At the gathering.

Attending the programme were Dang Ngoc Hau, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee; leaders of several provincial departments and agencies; representatives of Lao students from Tay Bac University, Son La College and Son La Medical College; along with nearly 1,000 Lao students studying at institutions across the province.

Dang Ngoc Hau, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, delivers a speech at the meeting.

At the event, delegates and Lao students revisited the traditions of the Bunpimay New Year festival; took part in cultural and artistic exchanges featuring performances praising the Vietnam–Laos special solidarity and friendship; and joined traditional rituals such as wrist-tying and water splashing ceremonies.

An art performance by Lao students at the programme.

Delegates perform an offering ritual before the wrist-tying ceremony.

Delegates perform the wrist-tying ceremony.

The Bunpimay New Year celebration has been jointly organised annually by the provincial Youth Union and universities and colleges in the province to encourage Lao students to focus on their study. It also provides an opportunity for them to introduce and promote the traditional cultural values of Laos, while strengthening exchanges and mutual understanding between students of the two countries.

Dang Ngoc Hau, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, presents gifts from the province to Lao students.

The certificates of merit from the Son La provincial Youth Union are presented to outstanding Lao students.

On this occasion, the provincial Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and the To Hieu ward People’s Committee presented gifts to Lao students at the schools. The Son La provincial Youth Union also honoured 37 Lao students for their outstanding academic achievements and active participation in youth union and student association activities.