General Phan Van Giang (right) and Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone review the Lao People’s Army honour guard.      --Photo Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence

Vietnam gives boost to Lao National Day celebrations

Vietnam has donated command vehicles, parade gear and fireworks to assist with Laos’ 50th National Day celebrations in December, underscoring the countries’ close defence partnership, according to a report in Vietnamnet.
The support comes as Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence, General Phan Van Giang, is visiting Laos this week to attend a joint rescue exercise and the annual defence ministers’ meeting involving Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
The donated items, including Vinfast command vehicles, parade gloves, gaiters, and fireworks, are produced by Vietnam’s defence industry.
This year is a milestone for Laos as the country marks three historic events — the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, and the 105th birth anniversary of President Kaysone Phomvihane.
The celebrations will feature large-scale events highlighting national unity and the country’s achievements over the past decades.
On Tuesday afternoon, Laos’ Minister of National Defence, General Khamliang Outhakaysone, officially welcomed General Phan to Vientiane. The two ministers held talks and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation.
They reviewed progress under the 2025-2029 defence cooperation protocol and the 2025 cooperation plan. Collaboration focuses on intelligence sharing, joint activities between military branches, technical support, and defence industry development.
They also stressed the importance of training and human resource development, as well as expanding cooperation in logistics, IT infrastructure, and multilateral defence platforms.
General Phan and General Khamliang expressed confidence that the upcoming trilateral defence ministers’ meeting and joint rescue exercise will help strengthen regional solidarity.
General Phan also met President Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. The Lao leaders said they welcomed the growing defence partnership and reaffirmed its importance as a key pillar of the relationship between the two countries.
Prime Minister Sonexay said that enhancing defence ties with Vietnam remains a top priority for Laos, as both countries prepare for major political milestones.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update October 16, 2025)