80 years of Vietnam News Agency: A mission alongside nation’s history
Over the years, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Prensa Latina (PL) have worked closely to inform the world about developments in Vietnam and Cuba, as well as their joint efforts for growth. In difficult times, PL supported the VNA without hesitation, and today the VNA is extending the same solidarity to help PL advance.
Journalist Martín Hacthoun, Chief Representative of Prensa Latina in Argentina, grants an interview to a VNA correspondent in Buenos Aires. (Photo: VNA)
Buenos Aires (VNA) - For eight decades, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has stood shoulder to shoulder with the nation’s history, reporting to the world on Vietnam’s heroic struggles for independence and sovereignty against French colonialists, Japanese imperialists, and later the US invasion, affirmed veteran journalist Martin Hacthoun of Prensa Latina (PL).
In an interview with VNA correspondents in Buenos Aires on the occasion of the VNA’s 80th founding anniversary (September 15, 1945 – 2025), Hacthoun, head of PL’s bureau in Argentina, congratulated the agency on its tireless contributions to Vietnam’s liberation, nation-building, and development since its inception.
The Cuban journalist recalled the sacrifices and resilience of VNA reporters in the Mekong Delta during the resistance war against the US, noting their work could fill books or even inspire films. He stressed that the VNA not only documented wartime struggles but also conveyed to the world the post-war challenges, the launch of the Doi moi (Renewal) process, and Vietnam’s remarkable development achievements and expanding international relations in recent decades.
Reflecting on the present, Hacthoun, who has spent 43 years at PL and once served as chief of its Hanoi bureau, highlighted the VNA’s ongoing transformation, blending the experience of seasoned reporters with the creativity of younger generations to reaffirm its role as Vietnam’s national news agency.
He praised the news agency for promoting Vietnam’s image and foreign policy worldwide, enhancing the country’s international standing. The agency’s multilingual output, with news provided in six languages and print and online publications in ten, continues to serve as a reliable source for readers to understand Vietnam’s realities, achievements, challenges, and integration into the global community, while also offering valuable insights into Southeast Asia.
On VNA–PL cooperation, Hacthoun recalled that the fraternal bond between the two agencies was forged during the war against the US. PL journalists, working alongside their VNA counterparts, reported the brutal realities of the war and amplified Vietnam’s just struggle and ultimate victory to the world.
🌳 He underscored that this shared history has created enduring ties. Over the years, the two agencies have worked closely to inform the world about developments in Vietnam and Cuba, as well as their joint efforts for growth. He emphasised that in difficult times, PL supported the VNA without hesitation, and today the VNA is extending the same solidarity to help PL advance./.
The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) brings timely factual and well-presented news to audiences around the world, being essential and a first port of call for learning about Vietnam and new developments in the country, according to Kyril Whittaker, researcher of Vietnam and member of the Communist Party of Britain.
Chairman of the Khmer-Vietnam Association in Cambodia, Sim Chy, praised the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) for its role as a bridge between overseas Vietnamese in Cambodia and their homeland during an interview with VNA correspondents in Phnom Penh on the occasion of the agency’s 80th anniversary (September 15, 1945–2025).
Rodríguez stressed that the establishment of VNA, just two weeks after President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the Declaration of Independence, as the country’s first news agency was a milestone of historical significance for Vietnam’s revolutionary press.
The urban traffic route, designed with Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in mind, will be developed through a joint venture of key investors including Kita Group, Futa Group, China Design Group, CRRC Chongqing, Arup, A2Z and Kim Long Motors, with financial support from the two private banks – VPBank and TPBank.
The exhibition vividly demonstrated the spirit of great national solidarity through rich and diverse content, highlighting the principle that the people are the foundation and the true makers of history, according to the PM.
Taking place over 19 days, the exhibition was a highlight of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day. It not only reviewed milestones of the past eight decades but also inspired patriotism, national pride, and aspirations for sustainable growth and integration.
The moves were made in response to an appeal from the Vietnam Red Cross Society, marking the 65th anniversary of Vietnam – Cuba diplomatic relations (December 2, 1960–2025) and highlighting the enduring solidarity between the two nations.
A representative of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union expressed her hope that FAO will continue to accompany Vietnam in promoting high-tech and environmentally friendly agriculture, delivering tangible benefits to farmers.
The close attention and guidance from Party and State leaders, the encouragement from central and local agencies, along with the trust from both domestic and international press agencies and the public have formed a tremendous source of motivation for VNA journalists to fulfil their mission as the nation’s key multimedia wire service and a strategic and trusted information centre of the Party and the State.
Exploiting the common lure of “easy jobs with high salaries”, the suspects recruited and sold 13 victims from rural western communes of Nghe An to companies operating scams in the Golden Triangle.
Veteran war correspondent Luis Manuel Arce Isaac from Prensa Latina praised the VNA’s foreign service information strategy and its widespread cooperation with media agencies worldwide.
The exchange programme with 34 senior and mid-level leaders and managers from Russia includes nine thematic sessions held at the academy and three practical thematic activities at various ministries, agencies, and localities.
Launched in 2021 across six provinces and cities, the Bien Hoa Air Base Dioxin Remediation Project has already supported more than 32,000 people with disabilities, including AO/dioxin victims, meeting over 60% of its targets. It will soon be extended to Ca Mau and Quang Ngai provinces.
According to the ministry, in recent days some individuals have exploited public attention on the CIC case to spread false claims of “data leaks” at other agencies and organisations.
With a network of 30 bureaus in countries and territories, the VNA has provided timely and objective articles on the local and regional situation, while helping international friends better understand Vietnam’s foreign policies, socio-economic strategies and achievements.
Over the past eight decades, the Vietnam News Agency has proved its irreplaceable role as both the loyal and powerful voice of the Vietnamese Party and State, and as a national media organisation with superior capabilities and innovation to meet the requirements of the digital media era, said President of the Venezuela-based Latin America multinational broadcaster teleSUR Patricia Villegas.
As a state news agency and a primary source of information for the media, the VNA has played an essential role in providing and disseminating news on the people, events, politics, economy, policies, progress, and development of Vietnam and Cambodia to domestic and international audiences.
The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) stands as Vietnam’s key media organisation, extending its influence beyond national borders to become a strategic source of accurate information about Vietnam, stated Norland Rosendo González, Director of Cuba’s National News Agency (ACN).
The Vietnam News Agency, with its network of 30 overseas bureaus located in most key regions around the world, serves as an important link connecting overseas Vietnamese with their homeland.
The latest initiatives followed this year’s National Day (September 2) celebrations, which saw nine significant projects in the city completed or inaugurated.
The Cambodian journalist said he prefers citing the VNA because of its role as Vietnam’s national news agency, entrusted for decades with delivering official information on the Vietnamese Party, State, and Government’s policies, guidelines and laws during wartime or peacetime.
The VNA provides multimedia news in many languages, and its reports on Vietnam are widely used and have certain influence in the world, according to a Chinese journalist.
