B: We’re glad to have a correspondence with you, Malik, and other members of your club. We’ll send you some VOV promotional materials to welcome you to VOV’s global Dx’ers community. I noticed that your letter dated August 31 arrived in Vietnam on November 20. It took nearly 3 months. So we expect it will take an equally long time for our letter to reach you.

A: We welcome another new listener Zach Rutledge, who lives in Alabama state in the US. He listened to VOV on October 29, 2015 on the frequency of 6175 khz. He rated SINPO at 45434 and noted a clear, strong signal with minimal interference and only slight atmospheric disturbance. He said in the Letter Box segment, we mentioned one of his friends, Paul Walker. It was a surprise when he heard his good friend’s name being broadcast via our station.

B: Zach wrote: “I enjoyed listening to the Vietnamese perspective on Asian and world events and look forward to listening to the English program again in the future. The broadcast closed with a Vietnamese pop song that was wonderful. I hope you can play more of your nation’s wonderful music on shows in the future.”

A: I’m reading a letter from John Rutledge of China, the first place winner of our writing contest, who talks about his feelings after his trip to Vietnam. “I especially want to thank you for my recent one-week trip to Vietnam and your hospitality during my visit to your country. The visit was an entertaining and educational experience. Although I had visited your country 20 years ago, I really was not totally prepared for all of the changes that I encountered. Your economic reforms have changed your country for the better and that was quite obvious upon observation. If Vietnam continues on this reformist policy path, then the next 20 years should be amazing.”

B: John continues: “I want to thank you for your feedback on my contest entry. Your comments, answers to my questions, and proof all helped me understand why I won. Such lessons certainly will assist me when I compete in future contests sponsored by your station and others.”

A: Thank you, John, for talking about your good experience of Vietnam. We had interesting talks about shortwave listening, correspondence with listeners, organizing listeners’ contests, and QSL cards etc. We really appreciate your recommendations and will take them into consideration when organizing future contests.

B: John asks how one can access VOV’s 24/7 English channel. It’s on our website vovworld.vn. Click on the banner “Listen live - VOV24/7”. It’s above the banner “On-demand streaming” showing VOV’s programs in 11 languages. VOV24/7 broadcasts from 6 am to midnight, 7 days a week, with live broadcasts from 08:00 to 10:00 am and from 6:00 to 8:00 pm local time.

A: Our programming covers politics, economics, culture, society, music, and entertainment. Features include News and Current Affairs, Economy, Discovery Vietnam, Doctor at Home, Food Delight, Culture Rendezvous, World music, What’s on, Learning English on the Radio, Learning Vietnamese, and more.

B: Please tune in to VOV24/7 for interesting information about all social aspects of Vietnam: daily entertainment spots, activities promoting foreign cultures in Vietnam, the dynamic life of young people, easy home cooking tips, traditional music of other countries, and learning English and Vietnamese. Throughout the program we play a variety of music for all tastes: Vietnamese folk songs, pop, contemporary music, and world songs.

VOV5 leaders and staff at the launch of VOV24/7 on Nov 6, 2015

A: From India, Sanjib Bizwas, sent us a letter saying that he regularly listens to VOV. “The reception is good in Kolkata, India. The half hour program is excellent. The world news, Current Affairs, and Mail Bag are my favorite radio programs. It’s a great source for me to learn more about the beautiful and rich culture Vietnam. 

B: I have interesting news from Indian listener Kanchan Chatterjee. He informed us that they have organized a radio listeners club called "VOV NATUN RADIO LISTENERS CLUB". He said “Please send us some informational materials about VOV Radio. We are long time listeners of your excellent program.”

A: Wow, that’s great. Thank you very much for your enthusiasm for VOV’s English program. We’ll send some souvenirs, frequency lists, and program guides for your club members. Chatterjee says he has received his certificate of merit and souvenir for participating in VOV’s contest “What do you know about Vietnam?” We’re glad that one by one listeners are informing us that they’ve received their certificates and gifts.

B: Better late than never. After visiting our website, S.B. Sharma of India commented on a story about poverty reduction in Vietnam:  “Poverty is a worldwide problem. But this problem is much more serious in developing and under-developed countries. The gap between the poor and the rich is rapidly increasing. In Vietnam over the last 15 years, the government has carried out plans and showed that it’s doing well for poor people. The Vietnamese government is spending a lot of money on poverty reduction programs.”

A: Thank you for sharing your views with us, Mr. Sharma. I agree with you that poverty reduction efforts have been affected by many other factors such as political conflicts, wars, natural disasters, and corruption. All those matters must be resolved before satisfactory results can be achieved.

B: Last week’s Sunday show about philately in Vietnam and a Stamp Collecting Club in Hue caught the attention of many listeners. Deekay Dimple of India said “I came to know through this program how philately is popular in Vietnam. I also collect postage stamps. Thank you for broadcasting this beautiful show.”

A: Karl Fry of the US tuned in to VOV on 6175 khz and listened to the last part of the Sunday program about stamp collecting. He found it interesting because he has been collecting stamps for years. He rated SINPO at 44555.

B: Richard Nowak of the US also commented on the show: “I really enjoyed the show. Stamp collecting gives one insight into the history of a country. Interviews with senior collectors in Hue, special stamps released with a portrait of Uncle Ho for Independence Day, and an overview on stamp collecting in Vietnam were informative.”

A: We save postal stamps that we collect from letters listeners send us from around the world. In recent years more and more listeners email us, so the number of post mails has dwindled. It’s a pity.

B: It is. It now takes stamp collectors more time and effort to pursue their passion. Before we go, let me say that we welcome your feedback at 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.