Ho Chi Minh was an outstanding leader of the Vietnam’s revolution and also a journalist with great prestige in the international communist and workers’ movements. Shortly after his enlightenment on Marxism-Leninism, Nguyen Ai Quoc was well aware of the importance of the press in realizing the revolutionary path of national liberation. He was immersed in Lenin’s view of the press that “In this era, without a political newspaper there is no so-called political movement,” and “first of all, we need a newspaper; without it, we cannot conduct the most principled and comprehensive communication systematically”.(1) “The press is the communicator, agitator, organizer and leader”.(2)

President Ho Chi Minh always emphasized the critical role and significant impact of the revolutionary press. He said that “Culture is a front” and “Press officers are also revolutionary soldiers. Pen and paper are their sharp weapons”.(3) In a telegram to the Association of Asian - African Journalists (1965), President Ho Chi Minh wrote, ‘For journalists, the pen is a sharp weapon, the article is a revolutionary proclamation;(4) “The newspaper is just made of black ink and white paper. However, it can become an ultimatum”.(5) Based on these important points, the role of the revolutionary press can be summed up on the following major contents:

First, the revolutionary press is the ideological and theoretical weapon of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Revolutionary press is the frontline force in the ideological work, a revolutionary theoretical weapon, an effective communication media of Marxism - Leninism and Party and State’s directions, policies and laws. Based on Party’s directions and viewpoints, revolutionary press has actively contributed to building scientific outlook and methodology, consolidating the ideological foundation of all classes of people. President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that “For journalists, the pen is a sharp weapon, the article is a revolutionary proclamation to encourage the mass to unite to fight against the old and new colonialism, the US-led imperialism for national independence, social progress and world peace”.(6)

First, in 1925 - 1945, the revolutionary press contributed to the struggle against reformed nationalism, the tendency to compromise and surrender, anti-Trotskyism, left-wing and right-wing mistakes within the Party, and revolutionary mass organizations. Through these struggles, the press propagated Marxism-Leninism, spread communist ideology into Vietnam, and raised political awareness of the mass. Right from the first publication in February 1931, the Communist Review, a political and theoretical journal of the Central Committee of Indochina Communist Party wrote in its Preface that “Our Party aims to attack wrongful, opportunist ideas, faction trends to make our Party’s ideological foundation and action united”.(9) The ideological and theoretical struggle on the revolutionary press, including the revolutionary press in prison in the 1930s of the 20th century made an essential contribution to ideological and political building and consolidating for the Party’s members and the mass, and at the same time divided the Vietnam Nationalist Party. Through the communists’ battles of word and pen, communication, and persuasion, some members of the Vietnam Nationalist Party broke away from this party, turned from a neutral stance entirely to Marxism and the Communist Party, and became members of the Communist Party, such as Tran Huy Lieu, Tuong Dan Bao, To Hieu, Nguyen Binh, etc. That transition was full of hardship that “We have to struggle with fierce contradictions, the clash between the old and the new; the old stubbornly and persistently opposes the new, and finally the new encroaches on the old”.(10) The process of joining the Communist Party was a “winding, bumpy road.” (11) Some of them died before becoming the Communist Party’s members, such as Pham Tuan Tai, who left a historical testament.(12)

Second, the revolutionary press is a tool for collective communication, agitation, and organization, contributing to the education of patriotism and political awareness of the mass.

Ho Chi Minh considered the press a tool of social struggle, national struggle, and class struggle, so it must protect people’s interests. The press serves the people, is the voice of the people, serves the pure and noble purposes of the Party and the revolutionary cause, is a tool to arouse and praise good people and good deeds, to prevent the bad, the negative. In the article “Talking to the Communication Commissioners of the Northern Provinces,” President Ho Chi Minh pointed out that “The newspapers and communication commissions should guide patriotism and strong will to achieve the complete independence of the Vietnamese people in a peaceful, calm manner, that is conducive to diplomacy. Moreover, it is necessary to explain clearly to the whole people about the moves of the Government when signing the Preliminary Accord with France”.(13)

In the light of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has created a national spirit, especially among patriotic youth who have a new political ideology of Marxism-Leninism. However, it is also important to note that it was not until the revolutionary press that the people’s patriotism was promoted and national spirit was born. Because before the revolutionary press was born, opposing and left-wing newspapers such as Tieng Dan, La Cloche élée, L’Annam, Le Nha Que, Le Jeune Annam, etc., had raised their voice against the colonial government and called on the mass to fight. However, thanks to the revolutionary press, the mass awareness and Vietnamese patriotism were brought to a new height, with a clear ideology and a liberation path of Marxist-Leninist ideology, under the leadership of a unified political party.

Focused on the preparation for the uprising such as “Let’s grasp the main point” (No. 6, July 23, 1944), “Material replenishment for the uprising” (No. 7, dated September 28, 1944), “Arming self-defense teams” (No. 8, dated November 10, 1944); “What have we learned from the armed struggle in Thai Nguyen” (No. 10, January 28, 1945), “Preparing for a general uprising - choosing a base” (No. 15, July 17, 1945).

With the communication, orientation, and encouragement of the revolutionary press, political struggle movements developed widely, reaching revolutionary climax in all localities throughout the country, creating a solid foundation for the successful uprising in arms for power - the August Revolution and the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam on September 2, 1945.

After the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, as State President, Ho Chi Minh further emphasized that the press played a great role in the cause of national construction and revival. He affirmed the topic of his articles in the meeting with generations of Vietnamese journalists. “All the articles that President Ho Chi Minh wrote had only one theme: anti-colonial imperialism, anti-feudal landlords; communication of national independence and socialism. Such was President Ho Chi Minh’s connection with the press”(14). After that, the revolutionary press was given the mission of being a pioneer in communicating and educating the Party and State’s lines and policies, reflecting the reality of national construction and defense with the consistent view: National independence is associated with socialism. This was also the goal, the criterion defining functions and tasks, and also the development environment of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalism.

Third, revolutionary press is the pioneer in political struggle.

Based on the awareness that “a newspaper has a strong influence on the people,” President Ho Chi Minh pointed out that the press should promote political struggle movements not only in the country but also in the war-torn countries. He said that “The press and radio on the two sides will help the two peoples move closer and closer to mutual understanding, and good feeling”(15). Under the light of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, revolutionary journalistic activities took the lead in the political struggle, creating a solid foundation in the struggle in other fields such as military, diplomacy, etc.

In June 1925, the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Union, the first patriotic organization following the path of the proletarian revolution, was born and published the Youth Newspaper as its voice. On June 21, 1925, its first issue was published. In 1929, four newspapers were set up (Hammer and Sickle newspaper, Labor newspaper, Red Union magazine, and Red newspaper) and became the official communication newspapers of revolutionary organizations - precursors of the Communist Party. On August 5, 1930, the Party Central Committee published Red Magazine, which was the first magazine of the Party and the first one in the Party’s press system after the Communist Party of Vietnam came into being. Only 10 days later, the Struggle newspaper was established, serving as the voice of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam. In 1931, the Party published the Proletarian Flag Newspaper and Communist Review. The press during this period played an important role in launching the revolutionary movement against colonialism and feudalism, and the peak was the Soviet Nghe Tinh movement in 1930-1931.