Son La Medical College is one of the first educational institutions to carry out the task of training officials and students for Lao provinces. In 1971, the college conducted the first general practitioner training course for Huaphanh province. During the 1973-1985 period, to satisfy the requirement of medical training, every year, northern Lao provinces sent students to the school. In particular, since 2010, after being upgraded to a college, it has admitted more international students. The college is training over 200 Lao students in the three majors of pharmacist, nurse and midwife.

Komphan Sukhalak, a Lao student in K9A pharmacy class, said his biggest difficulty is learning specialised Vietnamese.

"However, I and my fellow Lao students always receive attention and help from the school, teachers and Vietnamese friends," he said. "I hope that after graduating, I will optimise what I have learned here to serve my country."

Since its establishment, Tay Bac (Northwest) University has trained over 1,000 Lao students at bachelor’s and master’s levels. Vice Principle Do Hong Duc said Lao students who do not know Vietnamese before taking the majors will study the language for one year at the school. After that, they will be placed in classes to study with Vietnamese peers according to their registered majors.

The school sets aside a separate dormitory free of charge for Lao students, and provides them with library cards, health insurance, and periodic health checks, he added.

Besides, Lao students can participate in cultural and sport exchange activities, and visit historical relic sites, helping them understand and cultivate the friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

Since 2015, nearly 3,000 Lao students have studied in Son La province, of whom close to 2,200 completed their training and returned home. Currently, some 1,000 Lao students are learning at local universities and colleges. In addition, more than 600 officials from northern Lao provinces trained in Vietnamese have returned home. Many of them have held important and key positions in State agencies, serving the national construction and development cause of Laos.

Improving the quality of personnel training for Lao localities has helped the neighbouring country have a contingent of highly qualified officials, while contributing to affirming that the special solidarity and friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and States, as well as  between Son La and northern Lao provinces are being tightened./.