Fifty-five years ago, the first television images were broadcast experimentally from a small house at 58 Quan Su Street, marking the beginning of Vietnamese television. On the evening of September 7, the documentary One Journey of Service - One VTV took audiences back to the starting point: from “nothing to something”, building a strong National Television Broadcaster steadfast in serving the Party, the State, and the people.
“Our journey began at 58 Quan Su… we are part of history”, recalled cameraman Cong Thanh.
The Journey From “Nothing” to “Something”
In the late 1960s, television changed how the public perceived war. Even in its infancy, Vietnamese television made its voice heard abroad through documentaries filmed “from inside the struggle”, with some works winning awards before airing. In 1966, the Saigon Television Tower and studio were inaugurated in the South.
In the North, according to Mr. Tran Lam (former Editor-in-Chief of the Voice of Vietnam), producing television was both a political mission and a professional requirement: delivering content to viewers. In 1970, they decided to “experiment with television” using domestic resources. They created “Heavenly Horse” camera in 1970, , as well as in-house sound and video transmitters and erected an antenna erected right at the station premises. On September 7, 1970, the first broadcast aired within a 10 km radius of 58 Quan Su, complete yet straightforward in both content and process.
As the United States escalated its bombings in 1972, the Television Department launched a three-pronged approach: evacuating strategic equipment, building North-South crews, and maintaining battlefield coverage. Images captured by TV reporters of B-52 bombers being shot down over Hanoi became historic archives. On April 30, 1975, cameramen followed liberation forces to record reunification moment. The first broadcast of Vietnam Television in Saigon aired on the evening of May 1, 1975, marking a new chapter.
Dedication and Responsibility
In 1982, Vietnam officially began broadcasting in color. By 1987, Decree 72 of the Council of Ministers placed VTV under the Government, giving it its current name. In 1988, VTV started satellite transmission, expanding its coverage nationwide. Many programs left their mark, such as According to Current Affairs (an investigative report series), Travel Through the Small Screen, Sunday Arts, and Year-End Reunion.
Rising in a New Era
From 58 Quan Su to 43 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Vietnamese television advanced through successive technological advances: 16mm film → U-matic tape → analog → digital → HD → 4K. As the nation became more integrated with the global community, VTV expanded its reach via satellite, the Internet, and digital platforms, connecting with millions of viewers. Between 2020 and 2025, VTV accelerated its digital transformation by implementing electronic signatures, a proprietary newsroom operating system, and network-based workflows. Its vision is to become a multimedia, multi-platform broadcaster, with VTV Big Data and AI at the heart of its digital transformation.
VTV's modern technical capacity now enables it to handle major events such as the Trump-Kim Summit (2018), the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu (2024), the live broadcast of “80 groundbreaking projects at 80 live locations” (August 19, 2025), and national celebrations on April 30 and September 2. VTV has come a long way since its 10 km broadcast radius in 1970; today it reaches the entire nation and has 12 foreign bureaus, affirming its position as the national broadcaster.
A landmark development is the launch of the National Foreign Service Channel, broadcasting entirely in English 24/24 (with 5 hours of fresh programming daily) and is expected to reach over 80 countries and territories. It delivers Vietnam’s perspective directly to the world through 10 daily news bulletins and over 30 current affairs programs.
More than Just Airwaves
VTV has been at the forefront of communicating g Party policy and State law . It is steadfast in defending ideological foundations, and incisive in investigating pressing issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, VTV maintained consistent programming, serving as a vital information source and providing reassurance to the public. During the September 2024 storm, reporters were on the frontlines, delivering timely and accurate news. In recent years, VTV has gone beyond traditional broadcasting, organizing major national cultural, social, and sporting events, including: Spring Melody, the VTV LPBank Marathon, the VTV International Women’s Volleyball Cup, V Concert, and V Fest…
International cooperation has expanded, elevating television dramas, game shows, and production capacity to global standards. Successive generations of leaders have steered VTV toward self-reliant, sustainable growth while always fulfilling its mission of serving the Party, the State, and the people.
In honor of the 55th anniversary of its first broadcast, the President awarded VTV the First-Class Labor Order in recognition of its outstanding achievements in content innovation, technological application, social welfare, and contributions to national development and defense.
After 55 years, as television evolves, VTV remains dedicated to embracing new technologies and new storytelling methods, with a renewed spirit. What remains unchanged is the devotion, responsibility, and ceaseless creativity of its broadcasters.
