Nearly 200 Lao students joined their fellow Vietnamese friends at the Phu Dong Sports Festival of the northwestern province of Dien Bien, which opened on February 28.

The visiting athletes from four northern provinces of Laos, namely Luang Prabang, Udomxay, Phongsaly and Luang Namtha, will take part in football, sepak takraw and badminton competitions.

Meanwhile, about 2,400 students from high schools across Dien Bien will compete in 250 events of 14 sports such as football, volleyball, badminton, gymnastics and athletics.

The event aims to highlight the importance of physical education and promote exercise among young people. It is also a chance for Dien Bien to select and nurture outstanding athletes for the National Phu Dong Sports Festival in 2015.

The province’s 17 th biennial festival will last until March 2.-VNA