Nhân Dân

Nhân Dân
Name	Nhân Dân
Type	Daily newspaper
Foundation	11 March 1951
Owners	Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Headquarters	Hanoi, Vietnam
Editor-in-chief	Lê Quốc Minh
Political	Communist
Language	Vietnamese
Website	https://www.nhandan.vn

Nhân Dân. It is the official daily newspaper and the central print organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, serving as the primary mouthpiece for the party and state. Founded on March 11, 1951, during the First Indochina War, its establishment was directed by Hồ Chí Minh to unify and guide revolutionary communication. The publication is headquartered in Hanoi and remains the most authoritative and widely circulated newspaper in Vietnam, playing a critical role in disseminating party policy, ideology, and official state narratives.

History

The newspaper was founded by directive of President Hồ Chí Minh in the Viet Bắc revolutionary base during the resistance war against French colonial forces. Its first issue was published on March 11, 1951, with Trường Chinh, then a key member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam, heavily involved in its early editorial direction. Throughout the Vietnam War, it served as a crucial propaganda tool for the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, reporting on events like the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ and the Tết Offensive. Following the Fall of Saigon in 1975 and national reunification, it became the nationwide organ of the ruling party, with its headquarters permanently established in the capital, Hanoi.

Role and function

As the official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, its primary function is to propagate the party's lines, policies, and resolutions, as decided by bodies like the National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Politburo. It provides authoritative interpretations of state directives and Marxist-Leninist ideology for cadres and the public. The newspaper also guides public opinion, promotes socio-economic development models, and combats what it terms "hostile forces" and "wrongful views." It operates under the direct management of the Central Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of Vietnam and influences all other state-run media, including Vietnam Television and the Voice of Vietnam.

Editorial stance and influence

The editorial stance is strictly aligned with the Communist Party of Vietnam, reflecting the positions of the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Government of Vietnam. It consistently advocates for the leadership of the party, socialist legality, and national sovereignty, particularly regarding issues like the South China Sea dispute. Its influence is pervasive, setting the agenda for all official media discourse in Vietnam and shaping the political education of party members through publications like the theoretical magazine Communist Review. Critical or dissenting perspectives on state leadership, as seen in movements like Bloc 8406, are not published.

Notable editors and contributors

Prominent figures in the Communist Party of Vietnam have served as its editors-in-chief, including Trường Chinh, Nguyễn Văn Linh, and Đỗ Mười, who all later became General Secretary. Hồ Chí Minh regularly contributed articles under various pseudonyms. Other notable editors include Hà Đăng, a longtime head of the Central Theoretical Council, and Lê Quốc Minh, the current editor-in-chief who also serves on the Central Committee. Renowned writers and poets aligned with the party, such as Tố Hữu and Xuân Diệu, have also been contributors.

Format and publication

It is published daily in a broadsheet format in Vietnamese, with a significant circulation across all 63 provinces and municipalities. The publication also produces weekly editions for overseas Vietnamese communities and a daily online version that is a leading state media portal. Specialized sister publications include the weekend edition Nhân Dân Cuối Tuần, the monthly theoretical magazine Communist Review (Tạp chí Cộng sản), and the Vietnamese-language daily for overseas readers, Vietnam News. Its operations are supported by the state-owned Vietnam News Agency.

International relations and partnerships

The newspaper maintains formal relationships with other communist and socialist party organs worldwide as part of party-to-party diplomacy. It has long-standing partnerships with publications like the People's Daily of the Communist Party of China, Nodong Sinmun of the Workers' Party of Korea, and Granma in Cuba. It is a member of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies and engages in exchange programs with media from Laos and Cambodia. These partnerships reinforce the foreign policy lines set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the party's International Department.

Category:Newspapers published in Vietnam Category:Communist Party of Vietnam Category:Publications established in 1951