Up to 300 Vietnamese reporters will be in Laos to cover the 25th SEA Games, the largest group of foreign journalists ever in the country.

Reporters interviewed the national football squad’s chief coach Henrique Calisto.

The games will officially start on December 9, but hundreds of Vietnamese reporters are already in Laos. On the flight carrying the men’s national football squad from Hanoi to Vientiane on November 28, there were at least ten reporters of VTC News, Countryside Today and Dan Tri online newspaper.

Nearly one week ago, journalists of the Vietnam Television (VTV) traveled overland, and other Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Sports and VTC Television staff have arrived.

By November 29, the Vietnam Olympic Committee received applications for journalist badges from 250 Vietnamese reporters. Nguyen Thi Huyen, the committee member in charge of applications, said that 250 was just the early number, as many more have applied.

Other Vietnamese reporters will receive their press card directly from the Lao SEA Games organizing board.

VTV has the highest number of reporters. Bui Huyen, in charge of VTV press cards, remarked that VTV had sent 10 specialized cars with 180 reporters, sub-editors and technicians.

VTV Television ranks second. Vu Quang Huy, manager of VTC3, stated: “We sent 80 reporters, sub-editors and technicians to Laos, besides 40 people at home covering the SEA Games. Our staff traveled to Laos in seven cars and we hired an entire hotel in Vientiane for them.”

The Vietnam News Agency, sports newspapers and other major newspapers also sent large numbers of reporters. Even small, local media like Hai Phong Security, Binh Duong Television, Dong Thap Television, have sent reporters to Laos.

VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre