Journalist Pham Quoc Toan - Former Vice President of Vietnam Journalists Association: A true house of memories to always show gratitude, preserve and follow

When I heard the news that in early 2024, the Vietnam Journalists Association coordinated with the People's Committee of Dai Tu district to organize the groundbreaking ceremony for the restoration and embellishment of the historical site of Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School, I was very happy and excited. Today, there is a Huynh Thuc Khang National Historical Site with a beautiful construction, which really moved me - a person who has devoted his whole life to journalism.

Receiving an invitation from the Vietnam Press Museum, I put aside my work and hurried from faraway Ba Ria - Vung Tau to Thai Nguyen to witness this important historical moment. My heart fluttered as I turned the pages of history. During the war, Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School was only able to organize a single short-term course. There were not many students, more than 40 of whom were political, military and press cadres sent from all over the country, but the 30 lecturers who participated in the course were all leaders with rich political experience and rich theories and practices, and famous cultural and artistic activists, including: Truong Chinh, Vo Nguyen Giap, Hoang Quoc Viet, Tran Huy Lieu, Le Quang Dao, To Huu, Nguyen Thanh Le, Quang Dam, Nguyen Dinh Thi, Nguyen Huy Tuong, Xuan Dieu, Nam Cao, The Lu, Nguyen Tuan...

Then from this thatched roof school in the middle of the Viet Bac mountains, the students of the school spread out in all directions, appearing in the fiercest battlefields, the hottest and most complicated fronts such as journalists Thep Moi, Chinh Yen, Tran Kien (Nhan Dan Newspaper); Mai Thanh Hai, Mai Ho (Cuu Quoc Newspaper) or director Bang Bao, writer Huu Mai, poet Hai Nhu, poet Tu Bich Hoang (Viet Phuong)...

The impressive thing is that this class always received the attention of President Ho Chi Minh. He sent letters to the class twice in a row to encourage and advise the students. On July 6, 1949, Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School held its Closing Ceremony. President Ho Chi Minh, who was busy with work, sent letters of commendation and many valuable lessons. His instructions to the students of Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School through two letters dated June 9, 1949 and July 6, 1949 became a handbook for revolutionary journalists, the textbook of all textbooks to this day...

The inauguration ceremony and handover of the project to renovate and embellish the Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School National Monument today is an important political event, contributing to making the Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School National Monument a meaningful "red address" in the entire system of revolutionary historical relics about President Ho Chi Minh, the Central Committee, the Government, the Viet Bac resistance base and the Vietnamese revolutionary press. And for us, we, the future generations, have a beloved place to return to, a true house of memories to always be grateful, preserve and follow.

Journalist Ha Minh Hue - Former Permanent Vice President of Vietnam Journalists Association: Historical relic of Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School - from nostalgia to reality

Thus, the wish to establish the National Historical Site of Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School at the place where 75 years ago the first journalism class of Vietnam's revolutionary press was held, not only by the former students of this unique Journalism School, but also by the entire press community, has been realized.

More than a decade ago, when I was still holding a position at the Vietnam Journalists Association, I met and talked with Ms. Ly Thi Trung, former Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Women's Newspaper, one of three female journalists among the students of the Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School. She told me the common wish of the former students to erect a memorial stele at the School's location in Bo Ra hamlet, Tan Thai commune, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province. Through research, both she and I learned that most of Bo Ra hamlet was located under Nui Coc Lake for the development goal of Thai Nguyen province, rich in revolutionary traditions. Because of the historical significance of the event, in 2019, the Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School was granted a National Historical Relic Certificate. The relic was therefore decided by the authorities to be restored on the remaining part near the poetic Nui Coc Lake.

As time passes quickly, it is said that only two people have attended the first and only class of the School 75 years ago - Ms. Ly Thi Trung, who is 96 years old this year, and Mr. Pham Viet Thieu, who is 101 years old. Thanks to the timeless efforts of the Vietnam Journalists Association and Thai Nguyen province, the project to restore and embellish the National Historical Site of Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School was inaugurated on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the August Revolution, National Day September 2, and especially towards the 100th Anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025), the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Journalists Association (April 21, 1950 - April 21, 2025). A very meaningful event, which could not be happier for generations of revolutionary journalists.

The Journalism School was founded and directed by President Ho Chi Minh only 4 years after the success of the August Revolution in the midst of a myriad of important matters, demonstrating the vision and special attention of the leader of the revolutionary government. He directed the construction of a training facility for journalists who were “both red and professional” to serve the resistance war and the long-term revolutionary cause. Even the fact that President Ho Chi Minh named the School after Mr. Huynh Thuc Khang was very meaningful, showing his idea of ​​training journalists who were good at their profession, had noble qualities, loved the country, loved the people, had bright ethics, and had a deep understanding like Mr. Huynh Thuc Khang, a person trusted by President Ho Chi Minh…

According to the remaining documents, the 30 lecturers of the Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School at that time were all staunch revolutionaries, culturalists, and journalists with rich political experience, rich in theory and practice, such as comrade Truong Chinh, Vo Nguyen Giap, Hoang Quoc Viet, To Huu, Nguyen Thanh Le, Quang Dam, Nguyen Dinh Thi, etc. They passed on to the students not only practical journalism, but also revolutionary theory and professional ethics. With all that care, over 40 students were political, military, and press cadres sent back from all over the country, most of whom became key journalists, successful in press agencies, serving the revolutionary cause later.

