VTV1

VTV1 is the first channel of Vietnam Television (VTV) and one of Vietnam's principal general-interest television services. Its schedule is built around news, commentary, political coverage, current affairs, and other public-affairs programming produced largely through VTV's News Department and related editorial operations. The channel functions not only as a source of daily information but also as a major state broadcasting platform in Vietnam, reflecting the communications priorities of the Vietnamese government and the Communist Party of Vietnam. Vietnam Television began broadcasting on September 7, 1970, with technical assistance from Cuba. VTV1 developed within that national broadcasting system and became the principal channel associated with VTV's general domestic service. Its role has historically combined news dissemination with broader public-information programming, rather than following the narrowly specialized format of a commercial news network. At different points in its history, the channel carried a mixture of scheduled news bulletins, commentary, political and social-affairs programs, documentaries, and other general-interest content. The channel expanded its service to international residents and foreign viewers in Vietnam in the late 1990s, when it began an English-language news service in July 1992. Its morning news and information program Chào buổi sáng began on March 31, 1997, adding a recurring early-day format to the channel's news offer. These developments complemented VTV1's established role as a source of national news and official information. A major operational change took place on June 15, 2011, when VTV1 moved to a continuous 24-hour schedule. The change positioned it more clearly as an always-on news, politics, and current-affairs channel while retaining selected general-affairs programming. Before that transition, VTV1's broadcast day had expanded incrementally over several decades, moving from morning and evening blocks in its early years to substantially longer daily coverage. VTV1 is distributed as one of Vietnam's legally designated essential television channels. Television providers in the country are required to carry such services, giving VTV1 broad national availability and reinforcing its importance within Vietnam's media system. Its audience proposition is therefore based on reach, official authority, regular news updates, and coverage of national affairs rather than on a distinctive entertainment genre or commercial lifestyle identity. As a government-controlled broadcaster, VTV1's editorial position is closely connected to the Vietnamese state. The channel is widely characterized as presenting news and commentary favorable to the government and as contributing to official public-opinion formation. This institutional role distinguishes VTV1 from privately operated or openly adversarial news channels in other media markets. The channel remains active as a core VTV service, with its principal identity rooted in news, commentary, national affairs, and public communication.

VTV1's history is closely tied to the development of Vietnam Television. Vietnam Television began broadcasting on September 7, 1970, with technical support from Cuba. From its position as the first VTV channel, VTV1 became associated with the broadcaster's principal domestic general-interest service, combining regular news with commentary, political coverage, public-affairs programming, and selected general programming. In its early decades, VTV1 did not operate continuously around the clock. Its schedule was divided into morning, afternoon, and evening periods, and broadcast hours changed repeatedly as the television system expanded. The early service ran in separate morning and evening blocks. Later adjustments extended the daily schedule and introduced additional daytime programming, reflecting increased capacity and the growing importance of television as a national information medium. In late July 1992, VTV1 introduced an English-language news service aimed at foreigners living in or visiting Vietnam. This broadened the channel's information role beyond Vietnamese-language domestic broadcasting, although the channel's central audience and institutional purpose remained national. On March 31, 1997, VTV1 launched its morning program Chào buổi sáng, establishing a recurring early-day news and information format. The channel's daily hours continued to lengthen. By the early 2000s, VTV1 was broadcasting from the early morning until the early hours of the following day. On September 1, 2010, its schedule began at 05:00 and continued until 02:00. The most significant scheduling milestone arrived on June 15, 2011, when VTV1 became a 24-hour channel. Its continuous format emphasized news, politics, and current affairs while preserving room for other general-affairs programs produced by VTV. VTV1's institutional significance also derives from its position within Vietnam's state broadcasting structure. It is treated as one of the country's essential television channels and is legally required to be distributed by television providers. This requirement gives the channel extensive national reach and makes it a central vehicle for official news, public information, and coverage of government and national affairs. The channel's editorial identity reflects its ownership and public role. VTV1 is government-controlled and is generally described as carrying coverage favorable to the Vietnamese government. Alongside informing viewers, it participates in the official communication environment and in shaping public discussion from the perspective of the Vietnamese state and the Communist Party of Vietnam. Its development has therefore been defined both by technical and scheduling expansion and by its continuing role as Vietnam's principal state news and public-affairs television service.

• 2011

  VTV1 becomes a 24-hour channel

  [1]VTV1en.wikipedia.org

  On June 15, VTV1 shifted to continuous 24-hour broadcasting, with a schedule focused on news, politics, current affairs, and other general-affairs content.

• 1997

  Chào buổi sáng launches

  [1]VTV1en.wikipedia.org

  The morning news and information program Chào buổi sáng began on March 31, adding a recurring early-day format to VTV1's schedule.

• 1992

  English-language news service introduced

  [1]VTV1en.wikipedia.org

  VTV1 began an English-language news service in late July, serving foreigners in Vietnam and extending the channel's information role beyond its principal Vietnamese-language audience.

• 1970

  Vietnam Television begins broadcasting

  [1]VTV1en.wikipedia.org

  Vietnam Television commenced broadcasting on September 7, 1970, with technical assistance from Cuba, establishing the national television system in which VTV1 operates as the first channel.

Vietnam's primary state television channel for news, commentary, politics, current affairs, and general public-affairs programming.

• Television news

  VTV1 news bulletins

  Regular news bulletins form the core of VTV1's programming identity. They provide domestic and international updates within the editorial framework of Vietnam Television and are integrated into the channel's continuous schedule. News output is complemented by commentary, interviews, reports, and features addressing political, economic, social, and national-affairs topics.

• Public affairs television

  Political and current-affairs programming

  VTV1 carries political, current-affairs, and commentary programs produced through VTV's news and related editorial departments. These programs interpret national events, government activity, and major public issues, giving the channel a role that extends beyond headline reporting into official public communication and analysis.

• Morning news program · 1997

  Chào buổi sáng

  Chào buổi sáng is VTV1's morning news and information program, first introduced on March 31, 1997. Its launch added a defined early-day program to the channel's schedule and supports VTV1's role as a daily source of news and public information.

• International-language television news · 1992

  English-language news service

  VTV1 introduced an English-language news service in late July 1992 for foreigners in Vietnam. The service represented an expansion of the channel's audience-facing information function while remaining part of the broader VTV state broadcasting structure.

• 2011

  Adoption of continuous 24-hour broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  VTV1 had progressively extended its broadcast day through successive schedule changes, but it still operated with defined daily limits before June 2011.

  Action taken

  On June 15, 2011, VTV1 adopted a 24-hour schedule centered on news, politics, current affairs, and other general-affairs programming.

  Aftermath

  The change established VTV1 as a continuous national news and public-affairs service and removed the overnight break from its regular schedule.

  Source

1. 1VTV1en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Vietnam Television official websitevtv.vn