(VOVWORLD) - The Voice of Vietnam was established on September 7, 1945, and broadcast its first overseas programs in Vietnamese, English, and French. Since then the voice of the Vietnamese people and an independent Vietnam who aspire to peace and freedom has been constantly broadcast to people nationwide and worldwide. The broadcaster has steadily innovated and developed to accompany the nation through arduous, challenging but triumphant historical periods.
 VOV President Do Tien Sy |
In the middle of August, 1945, on his way from the northern Viet Bac Revolutionary Base to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh said that after taking power and establishing a new Government, one of his first tasks would be to establish a national radio station. Under his leadership and direction, the Voice of Vietnam broadcast important and urgent national information.
Renovation and development
Over the 77 years since then VOV has faithfully accompanied the nation. It broadcast the Declaration of Independence read by President Ho Chi Minh on September 2, 1945, and President Ho Chi Minh’s Appeal for National Resistance on December 20, 1946.
The reporters and broadcasters of the Voice of Vietnam consolidated the strength of the nation, by faithfully performing their political, cultural, economic, national defense, security, and foreign affairs tasks. VOV was an effective propaganda tool during the 9-year resistance war against the French colonialists and helped the Vietnamese people achieve the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory of 1954, and 21 years later achieve the Great Victory in the Spring of 1975 over the US, which unified the country and set it on the road to socialism.
 VOV World Service broadcasts to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, parts of Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean |
VOV now has 3,000 employees working in Vietnam and overseas bureaus. Starting with just a radio broadcast, VOV now has television channels, e-newspapers, and print newspapers, making it a multi-media communications giant.
VOV President Do Tien Sy said: “VOV broadcasts domestically on SW, MW, and FM. The coverage is nearly 97% of the population and over 91% of Vietnam’s territory, including some sea and island areas. VOV’s oversea programs are beamed to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, parts of Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean. VOV’s information reaches people in remote and border areas, islanders, overseas Vietnamese, and foreigners in many countries.”
VOV strives to remain a major national press agency and a leading regional multimedia platform.
“VOV uses advanced technology for production, broadcasting, and interaction with the public. Our radio programs are not only broadcast via radio waves, but are available on websites like vov.vn, on online apps like VTC Now and VOV Media, and on social networks like Facebook and Youtube. Digital VOV products have created a community of viewers and listeners on social networks. VOV will submit a draft project on the "Digital Transformation of Voice of Vietnam" to the Prime Minister this year,” said VOV President Do Tien Sy.
 File Illustrative photo of old radio transmission device |
VOV’s hallmarks
Over the last 77 years VOV has maintained its role as the voice of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, and a bridge of friendship connecting Vietnam with friends around the world. It is the Voice of Vietnam that has rallied the great solidarity of the Vietnamese people and created trust and love among our domestic and foreign audiences. Nguyen Thi My Ha, a resident of Truong Sa town, Khanh Hoa province, said: “Living on an island in the East Sea I often listen to VOV. The programs are diverse and interesting. They help residents and soldiers stationed on the island feel closer to the mainland and ease our homesick.”
Fisherman Mai Thanh Phuc of Khanh Hoa province said: “Every day at the same time I turn on the radio to listen to VOV’s weather forecast. The signal is very clear at sea. We get a lot of useful information and know almost everything that’s happening on the mainland.”
When he established VOV, President Ho Chi Minh expected it to rally intellectuals and nurture talents, to keep the public informed, create social consensus, and make Vietnamese culture shine brightly. For 77 years generations of VOV employees have been working hard to fulfill his wishes.