Vietnam Journalists' Association: 75 years going with the nation

THE HANOI TIMES — In the remote hamlet of Roong Khoa, nestled in Thai Nguyen Province’s Dinh Hoa District, history was quietly made on April 21, 1950. Beneath the dense forest canopy of Diem Mac Commune, a gathering of voices took place - voices that would go on to shape the nation's press. It was here, amid the charged atmosphere of revolution and resistance, that the Vietnamese Journalists' Association held its very first congress.

Chaired by Truong Chinh, then General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and convened under the guidance of the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh, the congress marked the formal birth of one of the country’s earliest political, social, and professional associations. It was not just an administrative milestone but also a declaration of the press’s role in Vietnam’s struggle and nation-building.

During the congress, delegates unanimously adopted the Association's founding charter and program of action, setting the tone for journalism rooted in national duty and ideological commitment. Ten journalists were elected to the first executive committee, with seasoned revolutionary writer and diplomat Xuan Thuy, later known for his role as head of the Vietnamese delegation at the Paris Peace Talks (1968–1973), appointed as chairman.

The 1950 congress may have taken place far from the public eye, but its legacy echoes across every newsroom and press stand in Vietnam today.

Le Quoc Minh, Chairman of the Vietnamese Journalists Association, said the association has gathered journalists across the country and makes important contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. From nearly 300 members in the beginning, the association now counts more than 25,000 members working in affiliated associations across the country.

He believes that the founding of the organization significantly elevated journalistic activities during Vietnam's resistance war against the Americans. He said that the association played a crucial role in inspiring and mobilizing both the army and the people, contributing to the decisive victory against French colonial forces.

From the outset, the Party recognized journalism as a vital front in the battle for culture and ideology, with every journalist seen as a soldier in the struggle. In particular, many of the Party's foremost leaders were also accomplished journalists. Among them were President Ho Chi Minh and other prominent figures such as Truong Chinh, Pham Van Dong, Xuan Thuy, and Vo Nguyen Giap whose sharp, revolutionary pens helped steer the course of Vietnam's fight for independence.

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its founding, a delegation of the Vietnamese Journalists' Association visited historical sites in the northern province of Thai Nguyen where the association came into being.

There, Le Quoc Minh and the delegates vowed to carry on the glorious tradition, continuing to write the epic of revolutionary journalism in the language of the digital age.

Journalists' challenges facing today are no longer the bombs and bullets, but fake news and the chaotic storm of information from social networks. Every journalist must become a soldier in cyberspace, protecting readers and maintaining "clear eyes, pure hearts, sharp pens" in the digital age, Minh said.

Nguyen Duc Loi, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists' Association, said the organization has identified key tasks to promote the 75-year tradition: Protecting the rights and legitimate interests of journalists, improving professional skills and ethics, monitoring compliance with laws, and making policies on the press. 

"As we enter the era of national rise, amidst rapidly developing global context driven by science and technology, the Vietnamese Journalists' Association will uphold its proud tradition and enhance its role to be deserved a trustworthy political, social, and professional organization," he said.