Comrade Phan Quang Vinh, Huong Lap Border Guard Station (Huong Hoa district), stated, "For many years, every Mid-Autumn Festival, officers and soldiers of the station actively mobilized units and benefactors to together take care of the children in the border region a meaningful and enjoyable occassion.

"Huong Lap Border Guard Station and Quang Tri Border Guard have organized two programs, "Sparkling the Full Moon" and "Calling Rays of Sunshine," for over 800 children and teens in the vicinity of two communes, Huong Viet, and Huong Lap, just this year (Huong Hoa district). Since over 150 youngsters from A Via village (La Co village cluster, Se Pon district, Savannakhet Province, Laos) participated for the first time this year, the program is particularly noteworthy," Comrade Vinh added.

Quang Tri Border Guard welcomes children from Avia Lao Primary School to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Fourth-grader Cau Ly from Laos' Avia Primary School, who was holding a sizable lantern in her palm, grinned broadly and exclaimed, "I am delighted to meet many new friends from Vietnam because this is my first time taking part in the Mid-Autumn Festival. We appreciate the gifts, so thank you for letting us enjoy ourselves."

According to Colonel Ngo Xuan Thuong, Deputy Political Commissar of the Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard, the organization of the Mid-Autumn Festival for Vietnamese and Laotian teenagers and children is one of several events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, which established diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Laos (5/9/1962 - 5/9/2022), and 45 years after the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooper (Laos).

The conference also successfully welcomed 15 years of twinning activities between Ka Tieng village, Huong Viet commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province (Vietnam) and A Via village, La Co village cluster, Se Pon district, Savannakhet province (Laos).

This is the first time children from Avia village (Laos) have participated in the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. The children are very happy to meet many friends in Vietnam.

The past 15 years between the border villages of Quang Tri and Savannakhet province have increasingly tightened the friendship by implementing the model of village - twinning.

Officials and people of the two villages often visit and give gifts on the occasion of two countries and two localities' important events, such as Organizing visits to congratulate the Vietnamese traditional New Year and the Bun Pi May (Laos traditional Tet), the great people's solidarity day; International Women's Day (March 8) and so on.

They also participate in cultural exchanges, arts, physical training, and sports. Not to mention, the officials and people jointly organize sightseeing trips and study models of economic development and landscapes of the two countries. For instance, whenever someone is sick, or if there is a funeral or a wedding, the people of the two villages often go back and forth to visit, encourage, share sorrow and joy, and build warm feelings on both sides of the border. And this year, the activity is expanded through the form of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival for children.

After watching the lion and dragon dance, Thao Tam, a 5th grader, at Avia Primary School, Laos, excitedly said, "At this Mid-Autumn Festival, I know about the story of The Moon Man going to the moon, the story of the Moon Goddess. This is the first time I get to receive treats from a Mid-Autumn Festival dealt out and see the dragon lion dance for the first time,... We are very happy and hope that every year, the organizer can do an event like this".

The children of Vietnam and Laos were very excited and attentive to the lion dance performance.

The outcomes of the model village-twinning and friendship-building activities of units, mass organizations, and residents on both sides of the border have helped to maintain political stability in the border region, strengthen the solidarity relationship between the two countries, and people of all ethnic groups sharing a common border, as well as effectively meet the needs of economic and social development, increase people's knowledge, end hunger, and lessen poverty. The proactive prevention, detection, and resolution of several border-related issues, and so on.

The model village-twinning program has been in place since 2005, according to Ha Sy Dong, Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri Province. To date, there have been 25/25 pairs of twinning copies between Quang Tri Province (Vietnam) and the two provinces of Savannakhet and Salavan (Laos).

Each neighborhood and unit has the proper exchange and assistance activities, depending on the actual condition. We take great pride in the fact that these activities are developing into something deeper and more substantial. The organization of the Mid-Autumn Festival for Vietnamese-Laotian children and teenagers is one of this year's novelties. This initiative was started out of the kindness of the Quang Tri border guards, officials, and volunteers who came together to support the highland youth.

Teacher Da La Van Lun Tha Vong (26 years old) who teaches at Avia Primary School is excited when she guides students to participate in this Mid-Autumn Festival. She shared, “My students and I both have gifts, enjoy the festival. We were also promised to receive some sports equipment for teachers and students. We are very touched by the love and good deeds of Vietnamese friends.”

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