Ha Tinh (VNA) – The central province of Ha Tinh, which has close ties with Lao localities, has cooperated effectively with its Lao neighbours, especially in education and training.

The province’s Huong Son, Huong Khe and Vu Quang districts border Bolikhamsai and Khammouane provinces of Laos.

Educational and training cooperation programmes have received much attention from provincial authorities. More than 2,500 officials and students from 17 provinces and cities of Laos are studying in Ha Tinh. Most of them major in foreign languages, informatics, finance-banking, administration-business, accounting, tourism administration, medicine and vocational training.

Ha Tinh University, Ha Tinh Medical College and Viet Duc Vocational College all have large numbers of Lao students.

In particular, Ha Tinh University has provided training for Lao students for many years. 

More than 1,500 Lao students are learning here at present, a surge from 52 students when the university was established in 2007, making the university one of the schools with the biggest numbers of Lao students in Vietnam (15 percent of total Lao students nationwide), according to the Ministry of Education and Training.

Laos has presented Ha Tinh University with the Friendship Order, the Labour Order (third class) and merit certificates in recognition of the school’s efforts.

Nguyen Dinh Tho, Rector of the university, said his school has prioritised Lao students, including expanding their study time and combining online and face-to-face learning.

Meanwhile, Ha Tinh Medical College has also trained hundreds of Lao officials and students. Aside from learning at school, they can also practice at the provincial General Hospital.

A number of Lao students are studying at the Viet Duc Vocational College, majoring in informatics, mechanics, and automobile repair.

Deputy Rector of the college Nguyen Duy Vinh said there are 80 Lao students at his school now. They learn Vietnamese in the first year and vocational skills in the following three years. The college also provides accommodation and food on campus for the students.-VNA

VNA