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 up we would like to remind you of a frequency change for our winter broadcast beginning October 26. Listeners in Europe, Central America and the Caribbean, and Eastern America, please take note of the following changes.
B: VOV’s relayed broadcast from Moosbrunn, Woofferton, and Dhabayya to Europe at 18:00 UTC will be on 5955 khz. Our broadcast from Woofferton and Cypress Creek to Eastern America and the Caribbean at 01:00 UTC and 02:30 UTC will be on 6175 khz, and to Central America and the Caribbean at 03:30 UTC will be on 6175 kHz. If you haven’t jotted down the changes, please go to our website at www.vovworld.vn to read them again. We’ll also inform you individually by emails and post mails.
Autumn in Hanoi |
A: Next on our show today, we’d like to welcome a new listener to VOV: Muhammad Punhal Khoso of Pakistan. In an email to VOV this week, Muhammad wrote: “I’m new to your services. I listen and visit your program online. These programs are a nice way to learn about your country. I like “pho”, the Vietnamese traditional noodles. These noodles are very nice”.
B: Thanks, Muhammad for tuning in to our broadcasts. We hope you’ll visit Vietnam one day and then, don’t miss the opportunity to eat Pho, Vietnam’s most popular noodle dish which has been recognized internationally as Vietnam’s national dish.
A: From India, SB Sharma reported listening to our program on October 28 with news and stories about Vietnam-India relations. He wrote: “28th Oct was a historical day for India and Vietnam. The Vietnamese Prime Minister visited India and agreed on many points. Both nations have agreed to enhance bilateral relations at all levels. VOV covered this important visit very well. I listened to those news reports on VOV at 1600 UTC at 7220KHZ with good reception”.
B: Thank you, SB Sharma for your report. Also from India, Mitul Kansal has sent us several questions about Vietnam. This week, he was interested in traditional souvenirs of Vietnam.
A: Well I think silk products are the most favourite souvenirs from Vietnam.
Vietnamese silk |
B: I agree. The Vietnamese Ao Dai (traditional long dress) has graced the world’s catwalks, acclaimed for its elegant appearance and its softness and lightness. The beauty of the traditional long dress rests on hand-made silk from traditional craft villages throughout the country. Vietnamese designers are using home-spun materials to wow fashion circles in Paris and Milan.
Vietnamese traditional long dress |
A: Chinese, Japanese, and Italian silks enjoy a good reputation but Vietnamese silk can boast an unbleached, natural quality with its own distinctive charm. Vietnamese silk production dates back to 2000 BC, when there were two rice crops and eight silk crops a year. Historical documents establish silk’s appearance in the sixth dynasty of the Hung Kings.
B: Silk, called lụa in Vietnamese, was considered an extravagant luxury in feudal times, associated with wealth and success. It was only worn by Kings, Queens, and mandarins. Vietnam’s various dynasties developed strict rules governing the color, ornamentation, style, and fabric of clothes worn by aristocrats.
A: Most tourists leave the country with at least one piece of silk- the highly durable Lismore Bud silk, plain silk, embroidered silk, or the versatile and absorbent satin silk.
B: Silk weaving is ubiquitous in Vietnam, but one of the most illustrious silk villages is located in Ha Dong town, approximately 10 km from Hanoi. Van Phuc is proud to be Vietnam’s most ancient silk village, which has produced smooth, lightweight silks for more than 1,200 years. The special beauty of Van Phuc silk has inspired many Vietnamese poems, songs, and movies.
Vietnamese silk |
A: The decorative patterns of Van Phuc silk are used as models by Vietnamese craftsmen and artisans who apply the patterns to other thin materials. Weavers draw, spin, glue, and knit cords into silk, brocade, satin, chiffon, bằng, quế, sa, and đũi (traditional types of cloth) featuring delicate patterns of birds, animals, flowers and leaves.
B: The woven flower patterns are startlingly realistic and their weavers so skilled that almost any customer request can be met. Many tourists are keen on visiting Van Phuc village to explore its traditional silk-making industry during their stay in Hanoi.
A: Nowadays, the fine and lustrous cloth that originates from the cocoon of the silkworm has become affordable for ordinary folk. Vietnamese silk is currently enjoying a fashion renaissance, its adaptability perfect for the dizzying variety of modern life.
B: That’s a brief introduction to Vietnamese silk. Next, we’d like to say hello to Bo Samuelsson of Sweden. Bo Samuelsson says he is 78 years old and is interested in politics, economics and culture, as well as technology, computers and vintage wireless. He reported listening to our program on October 8 from 1900 to 1927 UTC on the frequency of 9730 Khz and rated SINPO at 35343.
A: Thank you, Bo for tuning in to VOV. We’ll send you a QSL card to confirm your report. John Swarbrick of New Zealand shared his enjoyment in listening to our program on October 9 at 10:00 UTC on the frequency of 12020 kHz with SINPO at 45354.
B: Massimiliao Carugati of Italy reported listening to our program on October 20 on the frequency of 7220 kHz at 22:45 local time using a transceiver Kenwood TS 2000.
A: From Pakistan, Syed Abbas Taqi Mehdi sent us an email this week. He wrote: “Your news program covers global events and is helpful for getting first hand information from around the world. I really appreciate your website. I like to visit your website daily and I’m proud of being part of your programs”.
A: Thank you all for your reception reports. We’ll send you QSL cards and the souvenirs you requested soon. 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.