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Twenty-three-years-old Chue Ha and 35-years-old Xai Thong. Chue Ha is a student of business administration, and Xai Thong is a colonel in the Lao Army. They're both from this province, and Chue Ha has never been outside of it.

A Hmong, Chue Ha studied at a Vietnamese built boarding school, Trường Phổ Thông Dân Tộc Nội Trú Tỉnh Xiêng Khouang, with many Vietnamese teachers, for four years. He's married, with a baby girl, and his wife is five-months pregnant.

Xai Thong has traveled around Laos, but never outside of it, "If my English is good, I can travel." His girlfriend, now living in Pakse, will go to Vietnam next year to study, so he will visit her there. I told Xai Thong he should visit Hoi An while there.

Very interesting, all these Vietnamese connections, and while we were eating, drinking and talking, a bunch of Vietnamese pop songs came on, although Mario Restaurant was entirely a Lao hangout.

Chue Ha, "Laos don't understand the songs. They just like it!"

Most interestingly, Xai Thong told me there are about one hundred Russian troops training in the area.



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