The Vietnamese Journalists’ Association (VJA) hosted a ceremony in Dinh Hoa district in the northern mountainous province of Thai Nguyen on April 21 to celebrate its 65 th anniversary (April 21, 1950-2015).

In his speech at the event—which brought together a crowd of representatives from press agencies and members of VJA’s chapters nationwide—VAJ Vice Chairman Pham Quoc Toan reminded participants of the association’s formation 65 years ago.

On April 21, 1950, a congress was held in Diem Mac commune, Dinh Hoa district to establish the Association of Vietnam Press Writers; the name was then changed to the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) during its second congress in 1959.

On July 7, 1976, more than a year since the nation was reunified, the southern Association of Patriotic and Democratic Journalists merged with the VJA.

During the nation’s resistance wars, the association connected reporters and editors working at press agencies and VJA’s chapters throughout the country, significantly contributing to national liberation and development.

The VJA now has 22,000 members nationwide, increasing substantially from the initial 300 members. More than 400 journalists laid down their lives working on battlefields during the fight for national independence and reunification.

The association’s 10th Congress is scheduled to convene in August to map out orientations for 2015-2020.

On the occasion, enterprises and press agencies presented gifts to a number of ethnic minority households in the locality.

Participants also offered incense in the Ho Chi Minh memorial house in Phu Dinh commune, Dinh Hoa district.-VNA