During its 40 year life, Vietnam Television (VTV) has become a close friend to every Vietnamese person and family, even reaching overseas to inform Vietnamese people living abroad, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan.

The Deputy PM stated this at a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of VTV (September 7), adding that VTV’s information services are now more diverse, regular and on time.

VTV has contributed not only to the country’s socio-economic development, but also to improving people’s knowledge and lives, said the Deputy PM.

Deputy PM Nhan asked VTV to continue building up the national television network in line with global trends and constantly raise the quality of their programmes to meet public demands.

During the ceremony, VTV’s General Director Vu Van Hien, said that these days VTV broadcasts on six channels, 120 hours a day. VTV’s regional stations in Hue, Da Nang, Phu Yen, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City also report on local information for those regions.

At present, VTV covers over 90 percent of the country and reaches 17 million households and its satellite TV channel (DTH) covers all of Vietnam. VTV4 also reaches almost everywhere that overseas Vietnamese live.

On the occasion, VTV received the Ho Chi Minh Order for the second time from the state President and VTV’s General Director Vu Van Hien was awarded the Independence Order Third Class, for his contributions to the development of the television sector.

Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan was also present at the ceremony./.