Hanoi Party Secretary Tran Duc Thang receives the delegation from Luang Prabang Province, Laos
Welcoming Bounleuam Manivong and the Luang Prabang delegation to Hanoi, Thang emphasized that Vietnam-Laos relations are a priceless asset nurtured by generations of leaders and people of both countries.
Within that special relationship, cooperation between Hanoi and Lao localities has continued to deepen in recent years, becoming increasingly practical and effective, he said.
According to the Hanoi Party Secretary, ties between Hanoi and Luang Prabang have seen positive progress, contributing to stronger people-to-people exchanges and closer connections between the two localities, while helping reinforce the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.
Hanoi Party Secretary Tran Duc Thang presents a souvenir from Hanoi to Bounleuam Manivong.
Briefing the delegation on Hanoi's socio-economic development, Thang said the city has maintained unity across the political system to implement development goals effectively. Hanoi has also focused on administrative reform, improving the efficiency of state management, and building a streamlined government apparatus.
Following the reorganization of the two-tier local government system, Hanoi currently has 126 communes and wards. The new administrative structure has now become stable and achieved positive initial results, he said.
According to Thang, practical implementation has shown that the new model is suitable for Hanoi's urban development and governance needs in the current period.
Hanoi's economy continues to maintain positive growth momentum, with GRDP rising 8.16% in 2025. The city is also prioritizing urban infrastructure development, digital transformation, administrative reform, and improving residents' quality of life.
Bounleuam Manivong expressed his pleasure at visiting and working with the Hanoi Party Committee and thanked Hanoi's leaders for their warm reception.
He affirmed that high-level exchanges between the two parties and countries in recent years have continued to demonstrate the close and trusted relationship between Vietnam and Laos, providing an important foundation for stronger cooperation between localities in both countries.
Bounleuam Manivong presents a souvenir from Luang Prabang Province to Hanoi Party Secretary Tran Duc Thang.
Praising Hanoi's socio-economic achievements, Bounleuam Manivong also shared an overview of Luang Prabang's development situation.
Luang Prabang is a northern Lao province bordering Vietnam's Dien Bien and Son La provinces. It has a population of about 500,000 people from 13 ethnic groups and an administrative structure consisting of 11 districts and one city.
Provincial authorities are currently working to accelerate development plans. With strengths in agriculture, trade, tourism services, energy, and mineral resources, Luang Prabang maintains an annual economic growth of around 5% and has established cooperative ties with 13 Vietnamese provinces and cities.
Bounleuam Manivong noted that exchanges and connectivity between Luang Prabang and Vietnam have become increasingly convenient. There are currently two daily flights connecting Luang Prabang and Hanoi, helping promote tourism, trade, and people-to-people exchanges.
Saying that the cooperation potential between Luang Prabang and Hanoi remains significant, he expressed hope that the two localities would continue expanding cooperation across multiple sectors aligned with each side's strengths and development needs.
Agreeing on the need to strengthen cooperation, Thang suggested several promising areas for future collaboration, including tourism, agriculture, and trade.
The Hanoi Party Secretary expressed confidence that Hanoi and Luang Prabang would soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU), creating a legal framework and specific coordination mechanism for implementing future cooperation projects.
Thang instructed Hanoi's relevant agencies to proactively coordinate with Luang Prabang authorities in developing specific cooperation plans, while affirming that Hanoi stands ready to create favorable conditions for the partnership to develop practically and effectively.