(VOVworld) - In the last Letter Box edition of 2014 we thank you for your support and sentiment for VOV over the years. We wish you a New Year full of happiness, good health, and prosperity.
B: This week we received several New Year’s greetings and postcards from listeners. Gerry Neumann wrote: “At the end of the year I want to thank the staff of VOV for the many hours of interesting and informative broadcast features throughout 2014, as well as the varied music that has been played, and now wish you all the best for 2015. I will continue to listen regularly to keep up to date with events in Vietnam and the South East Asia region, and hope that my visit to Vietnam in the summer will include one to Ha Noi and the studios of VOV in Ba Trieu.”
A: Hari Madugula, President of the Young Stars Radio Club of India, sent us a lovely wish:
“It’s time for the festive season,
From home to home and heart to heart,
From one place to another,
The warmth and joy of Christmas,
Brings us closer to each other
Merry X-mas and Happy New Year 2015!
B: Soumya Bhattacharjee, another Indian listener, shared his feelings towards VOV.
“In 2014 I had some wonderful memories with the VOV family. I say this because in this year I was able to contact other departments of VOV, like the Japanese, Russian, and German sections and establish good relations with them. My friends at VOV’s French service were extremely kind to me, along with all of you in the English section. My favourite program this year was the "Saturday Weekend Music Show". The Letterbox and the News & Current Affairs would be next in order of preference. The Letterbox show is a natural choice by default. The shows on culture and ethnic people were also of interest to me.”
A: Mr. Bhattacharjee highlighted major world events relating to Vietnam and India as well as great progress in India-Vietnam relationship. He continued talking about his hobby of getting news updates from VOV. “This year I've developed a good habit of browsing VOV's website and the experience was interesting. I generally access the content from my mobile phone and read articles and news. But listening to the shows online was not feasible for me, as my internet subscription limits my data usage; but anyway I always prefer Shortwave which is easier for me. I am able to hear several broadcasts aired from Hanoi at 12 UTC, 16 UTC, 19:30 UTC, and 20:30 UTC. Shortwave for now, remains my
favourite way to listen VOV content.”
 |
B: Mr. Bhattacharjee said that since he listens to VOV and knows more about Vietnam, he has paid attention to news about Vietnam on other channels. He said a local TV show called "Street Food Around the World" featured Chau Long market, Cha ca street, and the Cha ca restaurant, I hope I can visit Vietnam someday in the near future and will be able to meet all of you at the VOV office.”
A: Thank you very much for your support and sentiments about VOV, Mr. Bhattacharjee. We are so happy to be in touch with you. In the coming year, we wish you success in your postgraduate course and other business. We will be very glad to receive many reception reports from you in 2015.
B: From Romania, Vicentiu Gheorghe, wrote: “During the new year 2015 I wish you good health, happiness and many achievements! A warm and sincere Happy New Year to you and your families! Let us enjoy in the coming year, the same great quality and quantity of programs!”
A: We’re so happy to read New Year wishes from Robert Davidson of Slovakia, Ashik Eqbal Tokon of Bangladesh, Dr. Avinash Cheekoth of the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Jaisakthivel of India, Andrew Sirianni and Robert Ross of Canada, Mr. L.A Hewitt and Alan Roe of England, Peter Ng of Malaysia, and Chris Jenkins and Gary Edward Embry of the US. Thank you so much for your heartfelt congratulations and wishes.
B: We have a frequency change notice. Beginning January 1, 2015, the Voice of Vietnam will discontinue 2 English programs broadcast at 11:00 and 15:00 UTC on the frequency of 7285 khz beaming to Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Listeners in these countries can continue to listen to VOV on the frequencies of 1242 khz, 9840 khz, and 12020 khz.
B: Pak Ning Tjang of Indonesia informed us of a blank reception on December 28 between 23:30 and 23:57 UTC on 12020 khz. There was no broadcast until 23:40 UTC, he said. The same problem happened to our Indonesian language service on 12020 khz. There was no broadcast from 23:00 until 23:27 UTC, while on 9840 khz the signal only appeared near the end of the Indonesian broadcast.
A: We regret that some glitch spoiled your time listening to VOV. We’ve forwarded your remarks to our technicians so they can check. Fumito Hokamura of Japan told us that he likes Vietnamese coffee and Cha gio, spring rolls. He wants to know about the most popular winter drink in Hanoi. Is it tea or something else?
B: Tea is the most popular drink in Vietnam. We drink tea all year around. Hot green tea is drunk at any time of the day, at different occasions, by young and old. We drink hot tea at home, at the office, or at sidewalk shops. In winter, a cup of hot green tea with a hint of lotus or jasmine is always the top choice. In urban areas, coffee is the second most popular drink. Besides traditional Vietnamese coffee, which is black and strong taken with or without milk, we have several western-style coffees such as espresso, cappuccino, café freeze, caramel frappuccino, and candy frappuccino.
Egg coffee in Hanoi
|
A: You’re forgetting the gorgeous egg coffee, a specialty of Hanoi. It’s hot coffee with milk, yogurt, and an egg.
B: Oh I love it, how can I forget it? Anyone who hasn’t tried it might think it’s an odd combination, but it definitely works. A cup of hot egg coffee in this cold weather is so yummy.
A: That’s it for today’s Letter Box. We’d like to extend a New Year’s wish from Dewan Rafiqul Islam of Bangladesh to all our dear listeners. “I hope you have a wonderful January, a lovely February, a peaceful March, a stress-free April, a fun-filled May, and Joy that lasts from June to November, and finally, a happy December.”
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. Keep tuning in to our English program on the Internet at vovworld.vn. Good bye. See you next time.