On September 15, 1945, from Bach Mai Radio Station, Vietnam News Agency (VNTTX) - the predecessor of VNA - broadcast the full text of the Declaration of Independence and the list of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in three languages: Vietnamese, English, and French.
That event officially marked the birth of the national news agency, opening its 80-year journey accompanying the country.
The article “Accompanying the nation” synthesizes assessments and comments from officials, experts, international journalists, intellectuals and overseas Vietnamese on the role of VNA in the cause of building, protecting and developing the country, as well as in the mission of spreading national values, connecting Vietnam and the world .
"Pioneer" position
For eight decades, VNA has not only been the "recorder" of revolutionary history through long resistance wars, accompanying the nation in the cause of national construction and development, but has also become an important part of that heroic historical process.
The assessment of Venezuelan Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Simón Arrechide also reflects the general opinion of many officials, international experts, intellectuals and overseas Vietnamese about the great contributions of VNA to Vietnam's development.
Since its inception, VNA has been a sharp media tool for the young revolutionary government. During the resistance wars against colonialism and imperialism, VNA reporters did not fear hardship and sacrifice, bravely reporting from the fierce battlefield, conveying the message of the nation's will for independence and desire for freedom.
Hundreds of reporters fell, leaving behind valuable photos and articles, contributing to encouraging the fighting spirit of the army and people across the country, while providing objective information about the war and Vietnam's justice to international friends.
Director General of the Lao News Agency (KPL) Vannasin Simmavong affirmed that VNA is not only an "honest reporter" of national history, but also a reliable source of strategic information, highly appreciated by the region and the world.
With the role of “secretary of the times,” VNA has always accompanied the country’s development, from the restoration of peace, through the Doi Moi process, to the acceleration and breakthrough period, towards a new era of prosperity and integration. Reflecting comprehensively and honestly the strong changes of the nation, VNA’s information products have contributed to protecting sovereignty, affirming position and enhancing Vietnam’s image in the international arena.
From the perspective of Thai journalist and scholar Kavi Chongkittavorn, VNA plays a particularly important role in promoting Vietnam’s image to the world. He considers it an official, consistent and reliable source of information about Vietnam, and affirms that this information has contributed to shaping the story about Vietnam in the public’s mind, strengthening Vietnam’s profile in ASEAN and the international community.
VNA publications such as Vietnam Pictorial, Vietnam News and Law, Le Courrier du Vietnam, the VietnamPlus electronic information portal (providing news in 6 languages) and the Center for Media Development and Digital Content have not only raised awareness of the country's policies and situation, but also met the growing information needs of overseas Vietnamese around the world.
Journalist Luis Manuel Arce Isaac, a war correspondent for the Latin American news agency Prensa Latina, once said that if during the years of fighting for independence, VNA was “a small window opening to the world,” now this revolutionary press agency has become “a vast space” connecting Vietnam with all continents and vice versa, followed by international friends from all over the planet.
Over the past 80 years, VNA has always maintained its fighting spirit and pioneered on the information front. Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My emphasized that VNA has a special role in exposing the tricks of spreading fake news, distorting history, and dividing the great national unity bloc, using scientific evidence and accurate information, thereby strengthening public trust in the Party and State.
French journalist Alain Thomas, who used to teach journalism to Vietnamese reporters, considers VNA as the country's "information shield" in the context of media globalization, where information has no borders and competition is fierce.
According to him, VNA is not only a source of official news, but also contributes to protecting national interests, image and sovereignty.
Lao News Agency Director General Vannasin Simmavong also assessed that in the era of digital media and social networks with many opportunities and challenges such as fake news, hostile speech, and online fraud, VNA has promoted the qualities of a national news agency: firmly upholding the standards of honesty and objectivity, while being creative and flexible to take advantage of the positive aspects and minimize the negative impacts of the digital environment.
After 80 years of establishment and development, VNA has constantly innovated, keeping up with the digital transformation trend of the country and the world with “rare dynamism and youthful spirit,” as impressed by lecturer David Grunewald (Free University of Brussels, Belgium). He commented that VNA’s strength is always finding ways to innovate communication methods, considering digital platforms not as a challenge but as an opportunity to reach new audiences.
Kyodo News President Toshimitsu Sawai also highly appreciated VNA's strategic transformation from a traditional press agency to a multi-platform model, applying new technology to keep up with the global digitalization trend. This is an advantage that helps VNA meet the increasingly high demands of modern media.
According to Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan, VNA has demonstrated its pioneering spirit in special periods of the country, while adapting flexibly in the digital age. A clear proof is the innovation of content towards brevity, visuality, easy access, suitable for new information consumption habits.
With these breakthroughs, VNA is taking the lead, demonstrating the role of a national news agency by becoming a modern press and media complex, with dozens of key units...
As one of the leading press agencies in digital transformation, building a multi-platform press ecosystem, serving people on all devices, from phones, computers to social networks, VNA is not only a press agency - but also a part of history, has always been and will continue to be closely associated with the country's development.
Looking back on the past, it can be seen that historical milestones have merged into a common flow: 80 years of building and developing the country is also 80 years of VNA's establishment and dedication to the cause of Revolutionary Journalism. That parallel not only has symbolic meaning, but also affirms VNA's pioneering role in accompanying the international integration process, spreading the responsibility and position of Vietnam in the regional and world arena.
This is the foundation for VNA to contribute more to the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press in continuing to promote its role as a bridge of reliable information, helping to bring the image of the country and people of Vietnam closer to the regional and international community.
