Vientiane (VNA) – The Laos summer volunteer campaign of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s chapter in Ho Chi Minh City has continued to serve as an important bridge connecting young people from Vietnam and the neighbouring country, helping deepen their great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion.
A delegation of 67 youths has been carrying out volunteer activities in southern Laos from June 12 to 28 as part of the 22nd edition of the campaign in Laos.
In Attapeu province’s districts of Xaysettha, Phouvong, Samakkhixay, Xanxay and Sanamxay, the volunteers implemented a wide range of community support and social welfare activities worth nearly 1 billion VND (38,000 USD). These included training courses on agriculture, livestock farming, veterinary care and sewing skills; free medical examinations, health consultations and medicine distribution for disadvantaged residents; donations of wheelchairs, blood pressure monitors and welfare gifts; and children’s activities featuring cultural exchanges.
The volunteers provided free medical check-ups and medicines to nearly 2,000 residents, installed drinking water systems in schools and handed over a series of youth projects, including renovated schools and indoor playgrounds at Vongsamphan Primary School in Phouvong district and the Vietnam-Laos Friendship School in Attapeu province. Other projects included the “Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Youth Friendship House” in Sanamxay district and the “Vietnam-Laos Youth Friendship Lighting Project” at the Attapeu provincial Youth Union complex.
In Thateng district of Xekong province, the delegation donated a Friendship House, provided free healthcare services to 500 disadvantaged residents, distributed 100 gift packages and 50 schoolbag-and-supply sets for students, and installed a clean drinking water system.
In Vapi district of Salavan province, volunteers organised medical outreach activities, distributed gifts, held recreational programmes for children and inaugurated a Friendship House for a particularly disadvantaged family.
Meanwhile, in Champasak province’s Mounlapamok, Xanasomboun, Pathumphon, Khong and Sukhuma districts, the delegation carried out educational, cultural and social welfare programmes, including Vietnamese-language classes at the Laos-Vietnam Friendship School, and donations of computer rooms, Friendship Houses, street lighting systems, RO water filtration systems, outdoor playgrounds, laptops and educational materials. Teacher trainingand classroom renovation were also organised, alongside healthcare services and support for local residents.
During activities in Mounlapamok district on June 23, the volunteers met with senior officials from Champasak province, local authorities and representatives of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Pakse.
As part of the 2026 campaign, leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City and Attapeu youth unions and volunteers paid tribute at the Vietnam-Laos Combat Alliance Monument. Together with representatives from the Champasak provincial youth union, the Ho Chi Minh City youth union leaders also laid flowers at the monument dedicated to President Kaysone Phomvihane.
Local authorities in southern Laos highly appreciated the practical contributions made by Ho Chi Minh City’s youth over more than two decades of volunteer activities. They noted that the programme has not only delivered tangible benefits to local communities but also fostered responsibility, patriotism and humanitarian values among young people.
Since its launch in 2004, the campaign has become an enduring platform for youth exchanges between the two countries./.
VNA
