On the afternoon of August 12th, the 2025 annual talks between the Border Guard Command of Son La province (Vietnam) and the Military Command of Huaphanh province (Lao People's Democratic Republic) took place in Son La.
Scenes from the meeting.
The meeting was co-chaired by Colonel Nguyen Dinh Huan, Commander.Border GuardSon La province and Major General Khammuong Khotvongkhun, Commander of the Huaphanh Provincial Military Command.
The two sides exchanged information on the situation in the third and fourth quarters of 2024 and the first six months of 2025 regarding the work of ensuring territorial sovereignty and security and order in the border area; border traffic, immigration control, combating drug crimes, smuggling, and commercial fraud; preventing illegal migration and unregistered marriages; and patrolling and protecting the border system and national border markers.
Over the past period, both sides have maintained the tradition of special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, regularly exchanging information and coordinating border management and protection; strictly implementing agreements and promptly handling emerging incidents.
Major General Khammuong Khotvongkhun, Commander of the Huaphanh Provincial Military Command, speaks at the talks.
Since the third quarter of 2024, the two sides have conducted 21 joint patrols with 470 officers and soldiers participating.
In the fight against crime, the Son La Border Guard arrested 58 cases involving 71 suspects, seizing 8 blocks and 111.22g of heroin; 683,013 synthetic drug pills; 2.001kg of methamphetamine; 1kg of ketamine; 971.36g of opium resin; 432kg of firecrackers; 1 gun, 1 bullet; 360g of gunpowder; 3 cars, 18 motorbikes, 29 mobile phones, and 110.84 million VND.
The Son La Border Guard, in coordination with forces from Laos, arrested 7 individuals in 6 separate cases, seizing 5 grams of heroin, 4,878 synthetic drug pills, 1 motorbike, and 2 mobile phones.
The Military Command of Huaphanh Province and the Border Guard Command of Son La Province congratulate each other on the successful conclusion of the talks.
Immigration and border control measures were implemented rigorously. Entry procedures were processed for 38,385 people; exit procedures for 38,608 people; entry into border areas for 34,814 people; exit from border areas for 30,332 people, along with various other goods...
Friendly cooperation and exchanges are regularly maintained during holidays and festivals. The Son La Border Guard continues to implement the "Helping Children Go to School" program, providing 500,000 VND per month to 12 students.our neighbor LaosThey are in difficult circumstances.
The Son La side has also maintained a "Friendly Military-Civilian Medical Station," providing free medicine and supporting officers and soldiers of the Huaphanh Provincial Military Command and Police Department to receive examination and treatment at Son La Provincial General Hospital.
The Border Guard Command of Son La province and the Military Command of Huaphanh province signed a memorandum of understanding.
During the talks, Colonel Nguyen Dinh Huan proposed continuing to strengthen exchanges, share information, maintain bilateral patrols, and coordinate efforts to safeguard political security and order in the border region.
Major General Khammuong Khotvongkhun highly agreed with the contents of the talks. He also proposed strengthening legal awareness campaigns, raising awareness of border protection, maintaining cultural and sports activities, and enhancing the connection and cooperation between Son La and Huaphanh provinces.
At the conclusion of the talks, the two sides agreed on and outlined eight key areas of focus for coordinated implementation in the coming period, and signed a memorandum of understanding.