The Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism National Monument is a significant historical site for journalists to learn about the glorious history of journalism and to build a brighter future for the country's press.

The Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism, home to the first journalism class of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, holds special significance and importance for the press and journalism training institutions nationwide, marking a crucial historical milestone in Vietnamese revolutionary journalism. With the desire to promote the historical value of the site, making the Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism a national historical site for the general public and journalists in particular, fulfilling the aspirations of generations of journalists across the country, and contributing positively to the dissemination and education of history for the younger generation, the Vietnam Journalists Association, in coordination with the People's Committee and relevant agencies of Thai Nguyen province, is planning to build a memorial and exhibition area at the Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism National Historical Site in Tan Thai commune, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province.

Naturally, this meaningful aspiration and plan cannot be realized without funding. This is the biggest concern and worry of the leaders of the Vietnam Journalists Association. Fortunately, we have the support of the Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrovietnam). After learning about this extremely important project, the leaders of Petrovietnam decided to provide the Vietnam Journalists Association with financial support, enough to cover a large part of the project's costs. The acceptance procedures were also implemented very quickly at the end of 2023 to allow for the commencement of construction with the goal of inauguration in mid-2024, considering this as one of the first events commemorating the 100th anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism.

+ In addition to the records, documents, and artifacts meticulously collected and prepared by the Vietnam Press Museum, and with the strong determination of the leaders of the Vietnam Journalists Association, the restoration and preservation project of the Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism National Monument has also received attention from the Party committees, government, and people of Thai Nguyen province and the cultural sector. Could you elaborate on this extremely positive collaboration?

- Journalist Le Quoc Minh: Without the very active and enthusiastic cooperation of both the leaders of Thai Nguyen province and Dai Tu district, the project's progress could not have been so rapid. The People's Committee of Dai Tu district issued document No. 1491/UBND-TNMT on July 12, 2023, regarding the coordination in implementing the investment project "Construction of a Memorial Area at the National Monument site of Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism" in Tan Thai commune, as requested by the Vietnam Journalists Association; the district also issued the construction permit for the project and later took over the management of the monument. Dai Tu district has closely coordinated with the investor, the Vietnam Press Museum, throughout the project's implementation, from initial procedures to the policy and the commencement and construction phases....

Thai Nguyen province issued Decision 3415/QD-UBND on December 28, 2023, approving the project and assigning the Vietnam Press Museum as the investor. This is the most important basis from which the province directed relevant agencies and departments to provide close support, including the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Construction, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, etc. I understand that some meetings related to this project were even held very late in the evening to ensure timely reporting to provincial leaders and the issuance of legal documents.

According to many researchers, the Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School National Monument, once inaugurated, will be a miniature museum of journalism in the Viet Bac region. Could you provide more specific details about the scale and important components of the project?

- Journalist Le Quoc Minh : We followed very systematic project planning procedures, coordinating with reputable units, including the design unit, and we are truly satisfied with the design of this project. It not only recreates history but also ensures high aesthetic value as well as necessary functions.

The Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism project has basically completed its main components. Besides the National Historical Site Monument erected in 2019, which has been restored and renovated, the project includes the following: 1/ A miniature museum of the Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism, in the form of an 80 m2 single-story house built on a high hill, reconstructed based on documented records and some surviving images. Originally a bamboo house, it is now a wooden frame house with a fire-resistant artificial thatched roof; 2/ A stilt house – a miniature museum of the Viet Bac Resistance Journalism 1946-1954, 80 m2 in size, reconstructed from the stilt house of the Viet Minh General Headquarters, where resistance journalism activities were directly directed; 3/ A relief sculpture with 48 portraits of the members of the Board of Directors, lecturers, and students of the School; 4/ An auditorium located within the hill that can serve conferences, seminars, and other activities, with a capacity of approximately 150 people. 5. A mini square for events, covering 200 m2. Surrounding it are small gardens with lush greenery in a very spacious setting.

+ More than just a miniature museum of the Viet Bac press, the Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism National Monument is also an important site within the entire system of revolutionary historical relics related to President Ho Chi Minh, the Central Committee, the Government, the Viet Bac war zone, and above all, a "red address" of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism, a place to remember and educate generations of journalists about their origins. What plans has the Vietnam Journalists Association made to widely disseminate the valuable historical significance of this site?

- Journalist Le Quoc Minh: We plan to coordinate with relevant agencies to include the Huynh Thuc Khang Journalism School historical site in the list of tourist attractions in the "Capital of the Thousand Winds" - the capital of the country during the resistance war against French colonialism (including Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, and Bac Kan), with Thai Nguyen holding a particularly important position, the center of the "Capital of Resistance". We will also promote awareness among local journalists' associations, branch associations, and journalist chapters nationwide with the hope that all journalists will understand the importance of this historical site, and thus consider it a significant landmark for journalists, especially young journalists, to connect with their roots, learn about the glorious history of journalism, hear stories about their predecessors, and build for the future of the country's journalism.

The Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism historical site could also be a venue for organizing conferences and seminars on journalism, short-term training programs, or for issuing membership cards of the Vietnam Journalists Association, and for awarding regional and local journalism prizes…

We believe that journalists' associations and media organizations will give due attention and organize many vibrant activities, helping to ensure that this place is regularly visited by many people and that they participate in meaningful events related to journalism.

+ The restoration and preservation project of the Huynh Thuc Khang School of Journalism National Monument is one of the activities leading up to the 100th anniversary of Vietnam's Revolutionary Press Day. In the coming period, what will be the key activities of the press in general, and the Vietnam Journalists Association in particular, in preparation for this momentous event, Mr. Chairman?

- Journalist Le Quoc Minh: The Central Propaganda Department issued directives very early on regarding activities leading up to the 100th anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism, and the Vietnam Journalists Association also issued very specific guidelines to its member units. We understand that some local journalists' associations and media agencies have also begun making their own preparations.

From now until June 2025, there will be a wide variety of practical activities, from the central to local levels, from large-scale, multi-media press agencies to those with smaller staff. On June 21st, we called on all press agencies, journalists' associations, and journalist branches nationwide to build their own emulation movements, striving to improve professional skills to create high-quality journalistic products, while continuing to build a cultural environment within press agencies and uphold journalistic ethics. We also encouraged the organization of regional and cluster-level activities to strengthen linkages, solidarity, and cooperation.

The Vietnam Journalists Association is coordinating with ministries and agencies to develop a national-level commemorative program, a National Press Conference, and the National Journalism Awards Ceremony next year, which will certainly be on a very large scale with many innovations. We also plan to organize many professional activities as well as sports and cultural events, and activities to honor journalist martyrs, including a plan to call for support to build a memorial monument for 512 revolutionary journalist martyrs at Da Pagoda (Au Lac Ancient Temple) in Vinh City, Nghe An Province.