In a bright classroom at the Lao-Vietnam Friendship High School in Savannakhet province, the air is alive with the sound of young voices reading Vietnamese. The students’ eyes are fixed on their teacher, carefully following each word, each sentence, as they navigate the intricacies of a language that for many is both heritage and aspiration. For Nguyễn Bùi Diễm My, the importance of these lessons goes beyond academics. "My parents told me to study well to preserve Vietnamese, and learning Vietnamese is very enjoyable," she shared, her enthusiasm echoing the hopes of many families in Laos with Vietnamese roots. Another student, Phương Nhi, expressed simply, "I want to preserve my mother tongue because my family is Vietnamese."
These sentiments are far from rare in Savannakhet, where bilingual education offers students the advantage of learning in both Lao and Vietnamese. According to TTXVN, this approach helps students grasp content regardless of their first language, although Lao students often face initial hurdles with Vietnamese’s unfamiliar script and sounds. Teachers, such as Nguyễn Thanh Hồng, have adapted by patiently starting from the very basics—teaching the alphabet, then syllables, and slowly building up students’ reading and writing skills. "We have to be patient, teaching from the first letters and syllables so students can read and write," Hồng explained.
But patience alone isn’t always enough. A recent shortage of Vietnamese language teachers has meant that those who remain must support one another, often sacrificing their own break times to help students review. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated these challenges, disrupting teacher recruitment and impacting the quality of instruction. Đặng Thị Hải Tâm, Vietnam’s Consul General in Savannakhet, noted, "In recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, teaching and learning Vietnamese in Laos has faced many obstacles. Vietnamese associations have struggled to recruit enough teachers, affecting teaching quality."
Despite these hurdles, the spirit of the community remains strong. Volunteer teachers have stepped up, and the school has introduced extracurricular activities designed to make learning Vietnamese both fun and meaningful. Clubs like "I Love Vietnamese" and "Learn About Vietnamese History and Culture" not only sharpen language skills but also deepen students’ understanding of their heritage. These activities—ranging from language competitions to cultural performances—have proven to be powerful motivators, drawing in not just Vietnamese descendants but also Lao students and even their parents. As Hồng observed, "Some parents even ask us, 'Teacher, how do you pronounce this word? How do you learn?' Then they teach themselves so they can help their children."
This growing interest is not confined to Savannakhet. Across Laos, the promotion of Vietnamese has become a vibrant movement, driven by passionate individuals known as "Vietnamese Language Ambassadors." On September 8, 2025, during the Vietnamese Language Appreciation Day for the overseas Vietnamese community, interpreter Nguyễn Thị Thu Huyền reflected on the remarkable spread of love for Vietnamese among both children and adults. "Every activity, every effort, no matter how small, can create a great ripple effect, helping connect cultures and foster the great friendship between Vietnam and Laos," she told TTXVN in Vientiane.
Thu Huyền’s own experience highlights the challenges and triumphs of this mission. Free Vietnamese classes, led by dedicated volunteers, have become a beacon of community spirit. Yet, as she points out, "The biggest challenge is the lack of appropriate teaching materials for learners." While Vietnam and Laos share much culturally, their writing systems and pronunciations are worlds apart, making it tough for Lao learners to master Vietnamese letters and sounds. Teachers often have to write and adapt their own materials, tailoring lessons to the unique needs of their students. "We have to both teach and compile materials, adjusting them to the reality of the classroom," Thu Huyền explained. The involvement of volunteer teachers, and the rising number of Lao parents who want their children to learn Vietnamese, are encouraging signs that the language is becoming more accessible and beloved.
Another ambassador, Lanny Lanny Phetnion, has taken a tech-savvy approach to language promotion. Recognizing the growing demand for Vietnamese speakers in the workforce—especially with the expansion of Vietnamese-Lao business ties—she established a Vietnamese language center that blends in-person classes with a robust online presence. Her teaching videos on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube have attracted thousands of viewers, transforming the way language is learned and shared. Lanny has also authored more than ten concise, easy-to-remember self-study books, each paired with instructional clips, so learners can access lessons anytime, anywhere. She’s a familiar face at cultural exchange events and often co-hosts bilingual programs, helping bridge the gap between the two cultures.
Looking ahead, Lanny plans to help produce the bilingual "LaoViet360" program on Vientiane’s Vte9 television channel. The show will introduce viewers to the customs, tourist sites, and daily life of both countries, while also giving practical lessons in Vietnamese listening, pronunciation, and vocabulary. She’s also set her sights on expanding online classes, organizing cultural exchanges, and building a support network for learners and teachers alike. Her guiding principle is clear: "The most important thing when teaching Vietnamese abroad is to help learners feel that Vietnamese is not just a language, but a living part of culture—connected to stories, music, food, and daily life."
Through clubs, cultural events, and shared experiences, Vietnamese is becoming more than a means of communication in Laos—it’s a bridge of emotion, culture, and community. As TTXVN notes, "Teaching Vietnamese in Laos is not just a school subject, but a bridge that connects communities, nurtures feelings toward our roots, and strengthens the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos."
The story of Vietnamese language promotion in Laos is, at its heart, a story of perseverance, creativity, and love. It’s found in the determination of teachers who give up their free time, the curiosity of students eager to connect with their heritage, and the innovative spirit of ambassadors who harness both tradition and technology. As Associate Professor Dương Tuấn Anh put it, "Vietnamese is not just a language but a collective memory, a map of the Vietnamese soul that helps us learn from the past, create in the present, and step confidently into the future."
In classrooms, community centers, and online platforms across Laos, the Vietnamese language continues to thrive—an enduring testament to the power of education, cultural pride, and the unbreakable bonds between two nations.
