The first issue was called Dong Khoi - issue 358 dated November 11, 1976. Photo: Archive

Transition to peacetime

In the first months after liberation, the Press and Information Subcommittee separated a part to establish the Vietnam News Agency Branch, directly under the Vietnam News Agency, the photography department was transferred to the Department of Culture and Information for management. The Editorial Board of the Chien Thang Newspaper worked with the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department at the enemy's Operational Command Center and the Re-education Department. Under the direction of the Provincial Party Committee, directly under the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, the Chien Thang Newspaper quickly stabilized all conditions, organized, edited, and published the first issues after liberation in the center of Ben Tre province.

During this period, the Victory Newspaper focused on propagating the victory and glorious end of the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign of the army and people of the whole country and the army and people of the province. At the same time, it educated and promoted revolutionary heroism and the tradition of patriotism in combat in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. It encouraged and motivated all classes of people in the province to overcome all difficulties and challenges, quickly overcome the consequences of war, promote production development, gradually build the initial material and technical facilities, and create all conditions to firmly protect the revolutionary achievements that had just been won. The task was to build the government and people's organizations, stabilize and restore all aspects of people's activities and lives, and be ready to crush the enemy's plots of rebellion and propaganda aimed at sabotaging and overthrowing the revolutionary government.

From May 1975 to November 1976, in addition to the journalists from the resistance base who continued their duties, the Editorial Board of Chien Thang Newspaper withdrew more people to supplement the team of reporters. The Editorial Board opened training courses for new reporters and collaborators of the newspaper. Notably, the training and fostering method through practical work "hands-on instruction" by senior journalists with extensive experience for young reporters just entering the journalism profession. The newspaper at this time still kept the size of 30x40cm, usually printed in 2 colors, typo printing technique, the number of circulation was not fixed, at its peak about 5,000 copies/issue.

New name - new mission

On the occasion of the opening of the 4th Provincial Party Congress on November 11, 1976, Chien Thang Newspaper officially changed its name to Dong Khoi Newspaper with the meaning of recording and promoting the Dong Khoi tradition in the cause of building the homeland. Since December 28, 1960, the Provincial National Liberation Front Committee was launched, Chien Thang Newspaper was present, until November 5, 1976, issue 357 was the day Chien Thang Newspaper completed its mission, completing 16 years of solidarity, steadfastness with the people throughout the journey of fighting against the US to save the country.

In the introduction of the first issue of Dong Khoi in issue 358 on November 11, 1976, the Editorial Board of Dong Khoi Newspaper clearly stated: "Continuing the mission of Chien Thang, Dong Khoi - Voice of Ben Tre Party Committee takes responsibility for disseminating the Party's guidelines, policies and guidelines, promoting the Dong Khoi tradition in implementing the Resolutions of the Party and State and building new socialist people, so that Marxism-Leninism prevails in the spiritual and emotional life of our people".

The editorial board wrote: “While our province is jubilantly holding Party Congresses at all levels, the birth of Dong Khoi Newspaper marks a profound change in the new development of our province... Chien Thang expressed absolute confidence in the new friend, Dong Khoi Newspaper will make a useful contribution to the reform and construction of socialism and uphold the Dong Khoi tradition to encourage our compatriots and comrades to quickly build a prosperous and happy province.”

Former Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department Pham Cong Nghiep (journalist Thanh Nhan) said: "Ben Tre press has always accompanied and closely followed each stage of the revolutionary struggle of the Party, people and army of Ben Tre. During the most difficult times of the revolution, the Provincial Party Committee always attached great importance to and focused on information and propaganda work. The Chien Thang Newspaper, later Dong Khoi Newspaper, shouldered an important mission. It was the information and propaganda channel of the Party and State, mobilizing the people."

For the first three years from November 1976, Dong Khoi Newspaper was published weekly on Thursdays. Starting from 1980, the newspaper was published twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The newspaper had 4 pages. During the 10 years since it was named Dong Khoi, the content of the newspaper focused on propagating the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws into life, promoting production, developing the economy, stabilizing people's lives...

Thanh Dong (synthesis)

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/bao-chi-va-su-menh-moi-kien-thiet-nuoc-nha-sau-giai-phong-30042025-a145952.html