Current and former staff, editors and reporters of Việt Nam News and Law at the ceremony marking 35 years since the first issue of Việt Nam News in Hà Nội on Wednesday. — VNS Photo Trương Vị

HÀ NỘI — After more than three decades in operation, Việt Nam News has upheld its role as an information bridge, bringing real stories about Việt Nam to the rest of the world, according to the newspaper’s editor-in-chief Nguyễn Minh. 

He was speaking at a ceremony marking the 35th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of Việt Nam News, the national foreign service newspaper of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

On June 17, 1991, the first issue of Việt Nam News reached readers at a time when Việt Nam had just emerged from the early years of the Đổi mới (Renewal) process and was implementing strategic directions aimed at developing the economy, expanding foreign relations and promoting regional and international integration.

The newspaper’s establishment was a strategic decision by the Vietnam News Agency aimed at pioneering efforts to convey the image of a transformative, dynamic and responsible Việt Nam to the international community.

Editor-in-chief of Việt Nam News and Law Nguyễn Minh addresses the ceremony in Hà Nội on Wednesday. — VNS Photo Trương Vị

Speaking at the ceremony, Minh, who leads the Việt Nam News and Law newsroom, said: “Việt Nam News has consistently upheld international journalistic standards, providing English-language news coverage from diverse perspectives in a way that is clear and accessible to global audiences. This has been a key factor in establishing Việt Nam News as one of the country’s leading English-language news brands in the field of external communications.

“With its innovative spirit and values, Việt Nam News has affirmed its role as an important bridge of information, helping bring comprehensive and authentic stories about Việt Nam to the world.”

On March 1, 2025, Việt Nam News was merged with Vietnam Law & Legal Forum magazine to form Việt Nam News and Law, in accordance with Resolution 18-NQ/TW of the Party Central Committee on streamlining and restructuring the organisational apparatus.

This milestone opened up new opportunities for growth, as the newsroom took on dual missions of a national English-language daily newspaper and a specialised law magazine serving external information services.

Director General of Vietnam News Agency Vũ Việt Trang speaks at the ceremony marking 35 years of Việt Nam News' first issue on Wednesday. — VNS Photo Trương Vị

Addressing the event, VNA Director General Vũ Việt Trang said: “Over the past 35 years of development, generations of the newspaper’s staff, reporters and editors have worked tirelessly to uphold the identity of a national publication dedicated to external communications, while continuously innovating to adapt to the evolution of modern journalism.

“Việt Nam News has continuously enhanced its content and storytelling formats, expanded its publishing platforms and strengthened its engagement with international audiences. Many of its high-quality journalistic works have been recognised through national journalism awards, national awards for external information service and prestigious international honours.”

World Bank Division Director for Việt Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR Mariam Sherman noted that Việt Nam News holds a particular interest for many people in the international community. 

World Bank Division Director for Việt Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR Mariam Sherman gives an address at the anniversary ceremony of Việt Nam News and Law on Wednesday. — VNS Photo Trương Vị

“As the leading English-language outlet, the newspaper has long been our window into the conversations shaping this country – often our first read of the morning, and our clearest signal of what mattered that day,” she said at the ceremony. 

“Thirty-five years is not just a celebration of the past; it is a foundation for what comes next. The World Bank is proud to have been part of Việt Nam’s development journey, and we look forward to continuing that journey with partners like Việt Nam News.”

For the occasion, Việt Nam News and Law officially announced a cooperation agreement with Vietnam Law Communication Joint Stock Company (LuatVietnam), marking a new phase in the newsroom’s efforts to enhance content quality and strengthen its role in external information service and multi-platform communications.

Representatives of Việt Nam News and Law and Vietnam Law Communication JSC exchange the cooperation agreement on policy communication in English. — VNS Photo Trương Vị

At the ceremony, Việt Nam News and Law was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the VNA Director General in recognition of its outstanding achievements during the 2021–2025 period and its contributions to the development of the Vietnam News Agency, in addition to a Certificate of Merit from the Việt Nam Journalists’ Association for the newspaper’s contributions to external communications. — VNS

Director General of Vietnam News Agency Vũ Việt Trang presents the Certificate of Merit to the editorial board of Việt Nam News and Law. — VNS Photo Trương Vị

President of the Việt Nam Journalists’ Association Lê Quốc Minh presents the Certificate of Merit to the Việt Nam News and Law's editorial board. — VNS Photo Trương Vị