In late March 2026, the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos marked a significant milestone as the port city of Hai Phong was chosen as a key destination for a field survey by a high-level Lao delegation. The visit took place within the framework of the Lao Executive Leadership Program (LELP) 2026, a major policy dialogue and training initiative that affirms Vietnam's commitment to accompanying Laos on its path toward sustainable socio-economic development.
LELP 2026: A Forum for Knowledge and Strategic Vision
The LELP 2026 program was organized by the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (FSPPM) at Fulbright University Vietnam, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. Running for six days from March 23 to March 28, 2026, the program served as a multidimensional forum combining policy discussions, academic exchanges, and practical field surveys.
The curriculum of LELP 2026 covered vital issues for an economy in transition, ranging from the global economic context and institutional reform to macroeconomic stability, fiscal policies, industrial development, and economic restructuring. Notably, the program emphasized building state capacity within the digital economy—a prerequisite for developing nations to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The delegation represented a high level of the Lao state management apparatus, led by His Excellency Maythong Thammavongsa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos. The group included 25 senior leaders and managers from key ministries and agencies, such as the Investment Promotion and Management Committee, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of the Lao PDR, and leading economic research institutes.
Hai Phong: The Preferred Field Destination
The selection of Hai Phong as a field survey site was a strategic choice based on its position as a dynamic growth pole and a national leader in socio-economic development. Hai Phong is regarded as a successful "model" in developing modern economic zones (EZs) and industrial parks (IPs), promoting high-tech industries, and achieving outstanding results in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
Through this field trip, Lao policymakers sought a direct look at Vietnam's development model. The practical lessons from Hai Phong provide valuable reference materials for the Lao side to research, select, and apply in building action programs to realize the strategic goals set forth at the 12th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
Morning of March 27: Decoding the Success of Economic Zones
On the morning of March 27, 2026, the LELP 2026 delegation began a busy working schedule in Hai Phong. The first stop was the Headquarters of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority (HEZA), where Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Dung, Deputy Head of the Authority, presided over the working session.
During the meeting, HEZA representatives provided an overview of the system of IPs and EZs across the city. The delegation was introduced to Hai Phong’s competitive advantages and its strategic orientation for key investment attraction in the coming period. In an open atmosphere, both sides discussed and clarified various issues of interest to the delegation regarding the local investment and business environment. Following the discussion, the delegation conducted a physical survey at a representative industrial park to witness the modern production infrastructure firsthand.
Afternoon of March 27: VinFast – Vietnamese Technological Ambition on the Global Stage
In the afternoon, the delegation visited VinFast Manufacturing and Trading Joint Stock Company. This visit offered a "local government perspective" on economic development strategies.
At VinFast, the delegation met with corporate leaders and received an overview of the company’s "lightning-fast" formation and its strategic orientation to become a global smart electric vehicle (EV) brand. The Lao delegates expressed deep impressions of the scale and modern technology of this high-tech industrial complex, particularly the production of electric vehicles and the modern industrial ecosystem.
The direct tour of the assembly and product testing lines provided the delegation with a visual understanding of smart industrial production. Witnessing the modern technology and operating model at VinFast helped the Lao managers better understand how Vietnam is shifting its economic structure toward high-value-added industries within the global value chain.
Significance and Prospects
The field trip of the high-level Lao delegation in Hai Phong concluded successfully, moving beyond a mere exchange of management experiences and socio-economic development solutions. The visit served to further consolidate and strengthen the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
The practical experiences gained at HEZA and the VinFast factory will undoubtedly serve as vivid case studies for the Lao leaders. The results of this trip contribute to the promotion of Vietnam-Laos economic diplomacy, opening new cooperation opportunities in industry, high technology, and infrastructure development between Hai Phong and Lao localities in the future.
The success of LELP 2026 and the Hai Phong visit reaffirms the role of knowledge sharing in building a prosperous ASEAN community. For Hai Phong, this was also an occasion to promote its image as a dynamic city and a reliable destination for foreign investors and high-level diplomatic delegations.