From 2008 to 2018, every year, teachers and managers of vocational education from Laos come to attend conferences, visit and survey vocational education institutions in Vietnam; attended many events such as: National Association of Teachers (in 2009, 2012), National DIY vocational education equipment contest (2010).

In particular, in 2012, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs supported 16 trainees and experts from the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. Lao Association to attend a training course in Vietnam to prepare for the ASEAN Skills Competition taking place in November 2012 in Indonesia. Students competed with 5 main occupations: carpentry, electrical installation, fashion technology, cooking, and brick building.

Vocational training at primary level and regular vocational training for Lao workers is also carried out through cooperation programs between localities sharing the same border. Those are the provinces: Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Kon Tum, Ha Tinh... Every year, these provinces receive training of dozens of students and apprentices from Laos.

From 2014 to 2018, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs continued to support candidates and experts from the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to attend a training course in Vietnam to prepare for the future. ASEAN skills exams. These are the 10th ASEAN Skills Competition in Vietnam, the 11th ASEAN Skills Competition in Malaysia and the 12th ASEAN Skills Competition in Thailand.

The achievement of cooperation in training for Lao experts and candidates through the above 4 ASEAN vocational skills exams has helped the team win 1 Silver Medal and 10 certificates of excellent vocational skills.

In the period of 2019-2021, the two sides will implement the commitments between the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Lao Ministry of Labor and Welfare at the Vietnam-Laos Ministers Meeting of Labor and Social Welfare. The 6th time was held in Vientiane Capital (Laos) from March 26-28, 2019.

In which, the field of human resource development has committed: supporting training equipment in the fields of automotive technology, electricity, electronics and information technology; receive and train pupils and students; training experts and candidates to participate in ASEAN skills exams; short-term and long-term staff training... for the Lao side.

Up to now, the cooperation process has recorded some outstanding results in the implementation of tasks managed by the General Department of Vocational Education and Training.

First, complete the transfer of training equipment support in the fields of: automotive technology, electricity, electronics and information technology with the Laos-Korea Academy of Skills Development. Thereby, the equipment was put into teaching and training with a total value of nearly 4 billion VND as committed.

Along with that, the two sides focused on receiving and training students; training experts and candidates to participate in ASEAN skills exams; short-term and long-term staff training... Vocational education institutions have committed to provide full scholarships and partial scholarships for 52 Lao cadres, teachers, students and students. These institutions have developed specific plans to effectively implement the commitments under the guidance of the General Department of Vocational Education. However, up to now, the Lao side has not introduced or proposed a list of officials, teachers, students and students participating in training in our country.

An important highlight during this time is cooperation in the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework and quality assurance and mutual recognition of qualifications between the two countries.

In 2020 and 2021, Vietnam and Laos will jointly participate in the Capacity Building project for the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework and assuring the quality of vocational education for the group of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. ASEAN signed the chair, with the support of Korea.

In 2020 and 2021, Vietnam and Laos will jointly participate in the Capacity Building project for the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework and assuring the quality of vocational education for the group of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. ASEAN signed the chair, with the support of Korea.

Overcoming difficulties in the future

According to the General Department of Vocational Education and Training, cooperation activities in the field of vocational education between the two countries during this time still face difficulties from reality.

Specifically, equipment sponsored by Vietnam has been transferred and put into teaching and training at vocational education institutions in Laos. However, for the content of receiving and training students, students; training experts and candidates to participate in ASEAN skills exams; Short-term and long-term staff training is still inadequate. The reason may be due to the limited process of exchanging and connecting information between the two sides, as well as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to limitations in sending and receiving training for Laos.

Another problem is that the training for Lao experts and candidates to participate in the ASEAN vocational skills exam as well as other cooperation activities still faces many difficulties. The main reason is that the fixed budget has not been allocated for this activity. Funding is approved on a yearly basis (based on the proposal of Laos) leading to slow implementation, or failure to implement activities compared with the plan.

In the coming time, Vietnam and Laos need to strengthen cooperation in a number of specific contents.

Firstly, cooperate to support Laos to participate in vocational skills exams with the use of funds that will be provided for annual skills exams. Thereby, continue to cooperate and support your country to train experts and candidates to prepare for ASEAN vocational skills exams in occupations where Laos has demand and Vietnam has strengths. Along with that, support Laos to become a member of the World Organization of Vocational Skills Competition and participate in world vocational skills exams, if needed.

Second, the two sides cooperate to develop national occupational skill standards.

Third, cooperate in developing policies, developing assessment systems and related activities in order to mutually recognize vocational skills for workers of the two countries.

Fourth, continue to cooperate in the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework and quality assurance and mutual recognition of qualifications between the two countries.

Fifth, exchange students, students and teachers between vocational education institutions of the two countries.

Sixth, receiving Lao students and students to study at all levels of vocational education in Vietnam.

Seventh, transfer international training programs and international vocational training technology to Laos.