Unforgettable years

Generations of Phu Yen journalists met to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025) and the 79th anniversary of Phu Yen Newspaper's Traditional Day (August 19, 1946 - August 19, 2025). Photo: THANH NHAN

1. In October 1998, after graduating from university and leaving my job as a ward youth union secretary, I brought my application to Phu Yen Newspaper. Accompanying me was Mr. Le Phu Hai, a person I respected, who worked at Phu Yen Children's House. Mr. Le Phu Hai was the one who advised me to work in journalism, while I wanted to apply to the Provincial Youth Union. The author of Hanh Phuong Nam, Gui Lai Cho Em... was once in the same class as journalist Pham Ngoc Phi - who was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Phu Yen Newspaper after writer - journalist To Phuong, Editor-in-Chief, retired.

Journalist Pham Ngoc Phi - with a serious face - received the two brothers at the office, listened to me present my wishes and then told me to meet journalist Nguyen Van Minh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of administrative work. Journalist Nguyen Van Minh happily accepted my application, asked a few questions and then said that for now I should try it out, but I should know that the agency only needed reporters who could do the job, as long as they had enough people! Therefore, during the probationary period here, if I found another suitable job, I should not miss it. Hearing the Deputy Editor-in-Chief say that, I felt that the hope of being accepted into the newspaper agency was very slim.

Probation. I was assigned to the Social and Cultural Reporters Department, headed by journalist Hoang Chuong. In terms of age, in the Social and Cultural Reporters Department, after journalist Hoang Chuong, there was journalist - artist Le Van Hieu - now Head of the Readers - Society - Documents Department, journalist Phong Lan (retired), journalist Thu Thuy - now Head of the Reporters Department...; I was the youngest. Journalist Hoang Chuong had taught for many years at Dong Xuan before becoming a journalist; Thu Thuy and I called him teacher. He was my first teacher at Phu Yen Newspaper.

I followed Ms. Thu Thuy to work, taking my first steps in journalism. Facing a new horizon, full of excitement, I found every topic interesting, especially topics about social life. I eagerly wrote, passionately wrote. I read articles by predecessors, watched how they exploited topics and "told stories" on the newspaper page. Each person has their own way of "telling stories".

The young female reporters working at Phu Yen Newspaper at that time were journalist Thu Thuy and journalist Minh Nguyet from the Economic Reporters Department - now Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Phu Yen Newspaper. I was the youngest in the agency so I was taken care of by the older sisters.

Back then, reporters wrote stories on A4 sheets of paper and then submitted them to the editor-in-chief. The handwritten manuscripts were then sent to the editorial secretary for processing, and technicians typed each copy. In general, many steps were very “manual”...

After the probationary period, I was extremely happy to be accepted to work at Phu Yen Newspaper. At that time, the newspaper published 3 issues per week, including 2 large-format news issues such as Nhan Dan Newspaper and Phu Yen Sunday publication, size 30x42cm, later Phu Yen Weekend publication. The editorial secretary was journalist Huynh Hieu - a talented and passionate writer, dedicated to his profession, later Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Phu Yen Newspaper. Mr. Huynh Hieu was also in charge of the Phu Yen monthly publication (launched to readers in July 1994, with 36 pages, including four color covers, size 19x27cm) and was also the "father" of the spring magazine - a publication full of literary and artistic content, read by artists in and outside the province every spring and Tet holiday.

Editor-in-Chief of Phu Yen Newspaper (former) Nguyen Khanh Minh and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Phu Yen Newspaper (former) Pham Thi Minh Nguyet (sitting in the middle, front row) took a souvenir photo with the families of members of the Reporters' Department in a bonding activity organized by the agency, with the theme "We are a family". Photo: PV

2. During nearly 30 years working at Phu Yen Newspaper, my colleagues and I have witnessed the agency's proud turning points. In August 2001, Phu Yen Newspaper published an additional issue of the news magazine, increasing the number of issues issued to 4 issues/week. On April 1, 2005, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Phu Yen Province's Liberation Day, Phu Yen Newspaper made a major improvement in both content and form, changing the newspaper size to 30x42cm for all publications, with a scale of 12 pages. According to Master Phan Toan Thang, Chief of Office of the Vietnam Journalists Association , this is a revolution in form and content, marking the remarkable maturity of Phu Yen Newspaper in the new era. These changes are not simply a matter of printing techniques, but also reflect the innovative vision of the entire editorial office in response to the demands of the times.

In 2006, Phu Yen Newspaper launched the general electronic news website (PhuYen Online), bringing the voice of the Party Committee, government and people of Phu Yen to readers across the country and overseas Vietnamese.

After many improvements to the publications in a modern direction, on September 5, 2010, Phu Yen Newspaper published a daily newspaper.

Many years later, when mentioning this event, journalist Pham Ngoc Phi still had very special feelings. He shared: To publish a daily newspaper, one must have facilities, people and other conditions. At that time, Phu Yen Newspaper lacked human resources; the budget was too limited, and royalties were too low. Publishing a daily newspaper was the effort of the entire editorial office - one could say it was a sacrifice. Because even though the income was not much, many brothers still put aside family matters and invested wholeheartedly in the newspaper.

Phu Yen Newspaper reporters are always present at the front lines - from flood areas, remote areas... to important political events of the province. Each elaborate and dedicated journalistic work is a testament to the efforts of writers to fulfill their responsibilities, for the development of their beloved homeland.

