63 years of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic relations: Imprints from the Museum of the Fighting Alliance

Looking back on the 63-year journey since September 5, 1962, when Vietnam and Laos officially established diplomatic relations, it can be affirmed that the special solidarity between the two peoples is not only a common pride, but also the responsibility of present and future generations to continue to cultivate, preserve and glorify the loyal, steadfast relationship, rare in human history.

In that flow, a project with profound historical significance has become a place to preserve memories and educate traditions for future generations: the Laos-Vietnam Combat Alliance Museum in Dong village, Sepon district, Savannakhet province.

The museum officially opened to visitors on December 12, 2012, with an area of over 3 hectares, this is a vibrant cultural-historical space, displaying hundreds of artifacts and pictures about the Southern Laos Route 9 Campaign, images of allied troops transporting food and weapons, as well as the close-knit sentiment of the people and armed forces of Vietnam and Laos.

Lieutenant Colonel Houmphanh Chansanga, Director of the Laos-Vietnam Combat Alliance Museum, gives an interview to a VNA reporter. (Photo: Xuan Tu/VNA)

Lieutenant Colonel Houmphanh Chansanga, Director of the Laos-Vietnam Combat Alliance Museum, said the museum's main task is to carry out the tasks assigned by the Party and State, while preserving and promoting the museum's appearance to make it more attractive.

The exhibition system here includes both indoor and outdoor, designed to create a complete whole, both rich in artifacts and open space for viewers, in which the indoor exhibition area is divided into 6 topics, from the uprising of the Lao people, the battle plan and organization of resistance forces, to the victory of the Lao and Vietnamese people's armies, along with the solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations. The outdoor area faithfully recreates the atmosphere of the resistance years, with many valuable artifacts.

Not only stopping at displaying artifacts, the Museum also carries the noble mission of traditional education.

Lieutenant Colonel Houmphanh said that in addition to welcoming domestic and foreign delegations to visit and learn, every month and every year, the unit organizes propaganda sessions, bringing students and young people to study and experience.

Mr. Houmphanh emphasized: “As generations of leaders of our two countries have said, if there were no that day, there would be no today,” therefore, the Museum regularly welcomes students and young people to visit to express gratitude to those who heroically sacrificed on the battlefields of the past, while also fostering a sense of responsibility in preserving and promoting tradition.

Mr. Houmphanh stated that the Museum is not only a place to preserve artifacts, but also a bridge between history and the present, fostering patriotism and arousing national pride.

To enrich the source of documents, the Museum also closely cooperates with local people to collect and supplement artifacts.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Houmphanh, the Museum also went down to the base to capture and collect objects left over from the war to display more and more.

In addition, the Museum also calls on localities to visit, learn and share more historical information, especially about the Lam Son 719 campaign that took place in this area.

The significance of the Museum is also clearly demonstrated through school field trips.

Ms. Khomchay Sithisone, Vice Principal of Dongsavanh School, Sepon District, Savannakhet Province, said that this is a valuable opportunity for students to learn about history in a visual and vivid way.

The joy and pride were evident on the students’ faces when they visited and learned about the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos. Everyone felt excited to learn about history firsthand, to understand more deeply the solidarity between the two nations. Those innocent and simple emotions are proof of the museum’s persistent influence in educating traditions and fostering a sense of responsibility for the younger generation.

Ms. Phonmouny Phachansisoula, a teacher at Dongsavanh School, Sepon District, Savannakhet Province, emphasized that the biggest goal is to help students understand and remember the blood and sweat of the generations of Lao-Vietnamese ancestors who fought, thereby realizing that the two countries have a close and inseparable relationship. It is from this connection that the great spirit of solidarity and friendship between Laos and Vietnam continues to be nurtured, becoming a solid foundation for students to build a strong relationship in the future.

Over more than six decades, the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have become invaluable assets of the two peoples.

The Laos-Vietnam Combat Alliance Museum in Dong village, Sepon district, Savannakhet province is one of the museums in Laos that has been contributing to affirming the everlasting value of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/63-nam-quan-he-ngoai-giao-viet-nam-lao-dau-an-tu-bao-tang-lien-minh-chien-dau-post1060125.vnp