The National Press Festival 2025 in Vietnam, themed "Vietnamese Journalism - Loyal, Creative, Resilient, Innovative for the Cause of Building and Defending the Homeland," has drawn a vibrant crowd of journalists, reporters, and the public alike. This event marks a monumental centennial celebration of the formation and development of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism, offering a rich tapestry of history, innovation, and forward-looking perspectives on the media landscape.
Mr. Le Quoc Minh, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists' Association and Head of the Steering Committee for the festival, emphasized the event's immense significance. He highlighted the festival's role in fully expressing the identity of Vietnamese journalism, bridging its traditional roots with modern, creative content that underscores the press’s monumental contributions to the Party and the nation's revolutionary efforts.
The festival's inauguration was led by Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia, a Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee, alongside other prominent leaders and representatives from various press agencies. Their presence underscored the event’s national importance and the press’s role in shaping Vietnam’s socio-political fabric.
Nearly 130 exhibition booths from 124 central and local press units showcase the diversity and vitality of Vietnam's media. These booths cover a broad spectrum of topics, including economics, politics, culture, society, national defense, security, and foreign affairs. Many agencies have embraced cutting-edge technology, presenting multi-platform journalistic products that incorporate artificial intelligence, 3D modeling, holofan displays, and virtual reality experiences.
Among the standout exhibitions is the Vietnam News Agency's (VNA) booth, which carries the powerful message "Official News Source, Mainstream News Flow." Celebrating its 80-year journey from September 15, 1945, to September 15, 2025, VNA has solidified its status as a reliable strategic information center for the Party and State, with a respected reputation both regionally and globally.
VNA’s exhibition is thoughtfully organized into four main themes: "Glory - Pride - Continuation," "Efficiency - Effectiveness - Impact," "Accuracy - Agility - Attractiveness," and "Connect - Spread - Reach Far." The "Glory - Pride - Continuation" section features exceptional photographic works, films documenting VNA's history, and evocative images of President Ho Chi Minh, the revered founder of Vietnam's revolutionary journalism. It also displays iconic photos by combat journalists who have received the prestigious Ho Chi Minh Awards and State Awards for Literature and Art, alongside award-winning contemporary works from national and international competitions.
Visitors can delve into VNA's organizational structure and innovative information products, reflecting the agency’s recent restructuring efforts guided by Party Resolutions 18-NQ/TW and 57-NQ/TW. These reforms aimed to streamline operations, enhance innovation, and reaffirm VNA’s pioneering role in Vietnamese revolutionary journalism while expanding its international reach.
The "Connect - Spread - Reach Far" theme highlights VNA’s active integration and cooperation with global news agencies, emphasizing its efforts to disseminate official, authoritative information far and wide. The exhibition also features a rich collection of publications, including special issues commemorating 100 years of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism, notable books from VNA Publishing House, and prominent newspapers and bulletins such as Tin Nhanh, Tai Lieu Tham Khao Dac Biet, Kinh Te Viet Nam va The Gioi, Tin Tuc va Dan Toc, The Thao va Van Hoa, Vietnam News and Law, Le Courrier du Vietnam, and Anh Viet Nam.
For history buffs and researchers, the exhibition offers a fascinating trove of artifacts used by VNA reporters during Vietnam’s resistance wars. These include a TIPAS typewriter used by Deputy General Director Le Chan in Viet Bac, a rotary telephone employed for direct communication with President Ho Chi Minh and the Politburo from 1950 to 1973, a 15W-xD6 transceiver used by the Liberation News Agency from its inception until reunification, and a LEICA-M3 camera with flash belonging to martyr journalist Bui Dinh Tuy, who worked on the southern battlefield in the mid-1960s.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Su, Deputy General Director of VNA, shared insights about the agency’s commitment to implementing Party resolutions that have streamlined its apparatus and reorganized its information units. Out of 22 direct subordinate units, VNA now operates six source information units, eight publishing press units, two regional information centers, and a network of resident agencies both domestically and internationally. This streamlined structure supports VNA’s mission as the national news agency and official voice of the Party and State, ensuring efficient, effective, and continuous news delivery.
In line with the digital transformation sweeping the global media, VNA showcased modern technological applications at the festival, offering visitors, particularly young people, interactive experiences. The first-ever photo book on "100 years of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism," published by VNA Publishing House, is accessible via touchscreens, allowing the public to explore hundreds of invaluable photos and rare historical documents with just a few taps.
Moreover, the festival features a professional exchange program titled "AI is a tool, journalists are the heart," which explores artificial intelligence’s role in information retrieval, analysis, writing, editing, and translation using ChatGPT. Attendees can even produce a real journalistic product with an AI virtual assistant on mobile devices, marking a significant step in embracing digital innovation in Vietnamese journalism.
The festival’s indoor setting at the National Convention Center, a departure from previous outdoor venues, reflects the organizers’ meticulous preparation and the event’s elevated status. Despite economic challenges and organizational streamlining across sectors, the number of participating press agencies and associations remains impressively high, demonstrating the media community's dedication.
International delegations from China, Malaysia, South Korea, Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Cuba have also joined the festival, fostering cross-border dialogue and cooperation in journalism.
Mr. Phan Thanh Nam, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Van Hoa Newspaper, highlighted his association’s booth, which emphasizes the humanistic and professional values of modern journalism. Their exhibition seeks to convey the compassionate spirit of journalists and media outlets, promoting a positive image of the press as a force for unity and progress in this new era.
Student Doan Minh Duc from the Academy of Journalism and Communication expressed his admiration for VNA’s exhibition, particularly the technology zone where visitors can effortlessly access a wealth of journalistic content. He noted that such innovations enable VNA to deliver fast, accurate news to audiences both domestically and abroad.
Veteran journalists and attendees alike praised VNA’s booth, expressing hopes for the agency’s continued growth and its vital role in providing essential information to the public.
Overall, the National Press Festival 2025 stands as a testament to the resilience, creativity, and evolution of Vietnamese journalism. It not only honors a century of revolutionary reporting but also embraces the future with bold innovations, reaffirming the press’s indispensable role in Vietnam’s ongoing story.
