Ministry orders intensifying handling of fake news on COVID-19
The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) on July 23 issued a document on intensifying the handling of fake news and untrue information about COVID-19 on the internet.
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Informationand Communications (MIC) on July 23 issued a document on intensifying thehandling of fake news and untrue information about COVID-19 on the internet.
Under the Government’s resolution on COVID-19prevention and control issued on July 20, the ministry has been tasked withinstructing the communication work, providing information in a timely manner tohelp people understand the situation, stay calm, sympathise with and support anti-pandemicmeasures, and actively implementing pandemic prevention and control measures,thus contributing to consolidating and enhancing public trust in the Party andthe State.
The MIC has noticed a rise in fake news andmisinformation about the pandemic situation as well as the pandemic combat,which have undermined the great national unity bloc.
Misleading claims about the efficacy of COVID-19vaccines and untrue information distorting the Vietnamese Government’s vaccinedistribution policy and the use of the COVID-19 vaccine fund have also beenspread on the social media.
The spread of such harmful and ill-intentionedinformation has eroded public trust in the pandemic fight, causing public anxietyand concern, and hindering the country’s anti-pandemic efforts.
Therefore, the MIC requests ministries,ministry-level agencies, Government agencies, and People’s Committees of citiesand provinces to seriously observe regulations on providing information for thepress, ensuring that information must be provided as soon as possible in anycircumstances.
In cases of unexpected incidents in ministries,agencies and localities, the press should be provided update information nolater than two hours from the time the incident occurs, the ministry said.
When detecting fake news and misinformation,ministries, agencies and localities need to instruct police and other relevantforces to quickly check the information, track its source and handle peopleinvolved in the dissemination.
Municipal and provincial Departments of Informationand Communications are required to strictly handle press agencies, information websitesand social networks that publish and spread fake news and misinformation about thepandemic’s developments and anti-pandemic work in localities.
Forces involved in COVID-19 prevention and controlmust seriously follow regulations set by competent agencies and haveappropriate behaviours towards the public./.
The code of conduct on social networks, recently introduced by the Ministry of Information and Communications, is expected to help build a healthy internet environment, a lawyer has said.
Experts noted that press agencies should not only focus on copy right protection or increase revenues from digital platforms but also pay attention to the improvement of the content, which should be considered the most important task.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the country’s goal of having the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning lifted.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
PM Chinh lauded the press’s historic role in the nation’s fight for independence and its ongoing process of national development, affirming that the Government always highly appreciates the close partnership and steadfast support of press agencies and journalists nationwide.
In recent decades, Vietnam’s mainstream media has become a reliable and persuasive channel for showcasing the nation’s development policies and achievements, especially in economic matters, according to a senior assistant editor at the Times of India.
A hub for sharing best practices, the event aims to forge solutions for financial sustainability, public media contracts, audience engagement, content innovation, and newsroom restructuring. It is also a moment for Vietnam’s media to accelerate its progress and figure out what the “revolutionary press” means in a new era.
From “Thanh nien”, Vietnam’s first revolutionary newspaper founded by Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) on June 21, 1925, the revolutionary press has remained devoted to its sacred missions -accompanying the nation, serving the Fatherland, and working for the people.
The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai–Da Nang route on June 2 has sparked a “tourism revolution” for Vietnam’s central coastal city. Da Nang is emerging as a top destination for high-end travelers, particularly from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said VNA has been a consistent and reliable partner in OANA, contributing actively to the regional media landscape through content sharing, coordination, and policy discussions. Their coverage of ASEAN and Indochina issues adds valuable perspectives. Bernama appreciates the collaboration with VNA.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
