Xieng Vang, Nongbok District, Khammuon Province of Laos,
In 1928, with the permission of the Central Committee of the Communist International, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc arrived in Xieng Vang Hamlet, Nongbok District, Khammuon Province of Laos, to connect Vietnamese with Lao revolutionaries to fight against common enemies for independence and freedom. Hence, under direct guidelines of the Indochinese Communist Party and Nguyen Ai Quoc, the two nations’ revolutionary movement in the period of 1930-31 gradually united, developed and gained concrete achievements.
The victory of the Vietnamese general uprising in August 1945 and the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam also contributed to Laos’ victory for independence. Thoroughly grasping instructions of comrade Ho Chi Minh at the Tan Trao National Meeting, the Steering Committee for Uprising in Vientiane promptly mobilized local patriotic forces to establish an independent government.
On October 14th, 1945, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was the first political entity in the world to recognize the Lao government and sent its special envoys to Laos. From this time, Vietnam-Laos relations turned a new page, not only between their peoples but also their States, in order to firmly defend the newly-gained independence.
On the occasion of a New Year festival, in January 1946, President Ho Chi Minh gave Vietnamese-Lao people a New Year message which noted that Vietnam and Laos are brothers and their relationship is very close. “Though the two countries have been facing many difficulties, we will enjoy glorious achievements in the future,” President Ho Chi Minh added.
In order to help develop the Laos revolution, Uncle Ho assigned General Vo Nguyen Giap to set up a plan to turn Sam Nua in Houaphan Province into a strategic base for the Lao People's Revolutionary Central Committee, led by Caysone Phomvihane.
Fighting against common enemies
As the international and regional situations were strongly changing, at the second session of the Indochinese Communist Party Congress in February, 1951, President Ho Chi Minh emphasized that Vietnam should make every effort to support the Lao revolutionary cause because the Vietnam anti-foreign invader resistance war was closely linked with their Lao brothers’ uprising. The congress also decided to form a political party in each country, the Vietnam Labour Party and the Lao People’s Party, respectively.
With a motto, “helping others means helping ourselves”, and guidelines of leaders of the Vietnamese and Lao Parties and States, two sides’ peoples and troops committed to fight against common enemies and achieved many glorious victories, especially their combination at the Winter-Spring 1953-1954 and Dien Bien Phu Campaigns which led to the Geneva Peace Accords of 1954 that terminated France's war in Indochina.
Bringing Vietnam-Laos relationship to new height
In the face of the Vietnam-Lao revolutionary development in the new situation, on July 18th, 1977, the two sides inked the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty which marked a new era in their special friendly relations.
At present, the two countries’ Parties, States, armies and people are doing their utmost to overcome challenges to treasure and promote the special comprehensive relations for the sake of prosperity, peace and stability in the region and the world.
