Foreign Press Center - A 40-year journey of perseverance in telling Vietnam's story to the world

Foreign Press Center offcials take a photo with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Co Thach. (Archival photo)

Journalists without pens

Silently behind every international news piece about Vietnam are individuals who do not hold pens, do not appear in front of cameras, yet play a crucial role in helping the world understand and love the S-shaped country more.

Officials of the Foreign Press Center assist international media during an interview with General Vo Nguyen Giap at his residence. (Archival photo)

They are the staff of the Foreign Press Centre (the Centre), under the Service Department for Diplomatic corps – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who persistently fulfill the mission of connecting, supporting, guiding, and accompanying international journalists in telling Vietnam's story to the world.

Behind the scenes, they quietly prepare every detail, resolve every difficulty, and create the most favorable conditions for each international journalist to work fully and recount Vietnam's story with respect, honesty, and sincerity.

Officials take a commemorative photo at the headquarters of the Foreign Press Center. (Archival photo)

Forty years have passed, and this journey quietly continues — a journey not seeking glory, but always shining with faith, responsibility, and deep love for the country.

They – the "journalists without pens" – are the distinctive highlight of external information work: silent yet effective, humble yet persistent, contributing to spreading the image of a friendly, compassionate Vietnam increasingly reaching out to the world.

Formed from strategic vision

The Foreign Press Centre was established under Decision No. 144/VP dated October 19, 1983, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as Vietnam began expanding foreign relations with countries worldwide. The Centre was tasked with a dual mission: Unified management of non-resident foreign journalists in Vietnam; Creating favourable conditions for them to operate in accordance with regulations, safely and effectively.

The Foreign Press Center takes an international press delegation on a survey trip. (Source: Foreign Press Center)

Immediately after its establishment, the Centre quickly became a focal point for coordination between domestic management agencies and international press, laying the foundation for guiding and supporting non-resident foreign journalists in Vietnam.

By 2020, this task was transferred to the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps, and the Centre was restructured into a specialized department, opening a new phase of operation – more professional, unified, and flexible.

Imprints on the external information front

Over the past 40 years, witnessing the country's changes and transformations, the Centre has directly coordinated and supported international press in historical events such as: APEC Summit 2006 in Hanoi, 2017 in Da Nang - where thousands of journalists from over 40 countries gathered, the 2019 US-DPRK Summit in Hanoi, ASEAN Summit and ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meetings (AMM); the Grand Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the South – National Reunification and the 80th National Day on September 2; the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly; the United Nations Vesak Day, East Asia Summit (EAS)…

The Centre has guided journalists accompanying hundreds of visits by high-level leaders to Vietnam. (Source: Foreign Press Center)

The Centre has guided journalists accompanying hundreds of visits by high-level leaders to Vietnam at the invitation of our Party and State, including the visits of US Presidents Barack Obama (2016) and Joe Biden (2023) – significant milestones opening a new chapter in Vietnam-US relations; the visits of President Xi Jinping in 2023 and 2025 marking strategic significance in Vietnam-China relations; visits by leaders from Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, France, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand… and upcoming is the signing conference of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime 2025 in Hanoi, a milestone as Vietnam hosts a global treaty signing for the first time.

Besides guiding the press at major national events, annually the Centre supports hundreds of international journalists from various news agencies such as: CNN, BBC, NHK, Reuters, AP, AFP, CNA, NBC News, CBS News… coming to Vietnam to cover fields like culture, tourism, economy, education, and social life.

Annually, the Center supports hundreds of international journalists from various news agencies. (Source: Foreign Press Center)

The work begins with receiving requests, processing visa procedures, building programs, contacting agencies and localities to advise on content, introducing characters, and providing logistical support, all details are handled by the Centre's staff. This requires not only proficiency in foreign languages, an understanding of their own country, but also resilience, courage, and a spirit of quiet yet dedicated service.

From the journey for justice for Agent Orange victims

However, their work journey is not only filled with pride and laughter but also with sweat and tears.

