The Laos-Vietnam Relationship: Viewed Through Vietnamese Voluntary Soldiers in Laos (Pre-1975 Period)

Abstract

The research question of this research is – What is the cause of the distinctively good relationship of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party with Vietnam?  This article, therefore, would like to find the answer through a study of Laos-Vietnam relationships, viewed through the manner of movement of the “Vietnamese voluntary soldiers” in Laos prior to 1975. What are the views of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the Lao PDR as well as persons in Laos on these Vietnamese voluntary soldiers? Regarding the method of study, a historical method was used. The emphasis was on analysis of documentary works of both Laos and Vietnam. The study found out that the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party which is the only party that controls the state power in Lao PDR had the Vietnamese Communist Party which, at later stage, was changed into Indochina Communist Party, as its origin. And, because both sides had the same revolutionary ideology and enemies i.e. France and America, they cooperated in the fighting. In that, during 1945-1975, (North) Vietnam sent Vietnamese voluntary troops to fight in Laos. Mainly because of this, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party was able to control the state power in Laos and successfully established the country into Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). As for the party leaders and Lao PDR and those who had fought together with the Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in Laos, they feel committed and value these voluntary soldiers. This base of relationship, therefore, forms a part of the cause of “special levelled” Laos-Vietnam relationship.