A total of 150 students from eight of Laos ’ northern provinces are studying in Vietnam ’s northern province of Son La as part of a joint education and training programme.

After completing a Vietnamese language course at Son La College, the students go on to continue their studies at vocational schools, colleges and universities in Son La.

Since 2002, Son La has helped to train over 500 students for the eight Lao northern provinces in health care, agro-forestry, teaching and economics.

MA Le Anh Tuan, the rector of Son La Medical College, said that his institution first started admitting students from Laos in 1970 and 35 students from seven northern Laotian provinces are currently studying there.

After graduating, the students return home and help to take care of ethnic minority peoples in Laos ’s northern mountainous region, said Tuan.

Son La and Laos ’ northern provinces plan to cooperate together in the future and the province will continue to offer more scholarships to Lao students.-VNA