On the morning of September 10th, a grand welcoming ceremony for Lao President and General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, along with his wife, Naly Sisoulith, took place at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

The event was presided over by General Secretary and President To Lam, accompanied by First Lady Ngo Phuong Ly. The ceremonial welcome highlighted the deep bond between the two neighboring nations, with a traditional 21-gun salute, marking the highest form of respect accorded to state visits.

The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including Politburo member and Standing Secretary of the Secretariat Luong Cuong, Head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Le Hoai Trung, Chief of the Party Central Committee Office Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, and Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong. Representatives from several ministries and Hanoi’s local government, as well as ambassadors from ASEAN countries, were also present.

Upon the arrival of the Lao President's motorcade, General Secretary To Lam and his spouse extended a warm greeting to President Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse Naly Sisoulith, with two young students presenting flowers to the distinguished guests.

As the national anthems of both Vietnam and Laos played, a 21-gun salute reverberated from Thang Long Citadel, paying tribute to the Lao President and his wife during their state visit to Vietnam.

Following the ceremonial salute, the two leaders inspected the Honor Guard of the Vietnam People's Army, before introducing the high-level delegations from both nations.

After the official welcoming ceremony, the leaders and delegations proceeded to the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam for a formal meeting. As they walked along Hung Vuong Boulevard, the streets were adorned with the national flags of Vietnam and Laos, while the citizens of Hanoi warmly greeted the leaders with cheers of "Vietnam-Laos forever!" and "Vietnam-Laos samaki!" (solidarity).

During the four-day visit, from September 10-13, President Thongloun Sisoulith and his wife will participate in a series of important engagements, including meetings with senior Vietnamese leaders, military veterans who assisted Laos, and Lao students currently studying in Vietnam. The couple will also visit several provinces, historical sites, and cultural landmarks in Vietnam, further strengthening the close ties between the two nations.

The visit comes as Vietnam and Laos celebrate 47 years of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, 62 years of diplomatic relations, 49 years since the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and 79 years since the establishment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.