VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Information and Communications has decided to impose VND18 million ($900) fine on the national Vietnam Television station (VTV) for its mistakes in .

Luom at VTV studio.

The Ministry also asked VTV to make corrections and apologize to the audience under the regulations of the Press Law.

At 10.30 pm, March 29, VTV conveyed its official apology to the audience about the “Mrs. Luom” case in the “Home Builders” show.

The show editor – Kim Ngan – said that the show purpose is good but she and her colleagues made mistakes in checking information and the character resume.

“There are different opinions about this case. We have learned a lesson from it and it is a valuable experience for us,” Ngan said.

Earlier, on the “Sweet Home Builders” show on March 8, journalist Kim Ngan mentioned the “Mrs. Luom” scandal but she only explained and expressed her regret about the case, not giving any apology to the audience.

The public questioned about the responsibility and the “culture of apology” of VTV in this incident.

Mrs. Luom, the winner of a writing contest about “My First Love” held by VietNamNet’s Tin Tuc Online website in 2010, was invited to an exchange with the audience of VTV about her “unfortunate first love” at S10 studio on December 17 2010. The show was aired on VTV1 on January 25 2011.

In the show, Mrs. Luom recalled her life as an orphan girl who felt in love with a well-educated, rich man, etc.

After the show was on the air, people in Thuan An town in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue city detected that Mrs. Luom in the show is Tran Thi Thuy Duong, 28, who is not an orphan. Duong was married and has a son.

Duong confessed that her story was made up.

PV