As a resilient nation, persistent in the struggle to build and defend the country, the war left extremely severe and devastating consequences for our country, where more than 71.8 million liters of dioxin-contaminated chemicals were sprayed, and over 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed, with about 3 million victims (according to VAVA Vietnam).

For many years, the Centre has developed programs and guided numerous international journalist delegations to local areas to report on post-war recovery efforts such as: NHK Television, Ryukyu Asahi Television (Okinawa, Japan), Spiegel Magazine (Germany), US journalists producing the documentary Legacy of Peace, Swiss Radio (Switzerland) twice conducted reports on Agent Orange victims and Vietnam-US cooperation in dioxin remediation at Da Nang airport.

International journalists interview an Agent Orange victim. (Source: Foreign Press Center)

After the trip, Swiss Radio journalists published the book War Never Ends (translated from German) and many other news agencies to convey the most authentic images, highlighting the pain and resilience of Agent Orange victim families.

A Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs once mentioned this tragic story when meeting Agent Orange victims: "sorrowful, compassionate for fellow citizens suffering from Agent Orange, the haunting memory deeply etched in the mind". Anyone present at the scene would be deeply moved, unable to hold back tears, including international journalists and Center staff.

These images, along with the danger of accompanying journalists working in extremely hazardous bomb clearance areas, have further motivated them to strive harder, and in part, the silent contributions of the Foreign Press Center have contributed to the success of the "Journey for Justice for Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims".

Under immense pressure from international media and even US media, along with tireless efforts from the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA), to date, the US Government has spent 173 million USD participating in remediation efforts in Vietnam.

This is the greatest reward and pride that each staff member of the Center feels after their silent, persistent dedication, honed by previous generations, passing on the flame of enthusiasm - an indispensable spirit for each Center staff member.

Innovation to Spread the Image of a Modern and Professional Vietnam

In the context of rapidly developing and multi-dimensional international media, the Foreign Press Center continues to aim at improving service quality, enhancing the application of modern technology, and strengthening inter-agency coordination to support international journalists more quickly, effectively, and professionally.

Not just a technical hub, the Center is also a "strategic bridge" of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in external information work – contributing to shaping Vietnam's image in the eyes of international friends as a reliable, compassionate, and culturally rich nation.

The Centre pioneers in digital transformation, applying modern technology in managing, licensing, and guiding international journalists. (Source: Foreign Press Center)

Not only a unit supporting operations, the Foreign Press Centre actively participates in advising and perfecting the legal framework for international journalism activities in Vietnam – contributing to building a transparent, favorable, and professional media environment.

The Centre pioneers in digital transformation, applying modern technology in managing, licensing, and guiding international journalists; simultaneously expanding online communication channels to enhance external information effectiveness, helping Vietnam's image spread more powerfully and swiftly on the global media map.

"We not only support journalists in their work but also help them understand, empathize, and recount Vietnam's story with the utmost respect and sincerity," shared Mr. Luong Hoang Giap, Director of the Foreign Press Centre.

The Center's staff not only support journalists in their work but also help them understand, empathize, and recount Vietnam's story with the utmost respect and sincerity. (Source: Foreign Press Center)

Inheriting tradition – Connecting for development

Continuing the tradition of previous generations, today's Center collective always promotes a proactive, dedicated, united, and responsible spirit, constantly learning and innovating to fulfill assigned tasks well.

The achievements are evidence of the attention and close direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' leadership, the leadership of the Service Department for Diplomatic corps along with the support and close coordination of units inside and outside the Ministry, especially the Press and Information Department, the State Protocol Department and Foreign Interpretation, regional departments, Foreign Affairs Departments, and related functional agencies.

Thanks to this effective coordination, the Centre has been maintaining a professional working style, high responsibility, and proactivity in all activities.

Proactive – Professional – Integration

From the initial silent steps to today's persistent journey, the Foreign Press Center has been writing a beautiful story – the story of dedicated, humble individuals, committed to their profession with love for the country and belief in the power of genuine media.

Forty years – a journey without the spotlight, but shining brightly with the spirit of dedication and the aspiration to bring Vietnam's image far and wide, to the world with truth, trust, and goodwill.