passes away; however, the great feats-of-arms and steadfast faithfulness of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos during years of war and hardships will never fade and will forever be the pride of the two nations.
The special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos has become an ideal of life, priceless common asset, and a rule of survival of the two countries. No matter how the world changes, the loyalty and pure relationship between Vietnam and Laos “will forever be more sustainable than mountains and rivers” as President Kaysone Phomvihane said.
Major General Huynh Dac Huong, Head of the National Liaison Board for former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos
Translated by Quynh Oanh