The meeting between Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh and Deputy Prime Minister Thongsalith Mangnormek contributed to shaping the vision for the development of physical fitness and high-performance sports in both countries in the next decade. Along with this, the sharing of experiences in operating the sports economy and building modern infrastructure opened a new chapter in the cooperative relationship between the two countries in this field.
Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh visited and worked with Mr. Thongsalith Mangnormek, Member of the Politburo, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Education and Sports of Laos.
During the meeting, Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh shared the groundbreaking progress of Vietnamese sports. The most notable highlight was the Hung Vuong Stadium construction project. This is a planned mega-stadium, the largest in the world, with a capacity of 135,000 seats. The project, deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture with a design inspired by the Dong Son bronze drums, integrates modern technology and is expected to be completed in 2028. This is not just a simple infrastructure project but also a symbol of the growing strength of Vietnam's sports institutions.
This thorough preparation is part of a long-term roadmap for Vietnam to confidently host major sporting events. Upgrading domestic tournaments to international standards and perfecting modern sports facilities demonstrates Vietnam's transformation from a regional sports powerhouse to a competitive continental-level competitor.
Vietnam – Laos: Continuing to promote cooperation in the Sports sector
A key point emphasized by Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh was the development of a sports economic development strategy. In the new context, sports is not just about physical fitness or pure achievement, but also a promising industry.
Vietnam is focusing on creating flexible mechanisms to leverage social resources, especially promoting the role of the private sector. This experience is of particular interest to Laos, as the combination of strategic public investment and the dynamism of businesses will create a sustainable flow of capital for athlete training and organizing large-scale events. This is a valuable lesson that Vietnam is willing to share to help Lao sports find suitable development models.
In response, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports Thongsalith Mangnormek extended his warmest congratulations to Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh on her new position.
Regarding bilateral relations, the Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports emphasized that the fields of culture, sports, tourism, and education are considered pillars with a direct and lasting impact on people-to-people exchanges and the overall development of both countries' societies.
The Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports, along with Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh and other delegates, posed for a commemorative photo.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports Thongsalith Mangnormek also expressed his appreciation for Vietnam's persistent support in building infrastructure and training sports personnel for Laos over the years. Aiming to host the SEA Games in 2031, Laos places great hope in Vietnam's support during Phase II of its preparation.
During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports of Laos pointed out the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has disrupted some exchange activities between the two countries, including agreements between sports universities; and expressed a desire to soon re-establish substantive and in-depth cooperation plans.
Concluding the exchange, Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh fully acknowledged the opinions of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports of Laos, and instructed relevant agencies from both sides to coordinate research and develop specific implementation plans.
Overview of the meeting
Regarding the sports sector, Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh affirmed that Vietnam is always ready to support Laos with organizational experience and hopes to realize commitments through concrete plans. The Minister respectfully invited the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports of Laos to attend the National Sports Games of Vietnam at the end of the year. This is seen as a practical opportunity for Lao sports officials to observe the management and organization of large-scale multi-sport events.
Hà Phương