Enhancing national "soft power"
With a network of 30 permanent offices in all five continents and a diverse, multilingual product system, VNA has been constantly spreading the image of a resilient Vietnam in the struggle to protect independence, freedom and peace, a stable and dynamically developing Vietnam, an active and responsible member of the international community, a "confident, self-reliant, self-reliant, self-reliant, and proud of its nation" Vietnam, steadily entering the era of national growth, getting closer to the international community.
With professionalism and innovation, VNA increasingly affirms and strongly promotes its role as the country's key foreign information agency, spreading foreign information as part of the nation's "soft power" to consolidate and enhance Vietnam's prestige, position and image in the world.
Currently, VNA cooperates with more than 40 major news agencies and press organizations around the world, providing multimedia news in many languages every day. News products, articles, photos, videos... about Vietnam are often widely used, creating a positive influence in the international arena.
At the same time, VNA is at the forefront of the trend of press convergence, developing a multilingual, multimedia and multi-channel communication system - from print newspapers, electronic newspapers, social networks to new digital platforms. Journalist Wei Wei, Head of the Vietnamese Department, China Central Radio and Television (CMG), commented: with its official status, global network, professional tradition and technological innovation, VNA has become a prestigious news agency, widely recognized at home and abroad.
Formerly the Chief Representative of Kyodo News in Vietnam, journalist Miyake Kazuhisa commented that the volume of information provided by VNA has increased significantly compared to before. In particular, providing content in multiple languages such as English, French, and Chinese helps international audiences easily access and directly understand news about Vietnam. According to him, this multilingual approach creates a prominent advantage, helping VNA make an “invaluable contribution” in disseminating information domestically and internationally.
Along with its affirmed professional quality, VNA also maintains a high position in the regional and international media network. General Director of the Lao News Agency (KPL) Vannasin Simmavong considers VNA a reliable strategic source of news and an important “information bridge” in the Vietnam-Laos friendship.
Director General of the Cambodian News Agency (AKP) Sokmom Nimul also appreciated VNA’s contribution to promoting mutual understanding through Khmer-language products and supporting the training of press personnel. It can be seen that, for traditional neighboring countries, VNA is not only a press partner but also a “bridge of friendship”, contributing to strengthening the foundation of trust in the close relationship between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
Within ASEAN, VNA’s cooperation with news agencies is increasingly expanding. ANTARA (Indonesia) News Editor-in-Chief Irfan Junaidi acknowledged the long-standing cooperative relationship with VNA and suggested that the two sides strengthen coordination from reporting on regional issues to implementing joint media campaigns to promote each country’s development story to international friends. This shows that VNA not only contributes to bringing Vietnam’s image to the world, but also connects countries in the region, promoting ASEAN’s common identity.
As an active member of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), VNA has been elected to the Executive Committee many times, including for the 2025-2028 term.
Kyodo News President Toshimitsu Sawai highly appreciated VNA’s active participation in OANA forums, where the agency shared its experiences, led discussions, and won many awards for its photos, news, and articles. TASS Director General Andrei Olegovych Kondrashov stressed that, with its role in the OANA Executive Board, VNA will continue to make “invaluable” contributions to the development of the organization and will always receive support from international colleagues.
Not only affirming its role in the region, VNA's voice has also reached many continents around the world. Journalist Dilbert Reyes Rodríguez, acting editor-in-chief of Granma newspaper - the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of Cuba - commented that VNA has continuously diversified its media channels, fulfilling its mission of bringing official information of Vietnam to the world.
Sharing the same view, Mr. Alejandro Gomez Vega, Vice President of the Latin American News Agency Prensa Latina, emphasized that VNA is an important source of news, promptly reflecting Vietnam's achievements, while promoting mutual understanding between peoples, especially the long-lasting friendship between Vietnam and Cuba. He expected that cooperation between the two agencies would continue to expand, especially in sharing press content and materials. He also said that many Vietnamese journalists have been and are being trained in Cuba - a testament to the close relationship between the two countries.
Journalist Luis Manuel Arce Isaac, a war correspondent for Prensa Latina, expressed his admiration for VNA’s status as one of the world’s leading modern and advanced news agencies. The comments from Cuba are also the common voice of many news agencies that have traditional relations with Vietnam.
Director General of TASS News Agency (Russia) Andrei Olegovych Kondrashov assessed the cooperation between TASS and VNA as a typical example of effective partnership, based on mutual respect and professionalism.
According to him, this relationship has created a solid bridge of information exchange for the cause of peace, contributing to promoting understanding and cultural exchange between the people of the two countries.
Over the past 80 years, VNA has affirmed its position as the leading national news agency, as well as a bridge of friendship, spreading Vietnamese values to friends around the world. Assessments from leaders of international news agencies, scholars and journalists all show trust and respect for VNA. It can be seen that the core value of VNA lies not only in technology or a wide network, but also in the spirit of revolutionary journalism: honesty, perseverance and responsibility to the public.
In the digital age with many opportunities and challenges, VNA continues to innovate and apply technology, while still maintaining its revolutionary journalistic identity. This is the foundation for VNA to constantly affirm its role as the country's key foreign affairs agency in its mission as a pillar contributing to positioning Vietnam as a "self-reliant, confident, self-reliant, self-reliant, proud" nation with humanity, thereby creating and bringing the country's "soft power" to a new level./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/80-nam-thong-tan-xa-viet-nam-dong-hanh-cung-dan-toc-post1061640.vnp
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