B: On the VOV Media app, you can listen to the all our English programs. In Vietnam, VOV’s English programs are available on two FM frequencies 105.5FM and 104FM covering all major cities. Our FM programs cover local news and stories for English-speaking Vietnamese, and the foreign community in Vietnam. We have up-to-date information on where to go and what do to around Vietnam, stories of expats, their work and lives in Vietnam, and the latest songs and albums of Vietnamese and foreign artists.

B: On the VOV world service, the news bulletin covers major events in Vietnam, government activities, Vietnam’s external policies and views on international issues, and stories about Vietnam’s culture, lifestyle, and history. With the internet, our radio programs are no longer not limited to certain frequencies in certain areas. People in every corner of the world can listen to VOV5, VOV24/7, and VOV World Service in real time on our website vovworld.vn and on the VOV Media app.

A: Our foreign listeners now have more options for learning about Vietnam besides our 30-minute program on shortwave. Many of our listeners have said they like the What’s On segment which shows them that many international exchanges are occurring in Vietnam, such as music shows by foreign artists, cultural festivals of India, South Korea, Japan, Bulgaria, and Russia, and the annual “Europe Days” program showcasing intellectual and cultural activities, and offering a fascinating journey through the richness of European cultures and the multi-faceted cooperation between the European Union and Viet Nam.

Translated books displayed at the "European Days" Festival

B: On the VOV World Service, we mention general information about these events, while on VOV5 and VOV24/7 we provide more details, such as times, dates, addresses, and ticket prices. Most of our foreign listeners love our Vietnamese music and cooking segments. Those are available on the VOV Media app.

A: But we only issue QSL cards for shortwave reception reports to acknowledge the Dx’ers who tune in to our program. We don’t issue verification cards for reports on programs heard on our website. 

B: Here I have a reception report from Atish Bhattacharya of India for an English program on February 15^th on the frequency of 7220 KHz. He noted: “VOV’s English language broadcast was very strong, steady, loud and clear on 7220 KHz at 1600 Hours UTC. The signal strength was excellent. Interference was nil. There was very slight noise. Very slight propagation fading was present. Overall quality of reception was very good. The SINPO rating was 55444. I was so satisfied and glad to receive your good signal.”

A street show at the Vietnam-Japan Cultural Exchange Festival 2018

A: After listening to a story about Vietnam’s tradition of giving gifts to poor people in remote and disadvantaged areas at the Lunar New Year, Atish said: “I was astonished to learn about the Vietnamese culture of ‘the haves help the have-nots’. The feature on Lunar New Year parties in Vietnamese families was an awesome show. It was interesting to hear about the spiritual significance of family gatherings and worship rituals on New Year’s Eve. A lovely pop song played at the end, was very much to my liking.”

 B: Thank you, Atish, for your comments. Your reception report was accurate and we’ll send you a QSL card soon to verify it. Here’s another reception report from Dilip Kumar Sarkar, a doctor and listener in India. He sent us an audio file of our radio program on March 26 on the frequency of 7220 kHz. The SINPO rating was all 4s. Thank you for sending us a recording of the program which shows us the transmission quality in your location. We’ll verify your report with a QSL card soon.

A: The 18^th Asian Games (ASIAD 18) will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, in August. Some of our listeners have asked us about Vietnam’s participation. More than 200 Vietnamese athletes will take part in the Asian Games, hoping to bring home three to five gold medals in athletics, swimming, weightlifting, shooting, and gymnastics.

Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien

B: They have been training intensively to achieve good results and earn a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, Vietnam’s top swimmer, who won a gold medal in the women’s 100m backstroke category at the 29^th Southeast Asia Games in Malaysia, is now training in the United States. Shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh, who won an Olympic gold medal in 2016, will compete at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup, prior to ASIAD 2018. Runner Le Tu Chinh, who snagged a gold medal for Vietnam at the 29^th Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, is in the United States about to begin a four-year training.

Shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh (center)

A: Karate, wrestling, gymnastics, and shooting teams have also been sent abroad for short training sessions and to compete in international tournaments to hone their skills and gain experience. Foreign coaches have been hired to train the Vietnamese athletes.

B: Vietnam will compete in 20 of the 40 sports at ASIAD, including football, karate, wushu and pencak silat. At the previous ASIAD Games in Incheon, Korea in 2014, Vietnam won one gold, 10 silver, and 25 bronze medals to finish 21^st. Vietnam’s best result so far was four golds at the Busan Games in 2002.

Weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan

A: Time is up for VOV’s Letter Box. You can send your feedback to English Section, VOV5, Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Our email address is englishsection@vov.org.vn. We’ll verify your report and send it together with a latest frequency list and program guide.

B: Thank you for listening. Please join us again next Wednesday for another edition of the Letter Box. Goodbye.