On July 9, General Phan Van Giang, who serves as Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, led a delegation to Laos to participate in the third border defense friendship exchange between the two nations. The event took place in Bolykhamxay province, where the delegation was warmly welcomed by local youth and children.

Early in the morning, a military band, along with local citizens, gathered at the Thanh Thuy Border Gate in Nghe An province to prepare for the exchange activities. At the border gate, General Giang and his Lao counterpart, General Khamliang Outhakaysone, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Laos, performed a ceremonial greeting and painted the border marker. They also planted a friendship tree and took commemorative photographs together.

During the visit, the two generals participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Coordination Station of Border Defense Unit 252, under the Bolykhamxay Military Command. Additionally, General Giang visited a local primary school in Xaychamphone district, where he presented gifts and scholarships to students.

The Vietnamese delegation also engaged in humanitarian activities, including free medical consultations and the distribution of medicines to around 700 local residents at the Sopteng Health Station. They provided assistance to impoverished families in the border area by donating livestock.

On July 10, further activities are planned as part of the border exchange, including planting more friendship trees, visiting the Thanh Thuy Border Station, and inaugurating a kindergarten built by the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense for the local community. The delegation will also visit the Kim Liên National Special Relic Site and hold discussions between the two delegations.