In 2021, PhuYen Online was upgraded to an electronic newspaper - marking a transition into the digital age. During her time as Editor-in-Chief of Phu Yen Newspaper - after the retirement of journalist Pham Thanh Phong, Editor-in-Chief - journalist Dao Pham Hoang Quyen promoted digital media and connected with the central press.

In recent years, the digital transformation work has continued to receive the attention and direction of journalist Nguyen Khanh Minh, in his position as Editor-in-Chief of Phu Yen Newspaper. Phu Yen Newspaper has deployed a converged newsroom system, changed the PhuYen Online interface and has been highly appreciated by readers. Under the direction of the Editorial Board, specialized departments have invested in the implementation of digital journalism products.

At the scientific seminar "Press accompanies the Party Committee and People of Phu Yen province in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland" recently organized by the Phu Yen Journalists Association, Master Phan Toan Thang said that the journey from traditional paper newspaper to multi-digital platforms of Phu Yen Newspaper is not only a "transformation" in technology, but also affirms the integration vision of journalists in the new era.

3. In the warm and affectionate house called Phu Yen Newspaper, I and the young reporters who came here after me gradually matured. Leaving the Social and Cultural Reporters Department, I spent more than 10 years working in the Editorial Secretary Department (now the Editorial Secretary Department), learning from experienced journalists such as Mr. Huynh Hieu - who later held the position of Chief of the representative office of Tuoi Tre Newspaper in the South Central and Central Highlands regions; Mr. Tan Loc - now Chief of the representative office of Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper in Khanh Hoa; Quoc Khuong - aka journalist Duy Thanh, currently Chief of the representative office of Tuoi Tre Newspaper in the South Central and Central Highlands regions...

I cannot forget the times I traveled to remote villages to work, the most challenging was walking through the forest for several hours and crossing a rushing stream to reach the Chua Mountain - Mui Thuyen area in Lac Dao village (Son Thanh Tay commune, Tay Hoa district) after a terrible flash flood. I cannot forget the times when I was on duty and the power went out, the agency's generator was not enough, the entire crew had no choice but to wait until the power came back on to continue reporting, many days I left the agency at 9 or 10 pm, while Editorial Secretary Quoc Khuong returned home in Hoa Hiep Trung (Dong Hoa) almost midnight. I cannot forget the "occupational accidents" during my time doing the "kitchen" work of the editorial office. I cannot forget the memories of working at the Phu Yen Electronic Department - at that time journalist Dao Pham Hoang Quyen was the Department Head, now the Editor-in-Chief of Phu Yen Newspaper, after the newspaper merged with Phu Yen Radio and Television Station.

And I returned to the Reporter Room as if returning to my own little home. I cannot forget the times I went to the locked-down areas, the times I went to the medical quarantine area to treat COVID-19 patients to work during the peak of the epidemic in 2021; I cannot forget the emotional reporting trip to the southwestern sea and islands of the Fatherland, and the times I participated in cultural, artistic, and sports activities with my colleagues to strengthen our camaraderie.

Phu Yen Newspaper reporters are always present at the front lines - from flood areas, remote areas... to important political events of the province. Each elaborate and dedicated journalistic work is a testament to the efforts of writers to fulfill their responsibilities, for the development of our beloved homeland. Following in the footsteps of previous generations, my colleagues and I at Phu Yen Newspaper contribute our efforts to serve our homeland.

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Editor-in-Chief of Phu Yen Newspaper (former) Nguyen Khanh Minh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Phu Yen Newspaper (former) Pham Thi Minh Nguyet took souvenir photos with the families of members of the Reporters' Department in a bonding activity organized by the agency, with the theme We are a family. Photo: PV

Reporter working at the Interventional Cardiology Unit, Phu Yen General Hospital. Photo: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Cogon Grassland - new novel by writer Nguyen Minh Ngoc

Writer Nguyen Minh Ngoc has just released a new novel, Mien Co Tranh (People's Army Publishing House). This novel was written by the writer within 1 year, from August 2023 to August 2024. According to writer - critical theorist To Hoang: “Over 300 pages of the book, the action locations span the land of “the arduous but heroic East”, through Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Binh Long, Phuoc Long, with fierce clashes between us and the enemy; through glorious battles, campaigns that have gone down in history, against the enemy’s “search and destroy” sweeps. The strange thing is, not counting the supporting characters, throughout all those pages, the story only aims to explore and open up the brave and courageous personality of one character: Soldier Muoi Luong. The literature of “real people - real events” intertwines with the fictional literature of the novel. And this is for sure: The authenticity of the description of events, the description of people is one of the factors that makes you unable to take your eyes off the pages of the book!”.

Writer - Colonel Nguyen Minh Ngoc was born in 1957, from Duc Quang (Duc Tho, Ha Tinh), currently lives with his family in Ho Chi Minh City, is a member of the Vietnam Writers Association, Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association, and Vietnam Journalists Association. He won the second prize for the short story Golden Pen (1996-1998) organized by the Vietnam Writers Association and the Ministry of Public Security, the first prize in the essay contest "Khanh Hoa past and present" organized by the Khanh Hoa Literature and Arts Association (2003), the bronze prize for Good Books of the Vietnam Publishing Association for the book A Glimpse of Land and People (2015). Writer Nguyen Minh Ngoc is the author of nearly 20 collections of short stories, essays, novels, memoirs, portraits, and novels.

In 2025, Mien Co Tranh is the second book by writer Nguyen Minh Ngoc to be released to readers, after the portrait Cho mua xuan o lai (Kim Dong Publishing House).

QUYNH NHU