As part of the twelfth Pink Holiday campaign, some young professionals have traveled beyond the country’s border, going to some isolated provinces in Laos to help out the friendly neighbours.

Doctors from Ho Chi Minh City provide free health care services to people in Attapeu

Spending 20 hours covering a long distance of 200km through forests, Dr Tran Chan Thanh Van from the city’s Eye hospital arrived in Tang Ta Lang Village, Dak Chung District, Sekong Province. Van said she will never forget the time when he met people who first learned what a pill looks like. Residing in the most remote village of the province, some say they have never gone to a hospital as it is far away from where they live.

Before going back to Vietnam, the villagers gave Van and other doctors local gifts like honey, vegetables and meat.

Huynh Nguyen Loc, head of the Department of Labor and Workers at the city’s Youth Union, said there is no word that can describe the special affection the Laotians have for Vietnamese doctors. Through voluntary activities, the bonds between the two countries have been strengthened.

“The young generations of the two countries are also connected. Youth in Ho Chi Minh City could learn more about Laos provinces like Attapeu and Champasak. On the other hand, young Laotians could meet and befriend with the Vietnamese through voluntary sessions,” said Loc.