Vietnam Today is an English-language Vietnamese television channel operated by the state-owned national broadcaster, Vietnam Television. Launched on September 7, 2025, it aims to provide a "comprehensive and contemporary view of the country for a global audience", covering a broad spectrum of topics from politics and business to culture and tourism.
The channel was established under a prime ministerial decision as an instrument of Vietnam's communication and public diplomacy efforts. Its objective is to "promote the image of a modern, dynamic, and globally integrated Vietnam, challenge outdated international perceptions, and communicate the official guidelines of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the policies of the state to the world".
History
Background The legal framework for Vietnam Today was established by Decision No.747/QD-TTg, as issued by the Prime Minister of Vietnam on April 11, 2025. This directive mandated the creation of a national external television service with the mission to "promote Vietnam to the world". The channel was tasked with serving as a primary vehicle for the state's external information work, including the communication of the guidelines of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the policies and laws of the State to an international audience. Vietnam Today is thus a strategic state project rather than a market-driven media enterprise, which positions it as an official instrument of the Vietnamese government.
Announcements On August 22, 2025, Vietnam Television held a ceremony in Hanoi to announce the launch of the channel. At this event, VTV's Deputy General Director, Đỗ Đức Hoàng, served as the spokesperson, articulating the channel's vision and strategic imperatives. He framed the project as an "urgent task" in a complex global environment, stating that the channel would aim to portray Vietnam "in an accurate, comprehensive, timely, and profound manner". Hoàng introduced the channel's core operational philosophy, which he defined by the guiding principles of "reliable information, engaging content, creative media".
Launch Vietnam Today commenced its broadcast at 07:09 on September 7, 2025 (Indochina Time). The launch was timed to coincide with two major national milestones: the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 55th anniversary of VTV's first-ever broadcast. The launch ceremony was a high-profile state function held at the Hanoi Opera House, attended by senior government and party officials. Party General Secretary Tô Lâm presided over the event, where he presented VTV with the First-class Labour Order and delivered a keynote address. In his speech, he highlighted the channel's strategic importance in the national agenda, reinforcing its role as a key component of Vietnam's modern communication infrastructure. The remarkably short four-month period between the Prime Minister's decision in April and the official launch in September suggests the project was a high-level political priority, enabling the rapid mobilization of state resources to overcome typical bureaucratic and logistical delays.
Objectives The channel is explicitly conceived as an instrument of "digital diplomacy" and a tool for projecting Vietnam's soft power on the global stage. Its creation is a direct implementation of national policies aimed at leveraging culture and communication for foreign policy goals, such as the "Strategy for Cultural Diplomacy to 2030". Officials have described its purpose as creating a "bridge between Vietnam and the global community" and affirming the country's international prestige. This was further emphasized by Party General Secretary Tô Lâm at the launch event, where he tasked VTV and Vietnam Today with being a "pioneer on the ideological and cultural front" and helping to "elevate Vietnam's presence on the global media map".
A fundamental objective of Vietnam Today is to actively reshape global perceptions of the country by moving beyond what officials have termed "outdated stereotypes" and simplistic "pretty pictures and travel clips". The channel's mandate is to present a "vivid, contemporary and objective view" of modern Vietnam. The narrative it aims to construct is that of a "peaceful, forward-looking and stable nation" that harmoniously preserves its rich traditions while embracing innovation, economic development, and deep global integration. This official narrative also highlights the character of the Vietnamese people as youthful, resilient, and dynamic, positioning the nation as a proactive and welcoming member of the international community. While the channel's mission statement frequently employs terms like "objective" and "reliable," this is framed within the state's subjective goal of promoting a specific, curated national image. This suggests that "objectivity," in this context, refers to the authoritative presentation of the government's official perspective as the definitive, factual narrative, a common approach for state-run public diplomacy media.
Vietnam Today's establishment marks a significant strategic pivot in Vietnam's approach to international broadcasting. While its Vietnamese-language counterpart and semi-predecessor, VTV4, primarily served the Vietnamese diaspora with a package of domestic programming, Vietnam Today is designed to engage a much broader and more diverse international audience. This shift from an inward-facing service for expatriates to an outward-facing platform for global influence mirrors the model of other major state-backed international broadcasters. The channel has identified several key target demographics for its content: Policymakers and political leaders seeking reliable and official information on Vietnam's positions and development. Investors and the international business community looking for insights into economic opportunities and the investment climate. Scholars, experts, and researchers requiring access to data and in-depth analysis on Vietnamese affairs. Tourists and potential visitors interested in the country's culture, heritage, and destinations. The Vietnamese diaspora seeking to maintain a connection with their homeland.
