The origin of the heroic newspaper

Delegates chatted in front of the National Monument of the People's Army Newspaper.

Historical source

When I first started working as a journalist, I had the opportunity to visit the small hamlet of Khau Dieu, which used to shelter the Army journalists from the storms of bombs and bullets. Through conversations with the elders at that time, Mr. Hoang Luan (former Secretary of the Party Committee of Dinh Bien Commune) and Mr. Nong Dinh Long, Secretary of the Party Cell, I learned that during the difficult years of resistance, mothers, brothers, and sisters silently sheltered and shared each grain of corn, handful of rice, and piece of warm clothing with cadres, editors, and reporters. Here, the first newspaper was printed as a promise: Live - fight - write and serve the Fatherland with paper, with a pen, with the heart of a soldier.

With its special historical value, the place where the first issue of the People's Army Newspaper was published in Khau Dieu hamlet was recognized as a National Historical Relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2011. This relic not only marks the birth of a revolutionary press agency during the resistance war but also becomes a red address to educate revolutionary traditions, patriotism, and journalistic ethics for generations of journalists, especially military journalists. On the old land, in 2020, a stele house and campus were built, recording the historical milestone with the solemn inscription: Here, on October 20, 1950, the first issue of the People's Army Newspaper was published.

Colonel Nguyen Van Hai, Head of the Culture - Sports Editorial Department, Vice President of the People's Army Newspaper Journalists Association, shared: Every year, especially on the anniversary of the newspaper's founding, many delegations of cadres, reporters, and editors of the People's Army Newspaper return to ATK Dinh Hoa, including Khau Dieu hamlet - the "birthplace" of the newspaper - as a way to show gratitude and remember their roots.

This is an activity to show gratitude and pass on the torch, to educate the tradition to the next generation. This land not only gave birth to the newspaper, but also nurtured the spirit of serving the people, the core of revolutionary journalists. - Colonel Nguyen Van Hai

75 years later, Khau Dieu today still has green tea hills with rows of palm trees, roofs hidden under the forest canopy, and the quiet pride of the people about the birthplace of a newspaper that was twice awarded the title "Hero of the People's Armed Forces". Khau Dieu hamlet and Dinh Bien commune are changing every day as they meet the advanced new rural standards, moving towards a model new rural commune.

The old red dirt road has now been paved, and the village cultural house is spacious. The stele house marking the birthplace of the Army Newspaper, together with the Khau Dieu village cultural house, was built in 2020, leaning against the green forest and facing the vast rice fields. This is a project that expresses the sentiments and ethics of "remembering the source of water when drinking", "repaying gratitude" and gratitude of the cadres, reporters, editors, employees and soldiers of the People's Army Newspaper towards the previous generations and the local people.

In 2020, the National Monument of the People's Army Newspaper was built and inaugurated on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of the People's Army Newspaper.

On each trip back to the source, the People's Army Newspaper delegation not only revisits the old newspaper printing place, but also organizes many practical activities to show gratitude, such as: Giving books, notebooks, and school supplies to students; giving gifts to revolutionary families; performing arts exchanges and supporting local funds to build new rural areas. Those gifts, though small, are full of affection, and are also a sustainable bridge between the past - present - future.

Continuing the tradition of revolutionary journalism

Senior Lieutenant Hoang Huu Chung, a reporter from the Economic - Social - Internal Affairs Editorial Department of the People's Army Newspaper, recalled his feelings when he first set foot in Khau Dieu: "Looking at each line of words on the monument stele, I felt my heart sink. Every news line and article I have ever written seemed to have more weight when I knew they were written from the source here. We, the Army journalists today, are always proud and feel responsible for preserving and promoting the tradition of revolutionary journalism from the Viet Bac mountains and forests of the past."

The pride of working at the only Army newspaper named after beloved Uncle Ho is probably not only for reporter Hoang Huu Chung but also for all those who have worked and are working at the newspaper which is considered the "main force" in orienting public opinion, a trusted friend and comrade of the army and the people.

The People's Army Newspaper published its first issue in Khau Dieu village, Dinh Bien commune (Dinh Hoa) in 1950.

President Ho Chi Minh's teachings published on the front page of the first issue of the People's Army newspaper have become a guiding principle for many generations of journalists in the army over the past 75 years, from the fierce battlefield to the front line of building and defending the Fatherland today.

The People's Army Newspaper is currently the mouthpiece of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense - the voice of the Vietnamese People's Armed Forces. The newspaper has a large team of professional journalists, reporters, and editors; has a multi-platform ecosystem from print newspapers, electronic newspapers to social networks and military television. From Khau Dieu in the past, where the leaves of the forest printed letters, to today's hot frontline news, the People's Army Newspaper still maintains its original source: "Serving the Fatherland, serving the people, speaking for the voice of the army and people of the whole country".

Day after day, in the small hamlet of Khau Dieu, the wind still sings on the ancient treetops, in every peaceful rhythm of life, there is a restless whisper: "Here, the revolutionary newspaper named by Uncle Ho was born"...

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202504/noi-khoi-nguon-to-bao-anh-hung-c30387a/