A: Every Wednesday, we have a pleasant time reading letters from listeners around the world. Each letter contains a nice surprise.

B: This week we got a letter from Denis Ironman of England, whose last letter to us was back in 1971. We’re happy to welcome you back after 45 years. Wow, such a long time! Most of the people who worked here at that time have retired.

A: I think Denis must be one of our oldest listeners. We were impressed to see a picture of his Dx’ing corner: many international shortwave pennons and a Japanese JRC-NRC-545 DSP receiver. The “545” is reviewed as the finest receiver of this very old and reputable brand. Denis is a member of the Radio Amateur Old Timers’ Association.

B: I just Googled “RADIO AMATEUR OLD TIMERS' ASSOCIATION” on the internet and was happy to learn that the Association seeks to keep alive the pioneer spirit and traditions of the past in amateur radio through personal and radio contact.

A: It’s interesting to learn about the many shortwave radio organizations around the world, which provide venues for shortwave hobbyists to meet and share their passion. We have correspondence with the presidents and members of several shortwave clubs, including the SBS World Listeners’ Club of India, the Sadat Listeners Club of India, the Bangladesh VOV Listeners Club, the DW Listeners Club in the Naogaon District of Bangladesh, the Davao SW Radio Listeners Club in Davao City, Philippines, and the SW-DXer’s Club in Assam, India.

B: We’re glad to be in contact with you again after nearly 45 years, Denis. Over the years, Vietnam has changed dramatically. I hope from now on you’ll regularly tune in to our program to learn about Vietnam’s developments. We’ll send you our latest frequency list and program guide to make it easier for you to catch our programs.

A: I’m reading an interesting letter from Otto Schwartz of the US. He sent us several reports on the programs going back all the way to July. Otto said he just wanted to let us know that he tuned in to our broadcast regularly and the reception was usually acceptable.

B: Otto told us that it’s a lot easier and more enjoyable to listen to the interesting, informative, and entertaining programs than to sit down and write a letter. During the warm summer months, he was busy with gardening, pruning trees, trimming hedges, doing home repairs, and cleaning up debris left by summer storms.

A: We greatly appreciate you taking time to write to us. We’ll verify your old reception reports to acknowledge your enthusiasm and attachment to VOV. Otto described what he likes about VOV: “My favorite VOV programs are those dealing with the everyday life of the Vietnamese people, their hobbies, activities, traditions, festivals, celebrations, and music. From your news and commentaries I’ve learned how much progress Vietnam has made in so many areas, democracy, judicial system, education, poverty reduction, health care, the environment, tourism, energy, and improving the living standard of the rural, ethnic population.”

B: We always care what listeners like to hear about Vietnam so we can design our programs to attract more listeners. We also want to hear listeners’ stories about Vietnamese people living in their country. Otto told us that more and more Vietnamese are settling in Carolina. “Several years ago a Vietnamese Buddhist temple opened in Castle Hayne, North Carolina, and recently a Vietnamese restaurant opened in Little River, South Carolina. I haven’t had the opportunity to eat there yet, but I’ll try it out as soon as I can, as I know Vietnamese cuisine is outstanding.”

A: Thank you, Otto, for telling us about Vietnamese living in the Carolinas, in the US. Vietnam has about 4.5 million people scattered in some 100 countries. About half of them are working and living in the US. Every year about 500,000 overseas Vietnamese return to Vietnam. Overseas Vietnamese businesspeople have invested 8.4 million USD in 3,500 enterprises in Vietnam.

B: Here are some letters from other listeners. Ms Karobi Hazarika of India wrote: “As a regular listener to your station, I’ve listened to your “Sunday Show” program, the biggest feature of the week. In this program you talked about student life in Vietnam. It's really great for me to learn about the lifestyle, work, and education of Vietnamese students through this program. I enjoyed listening to today's program very much. I found today's program most informative and inspiring.”

A: This week we received many Christmas cards. The cards are beautiful and the wishes are sweet. Thank you, Gerry Neumann, for sending us a Christmas card of a chickadee bird on a holly berry tree. German listener Peter Erich Boeck sent us Holiday Greetings and a reception report while he was on vacation in Lombok, in the Paradise Islands of Indonesia. Thank you so much, Peter, for writing to us while on holiday. I think now you’ve returned home safe and sound. We thank Ashik Eqbal Tokon for sending us a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year e-card.  

B: Christmas almost here. Many of our listeners ask us about Catholicism in Vietnam and how Vietnamese people celebrate Christmas. Viet Nam is a country of many religions and beliefs. Different ethnic groups in Viet Nam have different beliefs linked to their own material and spiritual lives. Buddhism has the most followers, then comes Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Caodaism, and Hoa Hao Buddhism.  

A: Catholicism was introduced into Viet Nam in the 15th century by European missionaries. It was first popular in coastal provinces such as Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, etc., then spread throughout the Red River delta and cities. Catholics and Protestants today constitute 7% and 1% of the country’s population.

St. Joshep cathedral in Hanoi on Christmas

B: Although a predominantly Buddhist country, Vietnam celebrates Christmas as one of its four main annual religious festivals along with the Lunar New Year, the mid-autumn festival, and the Buddha’s birthday. In Vietnam these days big nativity scene with life-sized statues of Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, shepherds, and animals is set up in front of every major church, including Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City, and Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi.

A: Shop signs advertise Christmas sales, and in Hanoi a piercing cold has prompted people to bundle up. For older Vietnamese, Christmas is an event of little significance, but youths, especially in major cities, like to go to the city centre where there are various festive activities. 

B: Once again, thank you for your warm wishes for Christmas and New Year. We also wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope our new year cards and calendars will arrive at your houses no later than Santa Claus’s sleigh.  

A: 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.