Historic Decision
In July 1950, the Vietnamese General Command merged Ve quoc quan and Quan du kich into a single military publication. Named by President Ho Chi Minh, the People’s Army Newspaper (PAN) debuted on October 20, 1950, in Dinh Hoa war zone. In its first issue, Uncle Ho instructed, "Write about truly practical matters... write briefly and simply; draw clearly; present clearly." The inaugural editorial, "Co!" (Yes!), pledged to convey High Command policies to help the military and people defeat French and American forces.
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Front page of PAN’s Issue No.127 published at the Dien Bien Phu Front on March 3, 1954 |
The 33 issues of the PAN published at Dien Bien Phu represent a historic milestone. During the 1953-1954 Winter-Spring campaign, the Editorial Board dispatched an unprecedented number of reporters to the front. The frontline team included chief editor Hoang Xuan Tuy, managing editor Tran Cu, reporters Pham Phu Bang and Nguyen Khac Tiep, and artist Nguyen Bich. Equipped with rubber sandals, pens, guns, and shovels, they joined a large contingent of writers and artists from across the resistance.
Behind the Scenes at the Front
Located near Tham Pua Cave and later Muong Phang, the newsroom operated in huts and bomb shelters near the Commander-in-Chief’s bunker. Hoang Xuan Tuy, also Head of the Front’s Political Education and Information Division, gathered the latest battlefield news and radio broadcasts daily. Reporters used improvised aluminum lamps to write, while printers worked in a two-meter-high underground bunker to avoid enemy fire.
Communications with the rear relied on wireless telegraphy. Unlike previous campaigns, Commander-in-Chief General Vo Nguyen Giap and Political Chief Le Liem provided constant, meticulous direction. Despite battlefield constraints, the PAN produced sophisticated issues featuring detailed military maps, such as the Nam Hou victory diagram and the Muong Thanh Airfield sketches, reflecting the campaign’s pulse with high technical precision.
Mirror and Breath of the Campaign
This was the first time in Vietnamese revolutionary press history that a newsroom published 33 issues directly at the front. The paper utilized diverse genres, from military analysis to poetry, to boost morale. Early issues, like No.128, urged soldiers to "Sweat more, bleed less."
Following the March 13, 1954 offensive, Issue No.131 celebrated the Him Lam victory alongside letters from President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap. During the grueling second phase, Issue No.138 conveyed the fierce atmosphere and President Ho’s warning: "The closer we get to victory, the greater the difficulties are." The final battlefield edition, Issue No.148, was published on May 16, 1954, as a special celebratory issue for the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory.
These 33 issues remain a vivid "short film" of a monumental era in journalism.
Translated by Mai Huong