The honours were presented by Paenkham Boutchanpheng, member of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council, authorised by the leaders of the Lao Party, State and Government.

Attending the ceremony from Son La were Hoang Van Nghiem, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and head of the province’s delegation to the National Assembly; Lo Minh Hung, Standing Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council; Nguyen Dinh Viet, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee; Cha A Cua, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and President of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; among others.

Paenkham Boutchanpheng presented the Third-Class Issara (Freedom) Order to Lo Minh Hung; Vice Chairmen of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Cong and Dang Ngoc Hau; Trang Thi Xuan, former member of the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board and former Standing Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee; and Le Hong Minh, former Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.

The Third-Class Labour Order was presented to six organisations: the Office of the Son La provincial People’s Committee and the provincial Departments of Foreign Affairs; Agriculture and Environment; Health; Culture, Sports and Tourism; and Education and Training.

Nguyen Duc Long, Rector of Son La College, received the Third-Class Order of Friendship.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hung expressed his thanks, on behalf of Son La’s provincial leaders and the honoured individuals and organisations, for the recognition and support extended by the Party, State, Government and people of Laos to Son La’s Party Organisation, authorities and people.

He described the honours as a source of great pride and encouragement for Son La and said they would serve as further motivation for the province to continue strengthening, preserving and developing its friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with localities across Laos in an increasingly close and effective manner.