Programming
Content style Vietnam Today's content is guided by three core principles, articulated by its leadership as "Official information, sharp content and creative communication" or, alternately, "reliable information, engaging content, creative media". This philosophy aims to balance the channel's role as a state broadcaster with the need to produce content that can compete in the global media market.
Programming is intended to carry a "distinctly Vietnamese identity" while being presented in a "modern, accessible style for global viewers". The overarching goal is to narrate Vietnam's story in a "vivid, new, attractive way, with a multi-dimensional perspective" that appeals to international tastes. The content spans a wide array of subjects, including politics, the economy, culture, society, tourism, cuisine, heritage, environmental issues, technological innovation, and digital transformation.
Programs To cover this broad mandate, Vietnam Today has developed a slate of specialized programs. The programming is heavily weighted toward "soft" topics such as culture, tourism, and cuisine, which are central to nation-branding and soft power projection. Of the identified programs, a significant majority focus on these appealing, non-political aspects of the country. This content mix directly supports the channel's mission to reshape perceptions by building goodwill and attracting tourists and investors. At the same time, the inclusion of programs focused on political and economic discourse, such as The Point and Executive Talk, indicates an ambition to establish the channel as a credible source for its target audience of policymakers and business leaders. These programs serve as the primary vehicles for communicating official state and party positions on key issues.
The following table outlines the key known programs broadcast on the channel: + Key Programs on Vietnam Today Genre Program Title DescriptionCurrent Affairs & PoliticsNewslineUp-to-the-minute news update in Vietnam and the world. Broadcasts hourly. Current Affairs & Politics Vietnam 360 Covers current affairs and political topics. Current Affairs & Politics The Point Focuses on politics and in-depth commentary. Current Affairs & Politics Executive Talk Features interviews with key figures.Current Affairs & PoliticsInside AsiaCovers noteworthy news stories around Asia.Current Affairs & PoliticsGlobal InsightAnalyses the most important world event of the week. Business & Economy Daily Biz Provides daily business and economic news.Business & EconomyBizlineAnalyses the most important business topic of the week.Business & EconomyVietnam InnovatorsA talk show with business executives, discussing future strategies for doing business.Business & EconomyLocal Towards GlobalFeatures local productions & producers in the road of entering global markets. Culture & Lifestyle Culture Mosaic Explores various aspects of Vietnamese culture. Culture & Lifestyle Amazing Vietnam Showcases tourism and travel destinations. Culture & Lifestyle Heritage Journey Focuses on Vietnam's cultural and natural heritage sites. Culture & Lifestyle Street Food Explores Vietnam's vibrant street food scene.Culture & LifestyleFine CusineIntroduces Vietnamese food and culinary. Culture & Lifestyle Taste of Vietnam Delves into Vietnamese cuisine. Culture & Lifestyle Speak Like a Local Teaches Vietnamese language phrases and Vietnamese culture for foreigners and Vietnamese diaspora. Culture & Lifestyle Eyes on V A talk show shares the perspective of foreigners living in Vietnam on Vietnamese life.Culture & LifestyleVietnam ImprintsStories of Vietnamese diaspora community contributing to the life of their nation and Vietnamese community.Culture & LifestyleVietnam ExplainedInsight into Vietnamese life trends.Culture & LifestyleVibes of VietnamExplores the culture and the life in Vietnam.Culture & LifestyleHealth MattersDives into health issues. Music & Entertainment Tunebox A program centered on music.Music & EntertainmentShowtimeCulture feature show, featuring Vietnamese artists in various aspect of culture life. Science & Technology Tech Horizon Covers innovation and technological developments. Nature & Environment Echoes of the Wild Focuses on wildlife and environmental topics. Besides English, Vietnam Today also offers monthly roundup of national news & culture insights via monthly foreign language news magazines, targeting audiences having Chinese, French, Japanese or Russian as their native language. The monthly foreign language news magazine is provided with English subtitles for English-speaking viewers. +Weekly News Magazine in Foreign Languages (with English subtitles)Original nameLiteral meaningLanguageEnglish name今日越南Vietnam TodayChineseChina LinkLES ECHOS du VIETNAMThe Echoes of VietnamFrenchFrance LinkジャパンリンクJapan LinkJapaneseJapan LinkВОКРУГ ВЬЕТНАМАAround VietnamRussianRussia Link
Personnel
Đỗ Đức Hoàng is the Deputy General Director of Vietnam Television and the executive associated with Vietnam Today.
Information regarding the channel's team of anchors, hosts, and correspondents is limited in official launch materials. Public announcements have made general references to a team of "young presenters" tasked with conveying the channel's modern image.
Distribution