The Việt Nam–Cambodia–Laos Youth Festival 2026 opened on November 8 at the Quảng Ngãi Provincial Convention and Exhibition Center, aiming to strengthen traditional friendship, solidarity and cooperation among young people of the three countries.
Delegates perform opening ceremony
Attendees included Hồ Hồng Nguyên, Secretary of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and Chairwoman of the Central Council of the Hồ Chí Minh Young Pioneer Organization; Phạm Hồng Hiệp, Secretary of the Gia Lai Provincial Youth Union and Head of the Vietnamese youth delegation; U Huấn, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Quảng Ngãi; and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Đỗ Tâm Hiển.
The Cambodian delegation was led by Hour Chhunkry, Chair of the Education, Youth and Sports Committee of the Central Committee of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia.
The Lao delegation was led by Sisomphone Tipanya, Deputy Head of the Youth Career Development Department of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union Central Committee.
Delegates attend the event
Speaking at the opening ceremony, U Huấn emphasized that the festival was an important political, diplomatic and people-to-people exchange event, helping strengthen mutual understanding, trust and solidarity while further consolidating traditional friendship and cooperation among the three neighboring countries.
Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Quảng Ngãi U Huấn speaks at the event
He welcomed the delegations from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnamese provinces and cities, expressing his hope that participants would enjoy meaningful exchanges in Quảng Ngãi.
He also encouraged young people to expand cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, environmental protection and community volunteering. Connections established during the festival should lead to practical joint programs and activities.
Providing an overview of Quảng Ngãi’s development priorities, U Huấn said the province would make effective use of its potential, mobilize resources for socio-economic development, improve living standards, preserve cultural heritage and expand external relations.
Quảng Ngãi is also ready to serve as a trade gateway for goods from Laos and Cambodia, transported through Bờ Y International Border Gate and other border crossings to Dung Quất deep-water port for export to international markets.
He expressed confidence that the festival would become a meaningful platform for exchange and connection, helping strengthen friendship and cooperation among the three countries for peace, stability and shared prosperity.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hồ Hồng Nguyên said that building on the success of the 2025 festival, this year’s event would not only promote exchanges among young people but also lay the groundwork for cooperation activities leading up to the 2027 anniversary year.
Secretary of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and Chairwoman of the Central Council of the Hồ Chí Minh Young Pioneer Organization Hồ Hồng Nguyên speaks at the event
Under the theme of building peaceful, friendly, cooperative and sustainably developing border areas, the festival highlights the role of young people in strengthening solidarity and contributing to border development.
She called on young people of the three countries to uphold their responsibility in preserving and promoting longstanding friendship, learn more about the special historical relationship among the nations, and spread solidarity through communities, schools and digital platforms. They were also encouraged to volunteer in border areas, maintain security, protect the environment and develop youth cooperation initiatives in border localities.
She stressed that the connections and ideas formed during the festival should continue to grow into practical cooperation after the event concludes. The Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee reaffirmed its commitment to working with youth organizations in Cambodia and Laos to sustain and improve exchanges and cooperation.
Following the opening ceremony, delegates joined a discussion titled “Vietnamese, Cambodian and Lao Youth Joining Hands to Build Peaceful, Friendly, Cooperative and Sustainably Developing Border Areas.” The session provided a forum for sharing experience and proposing initiatives to promote the role of young people in maintaining peace and stability, strengthening friendship and advancing sustainable development in border regions.
The discussion session
Minh Thiện
