A: A week has passed so quickly and we are happy to meet you again on the Letter Box. With the internet and email service, we have received prompt feedback from listeners about our programming and transmission. Thomas Corcoran reported that reception on 5,955 kHz was difficult at 18 UTC in Scania, Sweden on November 27. He assumed that there was a disturbance in the ionosphere, perhaps caused by a solar storm.
B: But he said he listened to the program again on our website at vovworld.vn which was handy and he thanked those who maintain the audio files. Thomas wrote: “I was particularly pleased to hear the item about cultural exchanges between the youth of Vietnam and China. Your countries share a lot of history and a good way to increase understanding between the people of different countries is for them to get to know each other on a personal basis, especially when they are young. Rather than becoming suspicious of others, personal contacts show that people are much the same no matter where they come from and share the same goals.”
A: I totally agree with you, Thomas. The best way to increase confidence and understanding among nations is to get to know the other country’s people. That is the person-to-person exchange policy that the Vietnamese government is pursuing. Thomas went on saying: “Furthermore I liked the idea of being able to take a train ride between China and Vietnam which would last for some 48 hours. Just imagine how many new friends one would meet and how much one would learn from those new friends during such a trip. I am one of those people who believe that the traveling time getting to a destination can be just as enriching as what one discovers at the destination itself.”
B: The train route between Vietnam and China crosses many interesting and scenic spots, which makes the long journey itself is as interesting and meaningful as the destination. Tjang Pak Ning of Indonesia also listened to the program on November 27th. He shared his opinion on a story from American listener Allen Fenix. Fenix had complained that in his small town of Thibodaux, Louisiana, nobody listens to the radio anymore.
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VOV's FM transmission station in
Phia Oắc - Phia Đén, Cao Bang province |
A: Tjang said most people who live in remote areas still need shortwave radio. It’s the best medium for them to get more information from the outside world. He said not all parts of the world can have access to the Internet, and radio is the only medium that makes them happy.
B: Thanks you Tjang for sharing your opinions. Shortwave isn’t just for developing countries. A lot of our listeners in European countries and the US are still committed to shortwave broadcast to learn about other parts of the world. For many, it’s a hobby.
A: The “Colorful Vietnam, Vietnam’s 54 ethnic group” has received much appreciation from listeners. Shri Bhagwan Sharma of India’s SBS World Listeners Club said: “Colorful Vietnam is one of my favorite programs. It provides full information about Vietnam’s culture. Yesterday’s program described Xip xi festival, which is also called children’s festival. Grandparents and parents give clothes to their children. During the whole festival, villagers sing lovely love songs, dance, and play traditional games.”
Thai girls perform Xoe dance in Son La province
(photo: sonla.gov.vn) |
B: Ralf Urbanczyk of Germany wrote: “Very interesting was the report about preserving culture of Thai minorities in Muong Lay in the Colorful Vietnam segment. I think, to start teaching Thai language in school is a big step not only to preserve cultural heritage but also a good base for the creative further development of the heritage in modern society.”
A: Ralf asks some questions. “Are there regular newspapers or magazines or books or other literature published in the Thai minority language or other languages of national minorities in Vietnam? Are there special publishing houses focusing on minority languages? Are there radio or TV programs in these minority languages?”
B: The Vietnam News Agency published the 1st photo magazine “Ethnic minority and Mountains” in 1991. It was in Vietnamese and Khmer. Later on, VNA published versions in the Êđê, Bana, Jrai, and Cham languages. Ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands, as well as southwestern and south central regions appreciate the publication’s beautiful photos of their lives. They are also pleased to have magazines in their languages. They also think the publication is good material for their children’s studying.
"Ethnic minority and Mountains" magazines |
A: There is no special publishing house focusing on ethnic minority languages. We have special TV and radio channels in ethnic minority languages. VOV has programs in 12 ethnic minority languages - H’Mong, Thái, Dao, Ê Đê, Ja Rai, Ba Na, Xê Đăng, K’Ho, M’Nông, Cơ Tu, Chăm, Kh’mer. We also have a program in Vietnamese about ethnic minority affairs. The programs are broadcast on VOV4 channel and available on the internet VOV4.VOV.VN.
B: We broadcast government policies on ethnicity, as well as profiles on Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups. Those stories look at the music and outstanding personalities of each group, and their effort to preserve and develop their values.
A: That’s a brief introduction of media publications for ethnic minority groups in Vietnam. Last but not least, we affirm to send QSL cards to confirm reception reports from Jack Wachtershauser of Australia, Christian Altenius of Sweden, Muneer K.P and Avinash Cheekoth of the UAE, Ashik Eqbal Tokon and Mizanur Raman of Bangladesh, Marek Pis of Poland, Rajesh Chandwani of India, and Thessaloniki of Greece,
B Time is up on this week’s Letter Box. We’ll verify your reception reports and send you our QSL cards 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 from Hanoi.