On February 5th, Son La College organized a series of activities to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 for more than 400 Lao students and trainees studying at the school.
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The results achieved by Lao students after being taught how to wrap banh chung (Vietnamese rice cakes).
The highlight of the program was the "Taste of Vietnamese Tet" competition held in the dormitory area, with the participation of 6 teams of international students.LaosVietnamese language learners and Vietnamese students pursuing various majors.
On this occasion, Lao students were excited, surprised, and delighted to experience the core values of Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) as they directly participated in wrapping banh chung (traditional rice cakes) and arranging the five-fruit tray for the first time.
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The cultural and artistic activities organized by Son La College on this occasion created a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere for the Lao students studying at the school.
Under the dedicated guidance of Vietnamese lecturers and students, hands accustomed to books were introduced to the tasks of folding banana leaves, measuring sticky rice, and tying bamboo strings to create these cakes.Chung cakeSquare.
Vietnamese student Me-Sa excitedly shared: "This is the first time I've ever made banh chung (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) myself. At first, I found it very difficult because the banana leaves tear easily and the bamboo strings have to be tied tightly and skillfully. Thanks to the guidance, I understood the meaning of banh chung during Tet (Vietnamese New Year) as expressing gratitude to ancestors and the heavens. I find Vietnamese Tet very warm and familiar, just like Tet in my homeland of Laos."
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Teachers from Son La College guide Lao students in wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes).
The festive atmosphere of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) was further enlivened by cultural performances and traditional games such as stick pushing, sack racing, and throwing the "con" (a type of ball), attracting enthusiastic participation from Lao students and youth union members of the school. These exchange activities bridged language and nationality barriers, creating a close-knit and friendly cultural space.
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Lao and Vietnamese students studying at Son La College joined hands in solidarity to form the Vietnamese-Lao alphabet.
That evening, Son La College held a New Year's greeting and farewell ceremony for Lao students, attended by representatives from the Provincial Party Committee's Organizing Committee, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Provincial Police, the Liaison Committee of Vietnamese military volunteers and experts in Laos, as well as faculty and staff of the college. At the event, the college leadership acknowledged the students' serious study habits, discipline, and significant progress in Vietnamese language skills.
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On this occasion, Lao students and Vietnamese students studying at Son La College performed many cultural and artistic acts that reflected the unique ethnic identity of the Northwest region.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Vice Principal of Son La College, said: "Organizing activities to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 for Vietnamese students and Lao trainees is an annual activity with profound humanitarian significance for the school. We want to create a warm atmosphere, helping them alleviate homesickness during the Tet holiday. More importantly, through practical activities such as making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) or playing folk games, they will gain a deeper understanding of the customs, traditions, and cultural beauty of Vietnam."
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Representatives from various departments and agencies of Son La province presented gifts to encourage Lao students and officials studying at Son La College.
Currently, Son La College is managing and training 417 Lao students in various training programs, including specialized courses, Vietnamese language preparatory courses, and Vietnamese language training for local officials in Laos.
Currently, Son La College is providing Vietnamese language training for 125 officials, and another 40 officials are studying Vietnamese before continuing their studies in Intermediate-level Political Theory. These figures clearly demonstrate the efforts of Son La province and the college in training human resources, making a practical contribution to comprehensive Vietnam-Laos cooperation in the new phase.
QUOC TUAN