Comrades Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association ; and Phan Thang An, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council of Cao Bang, chaired the seminar.
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| The scene at the seminar. |
Also attending were representatives from central ministries, departments, and agencies, Cao Bang province, press agencies, as well as experts, researchers, and historical witnesses.
On January 28, 1941, after more than 30 years of wandering in search of a way to save the country, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc returned to his homeland to directly lead the revolution in Pac Bo, Cao Bang. In the context of the country being under the rule of French colonialism and Japanese fascism, the urgent need arose to build a national unity front, propagate and enlighten the masses, and prepare forces for the struggle for national liberation. In May 1941, the 8th Central Committee Conference of the Party, chaired by him, decided to establish the Vietnam Independence League, defining national liberation as the top priority of the Vietnamese revolution. To bring the Party's and the Viet Minh's policies and guidelines to the people, especially the ethnic minorities in the mountainous areas of Cao Bang and the Viet Bac region, President Ho Chi Minh founded the Vietnam Independence Newspaper. On August 1, 1941, the first issue of the newspaper was published in Khuoi Nam, Pac Bo, bearing the number 101, signifying the continuation of the revolutionary journalistic tradition that had been established earlier and also aiming to maintain secrecy of its operations.
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| Delegates experience printing the Vietnam Independent newspaper. |
The Vietnam Independent Newspaper ceased publication in 1976, coinciding with the dissolution of the Viet Bac Autonomous Region. After 35 years of contributing to Vietnamese revolutionary journalism, it became one of the longest-lasting and most traditional newspapers in Vietnamese revolutionary journalism.
![[Photo] Nhan Dan Newspaper welcomes agencies and units to congratulate on the 101st anniversary of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/192x108/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/19/1781887291337_ndo_br_thiet-ke-chua-co-ten-5-png.webp)
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| Comrade Le Hai Hoa delivered a speech. |
In his opening remarks at the seminar, Comrade Le Hai Hoa, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Chairman of the People's Committee of Cao Bang province, emphasized: The opinions, discussions, and exchanges at today's seminar will be an important source of information and scientific basis for Cao Bang province to continue researching, preserving, and promoting the historical value of the Vietnam Independence Newspaper; and to prepare well for activities commemorating the 85th anniversary of the first issue of the Vietnam Independence Newspaper. At the same time, the seminar will also contribute to strengthening coordination between Cao Bang province and press agencies, scientists, and journalists in disseminating historical and cultural values, promoting the image of the revolutionary homeland, and accompanying the province's development in the future.
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| Comrade Le Quoc Minh delivered a speech. |
Speaking at the seminar, Comrade Le Quoc Minh emphasized: The stories, artifacts, and source materials about the period when the great journalist Ho Chi Minh and his comrades, colleagues, and associates worked for the Independent Vietnam Newspaper still inspire us with the responsibility to preserve and enhance the cultural space and valuable journalistic heritage associated with the Independent Vietnam Newspaper in Cao Bang province, in the former Viet Bac war zone, and also throughout the country. From there, we can creatively, vividly, and uniquely apply this to vocational training programs, traditional education, and revolutionary-historical-cultural tourism activities. This work needs to be placed within the trend of innovation, creativity, and "modernization," promoting the diverse values of historical data and cultural heritage sources of the country and the locality.
At the seminar, delegates presented their heartfelt opinions, namely: affirming the position and role of the Vietnam Independent Newspaper in the flow of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism; drawing valuable lessons for journalists today; and the work of preserving and promoting the legacy of the Vietnam Independent Newspaper.
It is known that, thanks to donations from press agencies, organizations, and former employees of the Vietnam Independent Newspaper, the Vietnam Press Museum (Vietnam Journalists Association) currently preserves many valuable documents and artifacts. Notably, the collection includes 24 issues of the Vietnam Independent Newspaper published from 1941 to 1976, of which 18 are originals and 6 are copies. These are exceptionally valuable documents, vividly reflecting the development of the newspaper as well as the historical milestones of the country through each period. The museum also preserves many research documents, books, and yearbooks about the Vietnam Independent Newspaper; a list of editors and contributors of the newspaper throughout different periods; and press cards of staff working at the Vietnam Independent Newspaper in 1961. In particular, the museum is preserving and displaying a roller printing press that was once used to print the Vietnam Independent Newspaper and other revolutionary propaganda materials. This artifact not only reflects the working conditions of journalism during the resistance war but also serves as vivid evidence of the creativity and determination of revolutionary journalists.
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| Comrade Phan Thăng An delivered a speech. |
In his closing remarks at the seminar, Comrade Phan Thang An stated: Building on the results of the seminar, Cao Bang province will continue to closely coordinate with the Vietnam Journalists Association, Nhan Dan Newspaper, research institutions, and press agencies nationwide to research, preserve, and promote the value of the Vietnam Independent Newspaper; linking the revolutionary journalistic heritage with traditional education, scientific research, cultural development, and historical tourism. At the same time, it will gradually build exhibition, research, education, and experiential spaces related to the Vietnam Independent Newspaper, contributing to making Cao Bang an important destination for research and education on the revolutionary journalistic traditions of Vietnam.
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/toa-dam-ve-bao-viet-nam-doc-lap-1044357
![[Image] Ho Chi Minh City: Ma Lang area, Chicken-Rice Market about to change its appearance](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/25/1782377698627_ndo_br_m1-jpg.webp)
