Going to book shops is one of his pleasures. Sometimes he becomes a “tourist guide” for foreign guests whom he met when visiting some pagodas in Hanoi.  He leads a simple life, close to the nature. During his over 60 years working as a journalist, Hoang Tung has set foot in many places and read a lot, which helps deepen his articles. He has always borne in his mind the philosophy of “tri ky tri bi” (knowing oneself, knowing others’), thus helping him win the hearts of people through his writings. For him, true journalists must have a clear political outlook and stuff and do not seek personal benefits. Journalism must be appealing, for it represents the truth. However, he explains, the truth is not always accessible and evident, thus a journalist needs to be consistent in his belief. In his journalistic life, Hoang Tung wrote thousands of articles on various fields, most of which were editorials. His articles had a strong appealing power, encouraging the people and the army. In the national struggle for independence, many of his articles, including the “Hoc thuyet Nixon nhat dinh that bai” (Nixon’s doctrine is certainly doomed to failure) which was critical of unjust wars and asserted the Vietnamese people’s just cause as well as determination to regain independence, were titled “new declarations” by his colleagues. He had many editorials on the international solidarity with a strong appealing power, fostering the international solidarity and encouraging the struggle for national independence. Born in Ha Nam Province, Hoang Tung worked as a teacher in Nam Dinh Province. During his imprisonment in the French colonists’ Hoa Lo (Hanoi) and Son La prisons in 1940-1944, he learned journalism from revolutionary journalist Tran Huy Lieu. After the August 1945 Revolution, he worked at the Hanoi Party Committee and became a regular collaborator of Kien Thiet (Construction) newspaper. During his working years in Hai Phong City, he was in charge of Dan Chu (Democratic) newspaper. In 1948, in Viet Bac Resistance Base, he was the Editor-in-Chief of a theory magazine and became the director of Su That (Truth) newspaper in 1950. He worked as the Editor-in-Chief of the Nhan Dan (People) daily in 1954 - 1982. Either in the early years of his journalistic career or at the age of 86 now, Hoang Tung always has a sharp journalistic sense. He always keeps track of the heated domestic and international current events, thus he still has sound and up-to-date writings. In addition, he studies and writes biographies of Party and State leaders including Party General Secretaries Tran Phu, Ha Huy Tap, Nguyen Van Cu, Le Duan, Truong Chinh, Nguyen Van Linh and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong. “Journalism is both easy and difficult”, he says, “the journalists need not be complicated in his writings, but straightforward with deep analysis and coherent details. A journalist must be well informed with true-to-life information and avoid prejudiced and unilateral views”. Despite his age, journalist Hoang Tung still has a sound mind and a great sense of optimism. He still travels, reading, writing and devoting to revolutionary journalism. Journalist Hoang Tung at the age of 86 (May 2006).                   Story by Hoang Chuong - Photos by Thanh Phuong