Nguyen Thanh Ha, Vice Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, received a delegation from the Lao People's Democratic Republic on the afternoon of October 27.

The delegation was led by Phongtisouk Siphomthaviboun, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs under the Lao Government Office.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the provincial police, government departments and agencies, and the Nha Trang Central University Preparatory School for Ethnic Minorities.

Welcoming the Lao officials to Khanh Hoa for their study visit, Ha emphasized that strengthening friendship and cooperation with Laos remains one of the province's foreign affairs priorities.

He reaffirmed Khanh Hoa's commitment to promoting exchanges and sharing practical experience between the two sides.

The vice chairman also briefed the delegation on the province's socioeconomic performance during the first nine months of 2026, focusing on ethnic minority affairs, religious beliefs and practices, social welfare policies, and measures to support production and livelihoods among ethnic minority communities.

He said Khanh Hoa would continue to encourage professional exchanges and cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Ha expressed confidence that the training program would help strengthen solidarity and deepen the longstanding cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

Speaking on behalf of the Lao delegation, Phongtisouk Siphomthaviboun said the participants had spent more than a month acquiring valuable knowledge and exchanging experience in ethnic and religious affairs, particularly in the formulation and implementation of state management policies.

Alongside classroom instruction, the officials met local authorities and residents to learn about everyday life, livelihoods, cultural preservation and religious activities.

Through field studies in Khanh Hoa, the delegation gained practical insights into policy implementation that could inform further research and be adapted to conditions in Laos.

Le Phu Thang, Principal of the Nha Trang Central University Preparatory School for Ethnic Minorities, said the institution had organized the 2026 training course for 20 Lao officials under an assignment from Vietnam's Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs as part of bilateral cooperation.

The program includes 10 theoretical modules covering policies and state administration in ethnic and religious affairs, combined with field research in Khanh Hoa and other localities.

According to Thang, since September, the participants have completed the theoretical modules and undertaken field visits to Bac Ai Tay Commune, Nui Chua National Park, the Khanh Hoa provincial executive board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Long Son Pagoda and Cham tower heritage sites.

These visits have provided opportunities to examine ethnic minority livelihoods, cultural heritage preservation and religious practices in local communities.

In the coming period, the delegation will continue studying socioeconomic development and cultural preservation models in the Ninh Hoa area, Khanh Son Commune and several other localities.

Xuan Ngoc