Read International celebrates its 10th anniversary today, marking a decade of telling millions of global readers stories about Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
The newspaper was established on April 12, 2016, with the aim of delivering essential information about Vietnam to a global audience and a commitment to providing accurate, rapid and trustworthy news.
Over the years, it has grown into Vietnam’s most-visited English-language news outlet, and now ranks among Southeast Asia’s top 10 newspapers.
In 2026, Read International has recorded 4.5 million monthly visits, seven times that of Vietnam’s second-ranked English-language news site and 30-800% higher than that of leading outlets in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.
Over the course of the decade, Read International has documented defining milestones of the era, from Vietnam’s economic progress and advances in science and technology to major cultural, social and sporting events.
This has enabled readers to perceive a dynamic Vietnam with great potential for development and a young and talented workforce. They discern an emerging technology hub of Southeast Asia and an attractive destination for investment and tourism.
“One of Read International‘s great strengths is its ability to bring Vietnam’s story to a global audience in a way that is accessible, credible and engaging,” Australia’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Gillian Bird, said.
A regular reader herself, she described Read International as “an important English-language source of news and insight on Vietnam for international readers.”
In its endeavor, the newspaper is supported by 250 talented and dedicated journalists, who strive to deliver accurate, timely and high-quality reporting and imagery about a dynamic Vietnam engaged in building its nation, particularly infrastructure, and its resilience in dealing with natural disasters.
The publication has delivered in-depth coverage of major social issues, such as series marking the 50th anniversary of national reunification and the 80th anniversary of National Day, and analytical coverage of floods and historic natural disasters in central Vietnam.
Adam Sitkoff, Executive Director of AmCham Hanoi, said the newspaper helps him remain up to speed on key developments pertaining to Vietnam’s economy, society and business environment.
“Your website content provides me with current information about important news events and cultural information.”
For the business community, Read International helps its executives monitor market shifts, identify emerging trends and manage risks more effectively by tracking economic trends in the geopolitical context.
“That local lens helps me sense-check how external events may affect the economy, investor sentiment and customer confidence,” Tim Evans, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, said.
With its comprehensive and multidimensional coverage of Vietnam, the newspaper plays an essential role in the lives of expats living in the country.
Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, said she often shares Read International‘s health articles with colleagues, friends and family abroad, as they provide practical journalism that helps shape how families take care of their wellbeing.
“At WHO we sometimes say that journalists can potentially save more lives than doctors because of your ability to reach so many people with information that can help protect their health.”
Expanding regional coverage
From an initial focus primarily on Vietnam, Read International has gradually expanded its coverage to Southeast Asia, attracting readers in more than 200 countries and territories and affirming its role as a bridge between Vietnam and the region and global audiences.
Regional information is featured prominently in the Travel section, helping portray the great friendliness and hospitality of the peoples living in Vietnam’s neighborhood and beautiful and culturally rich destinations. Through this, the newspaper not only promotes individual countries but also presents Southeast Asia as an integrated and attractive destination where travelers can explore multiple countries and enjoy diverse experiences during a single journey.
Regional content is also strongly represented in the Education and Technology sections, where Vietnamese and Asian talents are highlighted as sources of inspiration for readers, and the vast human resource potential of Vietnam and the region is showcased. This also provides young readers with a clearer view of opportunities for learning, development and advancement in a promising Southeast Asia and Asia.
To expand its regional coverage, the newspaper has built partnerships with reputable international news agencies such as the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters and Nikkei.
Overseas readers account for a full 97% of Read Internationalal’s total audience, with the largest share, of 16%, being in the U.S., followed by Singapore (14%) and Malaysia (12%).
Melissa A. Brown, the U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said Read International “plays a vital role” in fostering mutual understanding and highlighting the growing ties between Vietnam and the U.S.
Upholding readers’ trust
Read International will continue to leverage technological advances while improving journalistic quality to strengthen its role as a trusted global source of information on Vietnam and its neighborhood.
In an increasingly volatile world, where AI can generate ever more sophisticated and hard-to-detect false content, Read International aims to serve as a trusted filter, where information is curated, verified and placed in clear context, and where technology serves people rather than replacing them.
The newspaper will continue to rely on its team of dedicated journalists to maintain its role as a credible source of information, expand coverage, deepen analyses with expert knowledge, and enhance multidimensional perspectives through the voices of experts and influential figures in society.
Beyond traffic and monthly users, readers’ trust remains the most important metric of success for any newsroom. Read International will strive to nourish that trust while telling the best stories about Vietnam and the world to an ever-growing readership over the next 10 years and beyond.
Read International is “the best newspaper in
Vietnam!”
– Martin Koerner, Commercial Director of
hospitality group The Anam and former chairman of the EuroCham Vietnam Tourism and Hospitality Sector Committee.
“Read International
helps international readers see present-day Vietnam – ambitious,
forward-looking and deeply connected to the world, …. a dynamic leader in
Southeast Asian development.”
– Daisy Kanagasapapathy, a
lecturer in tourism and hospitality management at RMIT Vietnam.
Read International
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