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: First on our show today, we’d like to welcome Gianluca Romani, our new listener from Italy. Gianluca wrote: “This is my first reception report to Radio Voice of Vietnam. The signal of your transmission is strong enough to be receivable even with a simple portable receiver with a whip antenna like mine. I listened to 9726 khz with no interference, but on 9730, there was a station interfering. I like far-east music so I will continue listening to your transmission”.

B: Thank you, Gianluca. We’ll confirm your reception report with a QSL and some souvenirs from Vietnam. We hope to hear more from you.

A: Sharing Gianluca’s love for Vietnamese music is Debakamal Hazarika of India. Debakamal wrote: “I listened to the edition of the Weekend Music Show. In this program I heard nice Vietnamese rock music. On today’s show, you played rock songs sung by a male singer. He was passionate about rock music since he was in high school. I very much enjoyed the program. All the songs were wonderful”.

B: Rock music was first introduced to Vietnam by US soldiers during the 1960s. In the beginning, Vietnamese reacted with hostility because it was alien music brought here by American invaders. Over time, rock has gradually gained a foothold among Vietnamese youngsters and Vietnamese rock banks have appeared like The Enterprise, The Rocking Stars, The Phoenix, Metronome, The Wall and Microwave.

The Wall- a famous rock band in Vietnam

A: Although rock has only a 10% market share in the Vietnamese music industry, it remains a niche favorite. It has appeared in almost every prestigious music event, including Vietnam Idol, “Morning Star Rendezvous” and “Vietnamese Songs”.

B: In general, Vietnam’s genres are still strongly affected by foreign examples particularly British and American rock. But there are musicians who have blended western music with local tastes, like Nguyen Cuong with “Tay Nguyen Rock” and Pham Anh Khoa, who has transformed traditional Vietnamese folk songs into folk rock songs.

A: Among the many rock bands in Vietnam, it is impossible to overlook The Wall, a Vietnamese heavy metal band formed in Hanoi in 1995. The band is a leader of Hanoi’s rock scene with songs praised for their deep meaning and humanity.

Vietnamese rockers

B Another well-known rock band in Hanoi is Ngu cung. Ngũ Cung means “pentatonic” of 5 tones. It’s a progressive rock band. They have been well- known since they won the talent contest Rock Your Passion in 2007. Since the Rock Your Passion contest, the band has been a phenomenon in Vietnam mixing sound effects rock with traditional music of the northwest.

A: You are listening to VOV’s Letter Box. VOV’s news reports on developments in the East Sea have drawn a lot of comments from listeners around the world. Otto Schwatz of the US reported listening to our broadcasts on May 29, May 31, June 5 and June 14. He wrote: “Your news and current affairs interest mew, especially now when there is so much media attention on the maritime disputes between Vietnam and China. I hope and pray that the territorial sovereignty and integrity issues between Vietnam and China can be settled peacefully”.

B: SB Sharma reported listening to VOV’s broadcast on June 30 at 16:00 UTC on 7220 Mhz with good reception. Sharma wrote: “Thank you VOV team and the government of Vietnam for giving attention to China’s new map. This new map shows Arunachal Pradesh and Laddakh which are an integral part of India as part of China. The Indian government and media have strongly protested this new map of China. China is provoking unrest in the region. VOV gave special attention to China’s illegal action and aired the news on the radio. Kindly convey my thanks to VOV’s management board”.

A: In regard to China’s illegal placement of an oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, Sharma wrote: “Protest is needed to stop China’s illegal actions in the East Sea. Vietnam has the right to defend its sea and land integrity”.

B: This week, Fumito Hokamura reported listening to a VOV program on May 27 on the frequency of 12020 Mhz with SINPO at 55433. Fumito said he likes Vietnam, its land and customs and wants to visit Ha Long Bay.

Vietnamese marine police at the site where China illegally placed its oil rig in Vietnamese waters

A: Fumito, thank you for tuning in to our program regularly. Ha Long Bay is worth visiting if you are in Vietnam. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam’s "Descending Dragon", is located in the Tonkin Gulf in Quang Ninh province, about 180 km from Hanoi. Its exceptional scenic and geological values ​​have earned the site a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List twice - in 1994 and again in 2000. This is an honor that only a few places in the world have shared.

B: One day is not enough to explore Ha Long Bay which covers ​​1,553 square kilometers and includes nearly 2,000 islands and limestone islets emerging from the sea in a breathtaking spectacle. A cruise on the Bay gives visitors the feeling of being lost in a petrified legendary world. The shapes of the islands curiously resemble human and animal forms. With thousands of rocks resembling amazing sculptures, Ha Long Bay is a masterpiece of nature.

A: Ha Long Bay is also characterized by a bewildering array of caves and grottoes, each of them with its own beauty. Thien Cung or “Heaven Palace”, Dau Go or “Wooden Head” and Sung Sot or “Surprise” are the most famous caves in Ha Long Bay. You can admire various forms of stalactites and stalagmites highlighted by the play of light.

Ha Long Bay

B: Many prefer to visit the beautiful bay at sunset, which provides a fabulous show. Spending a night on the bay is simply magical. The Bay becomes spooky with reflections of light on the surface of the water. The setting and the sound of the waves delivers an unforgettable experience.

A: With its exceptional beauty and geological significance, Ha Long Bay has twice been inscribed in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Quang Ninh province is submitting a dossier to win UNESCO recognition a third time for its archeological values and biodiversity

B: Before we go, we’d like to acknowledge letters and emails from Pradip Chandra Kundu, and Dewan Rafiqul Islam of India, Satoshi Nishioto of Japan, Zdzislaw Gomulka of Poland, and Tjang Pak Ning of Indonesia. We’ll confirm your reports with QSL cards and the gifts you requested.

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.