Nghe An: The central Vietnamese province of Nghe An is set to become the first locality in the country to host high school students from Laos starting from the 2023-2024 academic year. This initiative was reported by the provincial Department of Education and Training.

According to Vietnam News Agency, the Boarding High School for Ethnic Minorities No. 2 in Nghe An has been designated to accommodate 31 Lao exchange students from the provinces of Xiangkhouang, Houaphanh, Bolikhamxai, Vientiane, Savannakhet, and Khammouane. This move is part of a broader effort to strengthen educational ties between Vietnam and Laos.

Since 2012, Nghe An province has committed over 170 billion VND (approximately 7 million USD) to support human resource training for Lao provinces. The Nghe An People's Committee has been proactive in receiving Lao officials and students for various educational programs. This includes language training at the Nghe An Pedagogical College and higher education at institutions like Vinh University, Vinh Medical University, Nghe An University of Economics, Industrial University of Vinh, and Vinh University of Technology Education.

Additionally, the province has awarded scholarships to 1,157 Lao officials and students for studies at local universities and colleges. The Lao students will initially undergo a 10-month Vietnamese language training program at the Nghe An Pedagogical College. Following this, the officials will return to Laos to continue their professional roles, while the students, depending on their language proficiency, preferences, and training needs, will have the opportunity to pursue specialized studies at various universities in Nghe An.