▁he ▁was ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁La o - V ietnam ese ▁Co operation ▁Committee ▁and ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁Minister ▁of ▁Fin ance . ▁On ▁ 2 6 ▁March ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁he ▁was ▁elected ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁Council ▁of ▁Minister s ▁( Pr ime ▁Minister ) ▁of ▁La os . ▁On ▁ 8 ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁he ▁was ▁followed ▁by ▁the ▁former ▁ 1 st ▁Deput y ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁Bou as one ▁Bou ph av anh ▁in ▁the ▁office ▁of ▁Prime ▁Minister . ▁He ▁himself ▁became ▁vice - pres ident ▁of ▁the ▁Democratic ▁People ' s ▁Republic ▁of ▁La os ▁on ▁March ▁ 8 , ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁and ▁thus ▁deput y ▁to ▁Ch ou mm aly ▁Say as one . ▁ ▁B oun n hang ' s ▁t ies ▁with ▁Vietnam ▁run ▁deep . ▁He ▁under w ent ▁military ▁training ▁there ▁and , ▁after ▁taking ▁part ▁in ▁found ing ▁the ▁La o ▁People ' s ▁Democratic ▁Republic ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 5 , ▁he ▁studied ▁social ist ▁thought ▁there . ▁ ▁He ▁became ▁Vice ▁President ▁on ▁ 8 ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁when ▁Bou as one ▁Bou ph av anh ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁Prime ▁Minister . ▁At ▁the ▁ 1 0 th ▁Congress ▁of ▁the ▁La o ▁People ' s ▁Revolution ary ▁Party , ▁he ▁was