Public Security Newspaper’s publication “Van nghe Cong an” – a prestigious forum for Vietnamese writers

Under the motto "Humanity-Reliability-Timeliness", the Public Security Newspaper daily along with its other publications, namely fortnight-issue An ninh the gioi (World Security), two-issue weekly An ninh the gioi, and Van nghe Cong an (Public Security Literature and Arts), has always been a prestigious and reliable newspaper for readers at home and abroad. Alongside its corps of high-profile and talented journalists, the newspaper has also received great contributions from many famous Vietnamese writers and artists.

Among the Public Security Newspaper’s publications, the Van nghe Cong an (Public Security Literature and Arts) plays an important role in popularizing works of literature and arts to the public.

It can be said that the Van nghe Cong an has become a "common home" for Vietnamese artists and writers since its inception. The newspaper serves as a venue and forum for Vietnamese writers and artists to meet, exchange and discuss issues of the country's literary and artistic activities.

The person who laid the foundation for the publication of the CAND Newspaper was Lieutenant General Huu Uoc, who is also a famous Vietnamese writer.

Huu Uoc, as the first Editor in Chief of the newspaper, made a major effort to gather big writers at that time to join him in editing the very first issues of the Public Security Literature and Arts in 1995. They included poets Tran Dang Khoa, Nguyen Quang Thieu, Vuong Trong, Hoang Nhuan Cam, Nguyen Duc Mau, Anh Ngoc; writers Nguyen Thi Thu Hue, Nguyen Nhu Phong, Chu Lai, Khuat Quang Thuy as well as journalist Xuan Ba and translator Thuy Toan.

Overcoming initial difficulties in terms of facilities and human resources, the "Editorial Council" of the Public Security Literature and Arts then published 6 pilot issues, which left a special impression on the readers.

In 1996, the Public Security Literature and Arts Magazine was officially published. Since January 2004 it has become a fortnight-issue newspaper.

"The time I worked with other writers on the first Public Security Literature and Arts issues was part of my enthusiastic and passionate youth", recalled writer Nguyen Thi Thu Hue, who spent years working as an editing staff at the Security Literature and Arts Newspaper.

In the period 1996-1998, the Public Security Literature and Arts Newspaper was the organizer of the "Golden Pen" contest, which attracted more than 400 authors nationwide.

Famous writers, who have won high prizes at the "Golden Pen" contest, include Ma Van Khang, Nguyen Khai, Nguyen Quang Sang, Suong Nguyet Minh and even new writers: Nguyen Hong Thai, Duong Binh Nguyen. They all contributed to building the "brand" of a newspaper specializing in the culture and arts of the Vietnamese Public Security Forces.

Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers' Association once revealed that the Public Security Newspaper was the press publication on which he published his first poem. "The Public Security Newspaper printed my first works. I am proud that, since my young ages, I have been a close collaborator, attached myself to, accompanied and grown up with the development of the newspaper", he stressed.

After many years of development, the editors-in-chief of the newspaper - successors to Huu Uoc, have always paid due attention and respect for artists and writers as the newspaper’s contributors.

The Public Security Newspaper in general and the Public Security Literature and Arts in particular nowadays have a large network of contributors. They include famous writers of the Vietnam Writers Association and other professional associations such as fine arts, music, cinema and theater associations.