Hello and welcome to VOV’s Letter Box, our weekly feature dedicated to listeners throughout the world. We are Mai Phuong and Ngoc Huyen.
A: Christmas is coming and there’s a festive atmosphere throughout the world. In Vietnam, stores and shopping centers in major cities have become more festive and exciting with colorful, sparkling Christmas decorations. At VOV, the season brings Christmas greetings from our listeners around the world.
Season greetings from Michael Steveson of Australia
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B: On today’s program, we’d like to thank Michael Steveson of Australia for his beautiful Christmas card and wishes. Jens Adolph, a historian in Germany sent us best wishes for the New Year. In his letter, he reported listening to our program on April 28 and November 24. Jens wrote: “I hear your different language services quite often on the shortwave. I’m sending you reports about 9550 Khz, where the reception is different nearly every day. Often S and O are 2 or 3, sometimes lower or a little bit better”.
A: Jens, thank you for your report, which is very useful in improving our transmission. We’ll forward your report to our technicians and also send you a QSL card to confirm your report.
B: In an email to VOV this week, Vladislav Levshanov of New Zealand sent us Merry Christmas greetings and best wishes for the New Year. He reported listening to our program on December 3rd on the frequency of 5955 khz from 18:09 to 18:19 UTC. He rated SINPO at 53444.
B: Thank you, Vladislav Levshanov. From Belgium, 59-year-old Etienne Sertyn Plezantstraat of the British DX Club listened to our program on November 9th from 18:00 to 18:30 UTC on the frequency of 5955 khz with SINPO rated at 45433. Etienne wrote: “I was indeed very glad to hear your station over here with a nice signal. I’m especially interested in culture and the way of life in Vietnam”.
A: Etienne, thank you for tuning in to our program. We’ll verify your report with a QSL card. In an email to VOV this week, Mitul Kansal of India, one of our regular listeners, wrote: “As Buddhism is the main religion of people of Vietnam, I’m very happy to learn more about Christmas markets in your towns and it gives me pleasure to know that Christmas is celebrated in Vietnam. In India, we also celebrate Christmas - the birth of Jesus. On the eve of Christmas, here is a poem by me. I hope you will like it and present it in your program”.
B: Well, it’s a nice poem. Let me recite it for all of you. The poem’s title is Hug of War.
“I will not play tug of war
I’d rather play hug of war
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug
Where everyone kisses
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles
And everyone wins”.
A: That’s so interesting. Thank you, Mitul Kansal for sharing your poem with us. This week, SB Sharma of India asks us about beer festivals in Vietnam.
B: In Vietnam, we don’t have an official festival for Vietnamese beer. Occasionally, we observe Octoberfest, Germany’s beer festival. This event is often organized by a number of German companies or organizations. Sometimes, we have small beer festivals organized by some beer breweries.
A: That’s not to say that beer is not popular in Vietnam. “If you travel to Vietnam, there is plenty to see but most important of all, it’s a reason to come here just for the beer”, that’s what Jonathan Gharbi, a Swedish beer blogger says about Vietnamese beer.
B: In fact, in addition to the exquisite landscape, music, and cuisine, Bia hoi (draught beer) is another attraction in Vietnam. Trying Bia hoi in the Old Quarter of Hanoi or tasting Western-style beer at brewery houses is an unforgettable Vietnamese experience.
A: Bia hoi is a type of light, easily produced beer made from rice, malt and sugar. It is mostly found in small bars and on street corners. Your trip to Vietnam is incomplete without trying Hanoi’s Bia hoi.
B: It is not an exaggeration to say that Hanoi is a haven for beer lovers. Right in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the center of Hanoi, beer of all kinds can be found - imported beer like Heineken, Sapporo, Budweiser, and Oettinger and locally made brews like Hanoi, Huda and Sai Gon beer. For many foreign tourists, Bia hoi is the top choice.
A: Drinking beer in Hanoi is a special experience for foreigners, who enjoy from the cheap prices, delicious taste, and noisy street atmosphere.
B: For those who prefer higher quality beer, drinking at microbreweries is a better choice. There, in addition to local beers such as Hanoi, Huda and Sai Gon, Western style beers seem to dominate. The number of microbreweries has exploded in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city, most of them German or Czech style. Though the prices are more expensive at around 1.5 USD for a glass of beer, more and more people prefer drinking at brewery houses with fresh beer poured straight from the tap. To fans of brewery houses, high-quality beer is the most important thing.
A: Indoors or outdoors, it is undeniable that beer is a widely popular drink in Vietnam, with hot, humid weather all year round, drinking beer has become part of Vietnamese people’s daily life.
B: That’s a brief look at beer and beer drinking in Vietnam. But tasting is believing. We hope you’ll arrange your schedule to come to Vietnam and enjoy our Vietnamese beer.
A: Today, we’d like to welcome Peter Ng of Malaysia back to our show. We haven’t heard from you for a long time, Peter. In a letter, Peter sent his New Year greetings and reported listening to our program on November 24 at 10 UTC on the frequency of 12020.
B: Thank you, Peter, for tuning in to our broadcasts. We also would like to acknowledge letters and emails from Masaru Sekimoto of Japan, Vijaya Shree of India, Muneer KP of the United Arab Emirates, Siddhartha Bhattachajee, Ratan Kumar Paul, Mohammad Shamim and Sandipan Basu Mallick of India, and Mizan Rahman of Bangladesh. We’ll send you all QSL cards and the souvenirs you requested very soon.
B: We welcome your feedback at: English section, Overseas Service, Radio Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Or you can email us at: englishsection@vov.org.vn. You’re invited to visit us online at www.vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs. Good bye until next time.