At the opening ceremony of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Festival. (Photo: VGP)
Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) - The Vietnam-Laos Friendship Festival was held in Hue city in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on November 11.
The event was part of activities to celebrate the 61th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic relations (1962-2023), and 46 years of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (1977-2023).
Addressing the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam said that the festival aims to promote Vietnam-Laos cooperation in the field of information and communications, which forms part of the intergovernmental agreement on digital partnership, digital transformation in press activities, settlement of fake and harmful news, and enhancing digital skills for people, heading to a safe and healthy digital space, turning information to knowledge.
He noted that currently, many large-scale firms of Vietnam such as Viettel, VNPT and FPT have invested in Laos, contributing to turning Laos into one of the countries with the widest 4G coverage in Southeast Asia and supplying Internet services to Lao people.
Vietnamese and Lao delegates visit the photo exhibition during the festival. (Photo: cand.vn)
In the fields of press and communications, the two sides have enjoyed fruitful cooperation. Besides providing Laos with support in facilities, techniques and training, Vietnam has assisted Laos in producing valuable communication and information products, he noted.
Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Keomanyvong Phosy said that information and communications has been a bright spot in the Laos-Vietnam partnership with various collaboration projects.
The official expressed her hope that the festival will become an annual event that helps promote bilateral exchanges in the field and open new chances of cooperation between the two countries.
The festival will take place until November 15 with various activities, including an exhibition of 200 photos featuring the nation, people, culture of Vietnam and Laos and partnership between the two sides in many areas. New technologies in the field of information, communications and journalism will also be introduced within the event's framework./.
A musical exchange programme honouring Vietnam - Laos special relations was held by the Vietnamese culture centre in Laos and the Vietnam National Drama Theatre in Vientiane on October 29.
The Vietnamese Association in Thailand’s Nong Khai province and local authorities on October 29 organised a Vietnam – Laos - Thailand cultural exchange programme on the occasion of Wan Ok Phansa or End of Buddhist Lent Day 2023.
The Vietnam-Laos special friendship festival 2023 will take place in Hue city in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue from December 11 – 15, as part of the activities to celebrate the 61-year diplomatic relations and 46 years of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between the two countries.
From November 9, residents in Vientiane capital city and foreign tourists to Laos can easily book an electric taxi of Green & Smart Mobility (GSM), a Vietnamese ride-hailing company, through the Xanh SM Laos application on the App Store and Play Store, or also rent an electric car directly on the road.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
PM Chinh lauded the press’s historic role in the nation’s fight for independence and its ongoing process of national development, affirming that the Government always highly appreciates the close partnership and steadfast support of press agencies and journalists nationwide.
In recent decades, Vietnam’s mainstream media has become a reliable and persuasive channel for showcasing the nation’s development policies and achievements, especially in economic matters, according to a senior assistant editor at the Times of India.
A hub for sharing best practices, the event aims to forge solutions for financial sustainability, public media contracts, audience engagement, content innovation, and newsroom restructuring. It is also a moment for Vietnam’s media to accelerate its progress and figure out what the “revolutionary press” means in a new era.
From “Thanh nien”, Vietnam’s first revolutionary newspaper founded by Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) on June 21, 1925, the revolutionary press has remained devoted to its sacred missions -accompanying the nation, serving the Fatherland, and working for the people.
The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai–Da Nang route on June 2 has sparked a “tourism revolution” for Vietnam’s central coastal city. Da Nang is emerging as a top destination for high-end travelers, particularly from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said VNA has been a consistent and reliable partner in OANA, contributing actively to the regional media landscape through content sharing, coordination, and policy discussions. Their coverage of ASEAN and Indochina issues adds valuable perspectives. Bernama appreciates the collaboration with VNA.
In this era of global integration and digitalisation, the press must adopt modern multimedia models to not only meet increasing information and communication demands but also align with the broader socio-economic development of the country.
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
Running until June 21, the festival brings together more than 80 central and local media organisations, featuring nearly 130 exhibition booths that cover the full spectrum of national life, encompassing economy, politics, culture, society, defence, security, and foreign affairs.
As of June 17, Ca Mau province had achieved its target of supporting the construction and renovation of 4,400 homes, with a total budget of over 235 billion VND (about 9 million USD).
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
The education sector has been one of the foundations playing a vital role in deepening Vietnam – New Zealand ties, said Prof. Damon Salesa, Vice-Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Tien Giang province has addressed the housing needs of 608 poor, near-poor, and policy-beneficiary families facing housing difficulties. Of these, 370 houses were newly constructed while 238 underwent major renovations.
At the opening ceremony of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Festival. (Photo: VGP) 
Vietnamese and Lao delegates visit the photo exhibition during the festival. (Photo: cand.vn) 
