A Bridge of Friendship Between Vietnam and Laos
Most Lao students studying at Da Lat University under the educational cooperation program between Lam Dong Province and the twin provinces of Bolikhamxay and Champasak have adapted well to life in Da Lat. They are making strong academic efforts while looking forward to returning home to contribute to their country’s development.
Falling in love with Da Lat
“Da Lat is peaceful and beautiful. Although I had heard about it before, I was still surprised when I first arrived,” said Siliphunh Saysana (born in 2007, Vietnamese name Hung) during a visit to the university dormitory.
What impressed him most is the city’s cool climate year-round. In his hometown in Champasak Province, southwestern Laos, summers are very hot and winters are not as cold as in Da Lat. He also noted the friendliness of local people and the appeal of Vietnamese cuisine.
“On my first day in class, teachers and classmates spoke Vietnamese so fast that I couldn’t understand anything,” he recalled. Currently, he is studying Vietnamese in his first year before pursuing a major in Information Technology.
Keophilavanh Phayvanh (born in 2004), a third-year Business Administration student, shared that it took time to adapt to the cold climate. “Teachers found it difficult to pronounce my Lao name, so they gave me the Vietnamese name ‘Van’, which I really like because of its beautiful meaning,” she said.
Now more confident in Vietnamese, Keophilavanh has gradually integrated into her studies. “The learning environment is quiet, and friends are friendly. Although I initially followed the scholarship arrangement, I now find the major suitable,” she added.
Another student, Xaiyavongsa Khingkham (born in 2003, from Bolikhamxay Province), known by the Vietnamese name Oanh, is a fourth-year Finance and Banking student. “This has been my favorite field since childhood,” she said.
Recalling her early days in Da Lat, she admitted that language was the biggest challenge. After four years, Vietnamese has become a natural part of her daily life. “Sometimes it no longer feels like a foreign language,” she noted.
Despite her affection for Da Lat, she looks forward to graduating and returning home to work. “This city has given me so many beautiful memories… I will definitely miss it,” she said.
Training human resources for the future
According to Ngo Nam Phong from the Student Affairs Office of Da Lat University, since 2016, the university has trained more than 50 Lao students under the cooperation program with Bolikhamxay and Champasak. In the 2025–2026 academic year, six new students enrolled, bringing the current number of Lao students to 22.
To support them, the university provides full tuition waivers, free dormitory accommodation, and coverage of electricity and water costs.
The training program is tailored to their needs, with the first year dedicated to Vietnamese language training before entering specialized courses. The university also organizes annual cultural exchange activities such as Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) and Bun Pi May (Lao New Year), fostering connections between students of both countries.
Lao students demonstrate strong discipline and commitment to learning. After graduation, they return home and become valuable human resources for Laos, serving as a bridge that strengthens cooperation between Lam Dong and the provinces of Bolikhamxay and Champasak.
Ngo Nam Phong, the Student Affairs Office of Da Lat University