Publishing its first issue on August 14, 1929, Lao Dong was a newspaper of the working class and laborers of Vietnam; it was the mouthpiece of the Red General Confederation, now the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. Through historical periods, Lao Dong Newspaper made an important contribution to the glorious revolutionary cause of the "Heroic Nation - Pioneering Class".
On the occasion of Lao Dong Newspaper celebrating the 97th anniversary of the first issue (August 14, 1929 - August 14, 2026), reporters had an exchange with journalist Nguyen Duc Loi - former member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association about the strong changes of the oldest newspaper in Vietnam still operating.
Dear journalist Nguyen Duc Loi, looking back at the journey of nearly a century of Lao Dong Newspaper, how do you assess the role and contribution of the newspaper to the Vietnamese revolutionary cause?
- On August 14, 1929, comrade Nguyen Duc Canh launched the newspaper named Lao Dong. With strong attraction in content and with many different ways and methods of delivery, Lao Dong Newspaper was present in cities, industrial centers, many factories, mines, plantations in important political - economic areas such as Hanoi, Saigon, Hai Phong, Vinh - Ben Thuy, Quang Ninh, contributing to encouraging and promoting the struggle movement of workers nationwide.
Not only that, Lao Dong Newspaper was also sent to France, China, and the Soviet Union as evidence of the emergence of the Red General Confederation in Indochina following the trend of organizing the International Red Confederation; as affirming the ideological and organizational connection between the workers' movement, the Indochinese Red Confederation and the workers' movement, the International Red Confederation.
From the frontline editorial office in campaigns to the newspaper pages in peacetime, from the sound of gunfire in battle to the spirit of emulation in labor and production in the renovation process, each issue is like a vivid page of history. Flipping through each issue, readers seem to see the country in each moment of transformation.
At turning points, the nature of the working class is vividly shown and the Trade Union organization always stands side by side with workers. In the days of reunification, Lao Dong Newspaper has become a channel of propaganda, encouragement, and motivation for all social strata to contribute to the victory and development of the Trade Union organization and of Vietnam.
It can be affirmed that in the 97-year history of construction and development, Lao Dong Newspaper has an important voice, contributing to the cause of fighting for independence and protecting the Fatherland, propagating the guidelines and policies of the Party and State, building the working class and the Vietnam Trade Union organization to become increasingly strong.
In the digital age, digital transformation is an inevitable requirement for journalism to develop. Lao Dong Newspaper has continuously led the bloc of central press agencies in digital transformation. According to you, what are the key factors creating this breakthrough for a newspaper with a rich tradition?
- In 2026, press agencies are entering a period of strong transformation towards multi-platform, comprehensive digitalization and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in press activities. In that context, Lao Dong Newspaper continues to affirm its role as one of the leading socio-political press agencies in the country, always pioneering in protecting the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of workers; and at the same time being one of the leading units in content innovation, digital transformation and application of new technologies in press activities.
In recent years, Lao Dong Newspaper has continuously been ranked as excellent in terms of the maturity of press digital transformation, continuing to affirm its position in the leading group of central newspapers. Continuing this success, the Newspaper needs to continue to set out plans and goals to continue deep digital transformation in the editorial office. In which, the focus is on applying artificial intelligence (AI) to all activities. Many professional exchanges on AI in journalism organized by the Journalists Association of Lao Dong Newspaper in the past year have attracted the participation of a large number of officials, reporters, and editors of the newspaper. Practical training sessions have helped officials, reporters, and editors use AI more effectively and practically.
In particular, I am very impressed when Lao Dong Newspaper publishes content on a digital platform in 8 languages, belonging to the group of electronic press agencies with the largest number of published languages in Vietnam. The presence of English, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Chinese, Russian versions... when using AI automatic translation tools has helped the newspaper's mainstream information stream get closer to international friends. Multimedia content is invested and produced elaborately and professionally by the newspaper from videos, photos, Podcasts to Visual Story, Interactive, Emagazine...
This is the result of the efforts of Lao Dong Newspaper in strengthening the presence of the "Lao Dong Newspaper" brand in all means and mass media platforms. Continuing that success, the Newspaper needs to continue to set the goal of leading the Central press bloc in digital transformation; further improve the quality of content on all platforms and media to be worthy of the trust of readers at home and abroad, being a reputable - fast - strong - professional information address of Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism.
In the first 6 months of the year, Lao Dong Newspaper achieved many outstanding achievements at domestic and international press awards. According to you, what is the significance of these results and what tasks will Lao Dong Newspaper focus on to continue improving the quality of works in the coming time?
- As far as I know, in the first 6 months of the year, officials and reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper won 15 press awards, including 4 National Press Awards (1 B prize, 3 C prizes), the A Prize of the Golden Hammer and Sickle Award 2025 and 10 press awards from ministries and sectors. In addition, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters also won many international photo awards.
These results are recognition of the continuous efforts of journalists in pursuing quality works, closely following real life and promptly reflecting issues of social concern.
In the coming time, Lao Dong Newspaper needs to continue to invest in improving the quality of the team of reporters and editors; encourage the implementation of investigative, critical, multimedia and data journalism articles; promote the application of technology and digital transformation in the content production process; and create conditions for reporters to participate in prestigious domestic and international press awards.
The goal is not only to increase the number of awards but more importantly to create works of social value, contributing to affirming the position and prestige of Lao Dong Newspaper in the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.
Each official and reporter of the Newspaper needs to realize and set the goal that today's work must be better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today, contributing to building an increasingly strong, professional, humane and modern Vietnamese Revolutionary Journalism, worthy of the trust and love of the Party, State and people. The Newspaper continues its mission to protect the rights of workers and poor laborers, and is an extended arm of the Trade Union organization and the Vietnam Fatherland Front.
Thank you very much for your sharing!
