Tuoi Tre News, an English-language publication of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, officially launched a redesign of its website, tuoitrenews.vn, today, August 1.

A launch ceremony was held at the newspaper’s head office in Ho Chi Minh City, where Tuoi Tre News received congratulations from distinguished guests, including representatives from diplomatic agencies, international experts and organizations.

Among the guests were Mary Trechock, Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate General in the city; Hardegger Othmar Christian, Consul General of Switzerland; Park Noh Wan, Consul General of Korea; Somrudee Poopornanake, Deputy Consul General of Thailand.

Top officials from the AmCham, EuroCham, UNICEF and JBAH also attended the ceremony.

The new interface, the second redesign of Tuoi Tre News since its June 2010 establishment, marked the news website’s seventh anniversary and the upcoming 42nd anniversary of Tuoi Tre in September.

“As a commitment to our readers, on September 2 every year, the founding anniversary of Tuoi Tre Newspaper, we always introduce enhanced products to better satisfy the demand for information and trust from readers," Le The Chu, Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of Tuoi Tre, said at the ceremony.

This year, when the news industry in Vietnam is in a tough time with many newspapers, including English-language ones, having to cut circulations or even shut down, Tuoi Tre remains resolute in its desire to boost investment and improve all of its products, including Tuoi Tre News, Chu added.

“With a user-friendly, modern interface and a wide variety of new features, highlighted by a more responsive mobile version, plus a boost in news quality, we hope Tuoi Tre News will continue to be your top choice of news when studying, vacationing and doing business in Vietnam,” he added.

The Tuoi Tre News redesign retains the modernity needed for a news website and features improved user experience alongside a more responsive interface with a focus on mobile users.

The news categories are rearranged to give readers better navigation through the website at a much faster page-load speed, whereas media items, including photos and videos are displayed in better resolution and quality.

Tuoi Tre News reaffirms its commitment to providing the most accurate and latest news about Vietnam to readers through not only text-based stories but also videos, podcasts and photo essays.

“Tuoi Tre News deserves to be ‘The News Gateway to Vietnam,’ as well as being a trustworthy, professional, diverse and useful source of news for all," Chu said.

Following the opening speech, Truong Viet Toan, editor of Tuoi Tre News, briefed the attendees on the new design, underlining the key features and sections of the website.

Chu then went back onstage again, joined by the Consul General of Switzerland, the Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate General and the Eurocham and Amcham chairs to press the symbolic button to launch the redesigned Tuoi Tre News site.

The ceremony was followed by a discussion where guests shared their views on Tuoi Tre News and suggestions as to what foreign readers expect from an English-language news website in Vietnam.

Most of the attendees congratulated Tuoi Tre News on the new interface and expressed their appreciation of the news website’s hard work in helping the diplomatic and expat communities know of what is happening in Vietnam, as well as how the economy and market are developing.

The guests encouraged Tuoi Tre News to keep up the good work and focus their reports more on such fields as education and economic matters, as well as Vietnamese relations with other countries.

Le The Chu, Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of Tuoi Tre (L) and Mary Trechock, Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate General shake hands at the ceremony.

Hardegger Othmar Christian (L), Consul General of Switzerland, is seen at the event.

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Le The Chu, Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of Tuoi Tre, delivers the opening speech.

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Le Xuan Trung (L), Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre, listens as guests discuss on the sidelines of the event.

Tuoi Tre News editor Truong Viet Toan briefs the audience on the redesign.

Herb Cochran, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, speaks at the event.

Sanjay Chakrabarty (L), Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Finance, speaks at the event.

A delegate offers a suggestion to Tuoi Tre News at the event.

Leow Siu Lin, Singaporean Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, shares her thoughts at the event.

Andreas Thomas Siegel (R), German Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, speaks during the ceremony.

Le The Chu (R), Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of Tuoi Tre, and guests pose for a photo after pressing the symbolic button to launch the redesigned Tuoi Tre News.

Hardegger Othmar Christian, Consul General of Switzerland, shares his thoughts at the ceremony.

Mary Trechock, Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate General (L), listens as Somrudee Poopornanake, Deputy Consul General of Thailand, speaks during the ceremony.