Construction of a memorial complex to President Ho Chi Minh began inXiangvang village, Nongbouk district, in Khammouane province of Laoson April 18.

The event was jointly held by Ho Chi Minh Museum of Vietnam and Kaysone Phomvihan Museum of Laos.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Director of Ho Chi MinhMuseum Chu Duc Tinh said the complex will be built on an area of 1.5hectares at a cost of 35 billion VND as non-refundable aid from theVietnamese Government.

It includes a memorial houseand a house introducing the revolutionary life of President Ho Chi Minhas well as his impact on the Vietnam-Laos special relations.

The complex is expected to be completed within a year to mark the 122nd anniversary of the birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19) andVietnam -Laos Friendship Year in 2012, Tinh said.

Souvandi Sisavath, who is in charge of the Kaysone PhomvihanMuseum , said the complex will hold historical and politicalsignificance, and highlight the special cultural identities of the twocountries.

The beloved President, who founded theIndochinese Communist Party, the precursor of the Lao People’sRevolutionary Party, established and fostered the special relations andcomprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and people, hesaid.

The complex is built on land where PresidentHo used to live and work, Souvandi Sisavath said, noting that itmanifests boundless gratefulness to the President, who dedicated hislife to the revolutionary cause of the two countries.-VNA