It can be said that, together with the Exhibition House of the relic site where the Vietnam Journalists Association was founded in Roong Khoa hamlet, Diem Mac commune, Dinh Hoa district, Thai Nguyen, inaugurated in 2010 and the Vietnam Press Museum in Hanoi, opened to visitors in June 2020, the National Historical Relic of Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School, which came into operation this August in Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen, has become a place for generations of journalists to return to, marking the efforts of the Vietnam Journalists Association in preserving the tradition, conserving and promoting the historical value of the revolutionary journalism founded and trained by President Ho Chi Minh.

Journalist, Major General Doan Xuan Bo - Editor-in-Chief of the People's Army Newspaper: In the midst of the windy capital, Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School has emerged as a cultural highlight.

Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School is the pride of Vietnamese revolutionary journalists. The school was established in the Viet Bac resistance base, amid the many hardships of the revolution, our Party and President Ho Chi Minh always paid special attention to the position and role of journalism and journalists. That was a far-sighted vision, clearly seeing the role of journalism and the great determination of our Party on the cultural and ideological front.

The revolutionary press has become a revolutionary force, an element of culture with the mission of illuminating the way for the nation. The pages of newspapers during the resistance war were truly like proclamations of the revolution with the power to encourage, stir and gather extremely strong forces. The Vietnamese revolutionary press was born later than the world press but inherited the quintessence of the world press. The first teachers who laid the foundation for the revolutionary press as well as for the Huynh Thuc Khang journalism school were great intellectuals, knowledgeable about Eastern and Western culture, ancient and modern, knowledgeable about Western journalism, who had worked very actively in journalism or were editors of many newspapers.

In the midst of the windy capital with many shortages and backwardness at that time, Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School, although existing for only 3 months, emerged as a cultural highlight. Perhaps even the French could not have imagined the value and power of this cultural highlight, it was no different from the morning star predicting the bright future of our nation. That is also a Vietnamese specialty.

Today, in these August days, the project to restore and embellish the National Historical Site of Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School was inaugurated and handed over, becoming a significant milestone in the flow of history. From here, this Relic will become a destination for many classes of people and tourists. Coming here, we will not only understand more about this special school but also understand more about the Viet Bac resistance base journalism, about the long but glorious resistance war against the French of the Vietnamese people.

This is also a place for sightseeing, learning, experience and pride for journalists and journalism students. We respect history, and we see more and more the responsibility of journalists today to continue to preserve, restore, and provide additional materials to make the relic site more vibrant, a place for cultural activities, learning, and source tourism for the people and journalists nationwide...

Journalist Phan Huu Minh - Former Member of the Standing Committee, Former Head of the Inspection Committee of the Vietnam Journalists Association: A 40-year journey of struggle...

In early April 1949, under the direction of President Ho Chi Minh, in Bo Ra hamlet, Tan Thai commune, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, the bamboo and thatch school named “Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School” officially opened and became the first journalism training facility born in the midst of the war against French colonialism. During a working trip with journalist Chinh Yen - Nhan Dan Newspaper, a student of the class, he told me about the place where he learned journalism. Journalist Chinh Yen's wish is that this place will be recorded and become a way home for journalists in general.

He added that when he was a reporter, officer, and leader of Bac Thai newspaper (Thai Nguyen), he had met with the group of students of the class returning to the source 3 times (in 1990, 1994, 1996), since then, he has put more effort into this work. Since 1979, I have known and followed the verification of the location of Huynh Thuc Khang school. For decades, I have been groping for documents, meeting with characters and working groups to learn about the location of the school. Luckily, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School, it received the National Historical Relic certificate.

This national historical site with 3 "treasures" (2 letters of Uncle Ho and the handwriting of General Secretary Truong Chinh) is like a handbook for Vietnamese revolutionary journalists today. On August 9, 2024, the Vietnam Journalists Association and the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee of Thai Nguyen province jointly organized the Inauguration and Handover Program of the Project to restore and embellish the National Historical Site of Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School - this event has great significance for me personally, it is truly the "sweet fruit" of my and my colleagues' dedication.

Furthermore, this event demonstrates the deep longing for the roots of Vietnamese journalists in the present era. The thoughts and concerns about the roots of the leaders of the Vietnam Journalists Association and its members have crystallized a common will towards the origin of journalism training. Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School, which holds a special position in the country in journalism, was built as a brick, a stone stele engraved in the history of traditional education for future generations. And from now on, Vietnamese journalism has another place to return to…

Journalist Nguyen Nam Hai - Deputy Director of Thai Nguyen Radio and Television Station, Vice President of Thai Nguyen Journalists Association: Pride and emotion associated with responsibility

The project to restore and embellish the Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School is a timely and meaningful decision of the Vietnam Journalists Association in preserving and promoting the historical value and stature of the Relic. A new appearance commensurate with the stature of a National Historical Relic is present here, a meaningful mark that journalists across the country are looking forward to.

The inauguration and handover program of the project to restore and embellish the National Historical Site of Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School held on August 9 is the first activity in a series of activities towards the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025) and the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Journalists Association (April 21, 1950 - April 21, 2025).

From now on, the National Historical Site where the first Revolutionary Journalism School was held will be an important part of the overall planning of the Nui Coc Lake National Tourist Area in Thai Nguyen province. The project is not only meaningful to the team of Vietnamese revolutionary journalists, but also affirms the position and importance of Thai Nguyen province in the history of the country's press.

We are proud and moved by the responsibility to further promote the heritage value, effectively introducing to the public at home and abroad the unique and special features of a journalism training school formed in the flames of resistance. At the same time, continuing history, today's revolutionary journalists are determined to constantly strive and train to use their pens and love for the profession to strive to be worthy of the expectations of previous generations.

Ha Van - Hoa Giang (Recorded)