Vietnam Press Museum

Việt Nam•29/07/2023

(HBĐT) - On July 28, 2017, the Prime Minister signed a decision to establish the Vietnam Press Museum. Located within the premises of the Vietnam Journalists Association building in Cau Giay district (Hanoi), the Vietnam Press Museum is not only a place to preserve the great values of the history of journalism but also the history of the country and the nation. It is a proud destination and a precious heritage for journalists.

A delegation of officials from the Hoa Binh Provincial Journalists Association visited the exhibition room of the Vietnam Press Museum.

Accompanying the delegation from the Hoa Binh Provincial Journalists Association on a visit to the Museum, we were moved and honored to hear and see the stories told through each artifact throughout the long history of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism. The exhibition hall, covering nearly 1,500 square meters, has collected over 35,000 documents and artifacts in its five years of establishment, highlighting significant historical periods such as: the lotus pen in the ceremonial hall, the diamond pedestal in the 1865-1925 section, the war zone press in the 1945-1954 section, the underground newspaper production in the 1954-1975 section, and the memorial area for journalists who fell for the Fatherland and the People…

Besides rare documents and artifacts such as the Gia Dinh newspaper - the first newspaper published in the Vietnamese Quốc ngữ script, and the Thanh Nien newspaper - the first revolutionary newspaper of Vietnam, the museum also displays many valuable artifacts and equipment used by revolutionary journalists throughout different periods. The artifacts, photographs, and newspaper pages on display bring us back to life in each era. Since the Thanh Nien newspaper - the first revolutionary newspaper founded and led by President Ho Chi Minh - was established (June 21, 1925), the press has accompanied the Party and the Vietnamese nation throughout the process of struggle and national construction. The press has always been at the forefront; wherever there are difficulties, hardships, and sacrifices, there are journalists.

Visiting the museum, we not only felt the ups and downs of Vietnamese journalism but also saw the flow of history and culture in the process of national struggle and development. The silent contributions of journalists are clearly shown in the exhibits, such as the pages of Nhan Dan Newspaper edited and published in a bunker during the 12-day and 12-night bombing raid by the US Air Force using B52 bombers (December 1972), yet still published regularly to reach the people and soldiers. The grounds outside the building also display large stained-glass paintings, depicting the different stages of Vietnamese journalism.

Leading the delegation on a tour of the exhibition hall, Ms. Tran Thi Kim Hoa, Director of the Vietnam Press Museum, said: "The museum is not only a place for sightseeing and research but also welcomes many visitors from afar. Currently, the museum has equipped itself with many smart devices to give visitors more new experiences, such as: a digital search screen system, a room for searching artifacts and original documents. To ensure the museum continues to develop and acquire more artifacts, the staff is actively promoting and encouraging press agencies, journalists, reporters, and citizens who own valuable historical press artifacts to contribute. In addition, the museum carefully preserves the artifacts and maintains promotion to maximize their historical value, making the units and individuals who own the artifacts feel that placing them in the museum will lead to public recognition and positive reception, giving them more peace of mind when handing them over to the museum. To date, the museum has organized 20 thematic exhibitions and scientific seminars on journalism, collecting..." It attracted over 18,000 visitors, including more than 150 foreign tourists.

During their visit to the museum, the delegation from the Hoa Binh Provincial Journalists Association contributed several artifacts, enriching the collection in the exhibition hall. Comrade Nguyen Manh Tuan, Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Journalists Association, Editor-in-Chief of Hoa Binh Newspaper, and Chairman of the Hoa Binh Provincial Journalists Association, stated: "I am very impressed with many historical artifacts of Vietnamese journalism, such as the cameras used by photographers of the Vietnam Arts and Literature Association during the resistance war against the French; the large 500W loudspeaker on the north bank of the Ben Hai River, at the 17th parallel; and the Typo printing press manufactured in 1966 used to print leaflets, documents, and the Vietnam Independent Newspaper… These artifacts, though simple, contain so much dedication and responsibility of journalists. They further inspire pride, strengthen faith, and foster continuous creativity in my work, enabling me and other journalists to continue building a more developed revolutionary Vietnamese press."

The images and artifacts displayed at the Vietnam Press Museum have attracted public attention and interest, contributing to the dissemination of revolutionary ideology and history, and providing viewers with rich experiences about the lives and work of journalists. Through this, they have become a valuable heritage, further inspiring enthusiasm in the younger generation, fostering dedication, promoting the fine traditional values of revolutionary journalism, and making a significant contribution to the cause of national construction and defense.

Hoang Anh

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