Journalist Ly Van Sau

(NB&CL) “The Seminar and Special Exhibition: Journalist and Diplomat Ly Van Sau: A Heart of Unwavering Loyalty” – to be held on November 1st, is the opening event of a series of events on Portraits of Outstanding Journalists leading up to the 100th anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Journalists Association (April 21, 1950 – April 21, 2025) that the Vietnam Journalism Museum has been and is currently undertaking. The event also coincides with the 100th birthday of the late journalist Ly Van Sau (November 5, 1924 – November 5, 2024) – a dedicated writer, a heart of unwavering loyalty to the Party and the People, and a journalist who made many contributions to the cause of Revolutionary Journalism.

1. Organizing seminars and thematic exhibitions on the lives and careers of veteran journalists and exemplary journalists who have made significant contributions to the revolutionary journalism of Vietnam has always been a priority for the Vietnam Journalism Museum - Vietnam Journalists Association, and has been a focus of investment for many years. Regarding this event, journalist Tran Kim Hoa - Head of the Vietnam Journalism Museum, said:

"Journalist Ly Van Sau made immense contributions to journalism and diplomacy , playing a crucial role in the struggle for national independence and nation-building. During his lifetime, he dedicated the best years of his life to striving for revolutionary ideals, for the cause of national independence and nation-building. During the two wars of resistance against France and the United States, at the young age of 22, he served as both editor-in-chief of Thang Newspaper (the predecessor of today's Khanh Hoa Newspaper) and a French-language newspaper serving enemy propaganda efforts; he contributed to the early establishment of the Voice of Southern Vietnam Radio and the Voice of the South Radio, becoming an outstanding spokesperson for the delegation of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam in Paris from 1968 to 1973."

After the country was unified, he dedicated himself to press management, to the professional activities of the Vietnam Journalists Association, and left many important imprints on the political and diplomatic fronts, serving the cause of national liberation, national reunification, and the development of the broadcasting and television industry and the Vietnam News Agency… Through the exhibition of images and artifacts related to the life and career of journalist and diplomat Ly Van Sau, the seminar will surely receive many valuable opinions from delegates, further clarifying the outstanding contributions of journalist and diplomat Ly Van Sau to the revolutionary press of Vietnam during the periods of national liberation, national defense, and national construction.”

It must be said that, for the staff of the Vietnam Press Museum, the name of journalist Ly Van Sau, associated with the newspaper Thang and the Paris Conference, has truly made a strong impression on them for many years. A few years ago, journalist Viet Tung donated a documentary film about the newspaper Thang and its editor-in-chief, Ly Van Sau, which sparked in them a desire to do something to honor him when the opportunity arose.

Upon meeting with the family of journalist Ly Van Sau and receiving their support, the Vietnam Press Museum officially proposed organizing this event. Leaders of the Vietnam Journalists Association and the agencies and units where he had worked were very interested and encouraging. “It was quite a coincidence, but it became an extremely favorable opportunity that even years of preparation wouldn't yield. We began researching and developing the exhibition script and the content for the seminar for this ‘once-in-a-century’ event in just over a month to ensure it opened on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth,” shared journalist Tran Kim Hoa.

Journalist Ly Van Sau (seated in the middle) during his participation in diplomatic activities.

2. The special feature of this event is the powerful appeal of the personality and talent embodied in a great journalist and outstanding diplomat. The Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, Le Quoc Minh, will deliver a welcoming speech. Journalists participating in moderating the discussion session, such as the Standing Vice Chairman of the Association, Nguyen Duc Loi; the Director General of the Vietnam News Agency, Vu Viet Trang; the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Nguyen Thanh Lam; and the Chairman of the Central Council for Theoretical Studies of Literature and Arts, Nguyen The Ky, are all very enthusiastic…

The event was attended by many delegates from all regions and fields, including journalism, diplomacy, and the military, especially veteran journalists such as Ha Dang and Hong Vinh, many leaders of central and local press agencies, and numerous ambassadors and renowned diplomats. “The seminar and thematic exhibition on Mr. Ly Van Sau is expected to be a major gathering with many prominent figures and important guests. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to gain more knowledge and valuable materials in the process of honoring a generation of exemplary journalists who made significant contributions to the revolutionary journalism of Vietnam!” – added journalist Tran Kim Hoa.

It is known that, with the wholehearted support of the family of journalist Ly Van Sau, the Vietnam Press Museum has been provided with many valuable documents and artifacts, helping to make the preparation process for the event more confident and effective.

The vivid and intimate images of journalist and diplomat Ly Van Sau in the short film screened at the event, made by his nephew with deep gratitude and respect, will surely leave a touching impression on the attendees.

It can be said that throughout his life, Ly Van Sau had opportunities to strive and grow in many fields of journalism (print, radio, television, news agencies), and at the same time achieved outstanding success in diplomacy.

Veteran journalist Ha Dang once emotionally shared: "Ly Van Sau will live forever in our hearts, a comrade, a true friend, and an extremely dynamic and creative fighter on the propaganda - journalistic and diplomatic fronts."

Preparations for the seminar are complete.

3. Sharing more about future plans in the series of events leading up to the 100th anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism, journalist Tran Kim Hoa said that after this significant event, the Museum is striving to produce a documentary film about journalist Kim Toan, one of the journalists from the North who crossed the Truong Son Mountains to work as a journalist in the Southern battlefield, wielding both a gun and a pen, making many important contributions in both wartime and peacetime.

The museum also hopes to produce a film about the family of journalist Nguyen Ho (formerly the Director of the Film Studio of Ho Chi Minh City Television) and Minh Hien (formerly the Editor-in-Chief of Saigon Businessmen Newspaper). Both worked as journalists in the jungle during the war against the US, and after liberation continued their journalistic careers, becoming exemplary figures of sharp-witted and pure-hearted journalists during the đổi mới (renovation) period… “Journalist-soldiers” is the theme that the Vietnam Press Museum is currently nurturing and developing, linked to glimpses of the history of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism, and to generations of journalists past and present.

Approaching the 100th anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism and the 75th anniversary of the Association's founding, the first few months of 2025 may be a time when the Vietnam Journalism Museum will have to race against time to simultaneously implement many plans: Participating in the Spring Press Festival in several localities with a theme of "honor and pride" in Hung Yen, Quang Tri, Quang Binh...

Ha Van

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nha-bao-ly-van-sau--suc-hut-cua-mot-nhan-cach-mot-tai-nang-post319234.html