B: Me too. We’re so happy to receive beautiful Christmas and New Year greeting cards and warm wishes from our listeners around the world.

A: Richard Chen from Trinidad and Tobago sent us a Christmas card with images of Santa Claus, Christmas cookies, gift boxes, and a snowman. His message is “Wishing you happiness and good cheer during this special time of the year.”

B: Hans Nerner Lollike of Denmark wrote: “I’d like to wish you a joyful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2016. Thank you so much for the QSL cards in 2015.” We also received greeting cards and wishes for the New Year from Gerry Neumann of the UK, Yoshihiro Kusanagi, and Fumito Hokamura of Japan. They are so lovely, I’ve put them on the Christmas tree in our office.

A: They are beautiful decorations. We also received e-cards from listeners in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Mahfuzur Rahman wrote: “My heartfelt greetings to all of you from Bangladesh. Hope you are doing well. Please convey my regards for your colleagues. It’s my pleasure to wish you Merry Christmas & Happy New Year – 2016.”

Listeners' mails and postcards in VOV's office

B: Thank you so much, dear listeners. One of the real joys this holiday season is the opportunity to say thank you and wish you the very best for the New Year 2016. Fumito Hokamura wrote to us when he was watching a TV show about Hanoi that he was surprised to see Hanoi streets and the city’s recovery after the war.

A: Yes, the war ended over 40 years ago. Hanoi has been recognized by the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, as the City for Peace. The expansion of Hanoi’s administrative boundaries to over 3,300 km2 in August 2008 was an event of strategic significance and historical importance, providing opportunities for sustainable development.  The city now boasts ties with more than 100 countries and territories.

A Christmas tree in VOV's office

B: Hanoi has become an attractive destination in Asia for international groups to invest in property, factories, and the retail market. Big names such as Metro Cash&Carry, Big C, Lotte, and AEON have opened trade centers in Hanoi.

A: Hanoi is one of the most attractive destinations for foreign tourists thanks to its stable environment, reasonable prices, delicious food, and so much more. Hanoi greeted tourists from over 160 countries and territories with a majority coming from Western Europe, Northeastern Asia, Australia and North America.

B: Hanoi's Old Quarter an ideal place for foreign tourists who love ancient and modern architecture as well as the lifestyle and culture of Hanoians. Visiting craft streets in the Old Quarter, tourists can enjoy shopping for local handicrafts and trying diverse local dishes.

Hang Ma street in Hanoi's Old Quarter sells Christmas items

A: Hanoi is an economic, cultural, and tourism hub. Traders here bring almost all of the specialties from other provinces and cities in Vietnam. Visitors to Hanoi are often surprised at the busy local lifestyle: streets packed with motorbikes and crowded pavements, with numerous sidewalk vendors selling goods, mostly food, vegetables and fruits, at a very cheap price. 

B: The website TripIndex’s survey “The world's cheapest and most expensive cities for a mini-break” listed Hanoi as offering the best value for money. It turns out that Hanoi is the best destination for Brits compared to 40 major tourist cities around the world. The survey compares the cost of a three-night break during June to August, taking into account typical costs for two people.

A: The costs include a four-star hotel for three nights, a visit to three attractions, lunch each day, a taxi to and from dinner each day, plus the cost of dinner itself. Hanoi came to just £474 pounds per person.

Night market on weekends in Hanoi's Old Quarter

B: Thank you for your interesting information for holiday makers. Now let’s continue to read our listeners’ letters. John Cooper of the US reported listening to our program on November 22 on the 6175 khz frequency. John wrote: “I really enjoyed listening to VOV as always. I wish that you had more English language programming. The half hour program is very nice but really too short. The music was wonderful and greatly appreciated. The news was interesting and concise with Vietnam’s economic and human rights accomplishments being highlighted as always.”

A: Thank you John Cooper for your feedback and praise for VOV’s program. If you wish to our listen to a longer program about Vietnam, please visit our website at www.vovworld.vn to listen to VOV24/7 program. It’s broadcast on the local 104.4 FM and streamed on the internet from 6 am to midnight. We have regular features with an in-depth look at the social and cultural life in Vietnam.

Free beer for foreign tourists in Hanoi's Old Quarter

B: Other listeners in the US, Bob Nagel and Naoya Ohmori, also reported that the signal on 6175khz was good, with an overall rating of 4. Naoya Ohmori said the overall reception was fair in Alpharetta, Georgia. The signal was strong enough to enjoy the program and there was no major interference, fading, or noise on the frequency. I hope these conditions will continue in the future as well, Ohmori said.

A: Bob Nagel said “I enjoy hearing your programs, especially the Current Affairs. I’m interested in news about the relations between Vietnam and China. I also enjoy the Letter Box program.”

B: This week we acknowledge letters from Steward Lessel of Japan, Peter Ng of Malaysia, Hannu Kiiski of Finland, Rasheed Naz of Pakistan, Bhaikan Hazarika, Aslam Khan, and Doctor Jaisakthivel of India, and Adervall Lima Gomez of Britain. Thank you all for your New Year greetings and reports and we’ll verify them with QSL cards soon.   

A: Please feel free to send us your feedback. Our address is English Section, Overseas Service, Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Our email address is englishsection@vov.org.vn. Good bye until next time.