Hong Kong (VNA) – Li Minghan, an intellectual from China’s Hong Kong who has devoted most of his life studying President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary career, described “Thanh nien” (Young people) newspaper, which laid foundation for Vietnam’s revolutionary journalism a century ago, as a modest publication with great responsibility and mission.
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of Vietnam's Revolutionary Press Day (June 21), Li said that President Ho Chi Minh, drawing from his experience in the French communist movement and his role in founding the Le Paria (The Miserable) newspaper in Paris in 1922 to expose colonial crimes and unite the global anti-colonial struggle, understood the power of revolutionary journalism as a tool to popularise, mobilise, organise, and lead revolutionary movements.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925. Li said that despite its small format and simple design and printing, the newspaper carried immense responsibility and mission, contributing to the establishment of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the decisive factor in the success of the country’s revolution in the past, today, and in the future.
The newspaper was printed on a compact 18x24 cm paper size, with simple design and clear content.
Between June 21, 1925, and April 17, 1927, the newspaper published a total of 88 issues, with 100 copies of each edition distributed to Vietnam by sailors, providing information and building solidarity within Vietnam's revolutionary movement and connecting it with communist movements in the region and the world.
Today, original copies of the early issues are on display at the relic site of the headquarters of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League in Guangzhou city, Guangzhong province.
An exhibition spotlighting the time President Ho Chi Minh in China is taking place from May 10 to August 10 at the Guangzhou Uprising Memorial Hall, featuring a dedicated display of reproduced copies of Thanh Nien newspaper’s issues No. 63, 66, and 67. The event is held in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Vietnam – China diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Vietnam Humanistic Exchange 2025./.
State President commends outstanding journalists on eve of revolutionary press centennial
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
