On September 5, 1962, Vietnam and Laos officially established diplomatic relations and on July 18, 1977, the two Governments signed the Vietnam – Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Son La province has also set up friendship and signed comprehensive cooperation agreements with nine provinces of Laos, namely Houaphanh, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Bo Keo, Luang Namtha, Phongsaly, Xiengkhouang, Xayabury and Xaysomboun.

Nguyen Van Chien, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said that Son La province has coordinated with neighboring provinces of Laos to regularly educate officials, party members, armed forces and people about the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. They have actively helped each other in socio-economic development, and protection and building of a borderline of peace and friendship. In 2023, Son La province welcomed 30 delegations, with 393 officials and residents from the Lao localities for visiting, working, transiting and medical examination and treatment while sending 34 delegations with 261 members to visit and exchange experience in various fields with the Lao provinces. Son La signed six international agreements with sectors and localities of Laos.

The armed forces of both sides have always upheld the spirit of solidarity, friendship and mutual trust; directed units to regularly exchange information and resolve arising problems related to the shared border. Armed force units of Son La province and Houaphanh and Luang Prabang provinces coordinated in conducting 22 bilateral patrols. The Border Guard Command of Son La and the Military Command of Luang Prabang successfully organized a joint exercise on preventing free migration and illegal entry and exit across the Vietnam - Laos border in 2023. A training course on border guard skills was held for officers and soldiers from the Luang Prabang Military Command. The Son La Military Command visited and provided guidance on cultivation and animal husbandry techniques, repaired technical equipment, gave health advice and distributed free medicine to people at the Military Commands of Houaphanh, Luang Prabang and Oudomxay.

In economic development, Son La province has sent working delegations from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang and Xiengkhouang to survey and evaluate weather, climate, and soil conditions and support the implementation of fruit tree planting models in line with the actual conditions of each province. Businesses in Son La province have been enabled to produce and supply plant, livestock and aquatic varieties, and promote production and business cooperation with their peers in Lao provinces. In 2023, the import-export value between Son La province and Lao provinces is estimated to reach more than 882,000 USD. Son La mainly exports construction materials to Lao localities while importing agricultural products, machinery and equipment for production and business.

Regarding culture and education, Son La province has organized a programme to survey and evaluate tourism products and developed the Hanoi - Son La – Houaphanh tour. It sent a working delegation to participate in the Northwestern Vietnam Culture and Tourism Week in Luang Prabang province, and received 120 Lao officers and soldiers for professional training in the province. Currently, local training facilities have 635 Lao students pursuing college, graduate and postgraduate progammes. In addition, Son La has created conditions for officials and people from the neighboring Lao provinces, especially Houaphanh and Luang Prabang, to come for medical examination and treatment at the provincial General Hospital and other medical facilities.

On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of Laos’ National Day, it is hoped that the special solidarity and friendship between Son La and neighboring provinces of Laos in particular and between Vietnam and Laos in general will thrive forever.