(VOVWORLD) - This week VOVWorld received more than 420 letters, emails, and phone calls from listeners around the world. Most of the listeners express an interest in the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the full moon of the 8th lunar month. This year, it falls on Friday, September 29th. They asked about decorations, mooncakes, and children’s toys and games.
 Vietnamese people enjoy a Happy Mid-Autumn festival |
B: Sam Bo of Cambodia and several other listeners wanted to know what toys Vietnamese children play with during the Mid-Autumn festival.
A: Well, we’re all very excited about the festival. If you’re in Vietnam these days, you can feel the festive atmosphere in every corner of the street. To cover the festival and answer all the listeners ‘questions about the festival, it will take hours. So in the Letter Box segment today, let’s delve into traditional toys of the Mid-Autumn festival in Vietnam, some of which have been faded out, some have been restored and become popular again, and some have always been of children’s interest.
 Colorful decorative items for the Mid-Autumn festival |
B: The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the four biggest holidays for Vietnamese people, originated as a farmer’s ritual. The traditional toys for children during the Mid-Autumn Festival are paper masks, star-shaped lanterns, toy figurines, and lion heads.
A: Another traditional toy that used to be very popular in the 1980s but isn’t anymore is a stuffed toy swan made from cotton. It used to be every Vietnamese girl’s dream toy for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
 (Photo: VNA) |
B: There is only one family in Hanoi still making stuffed swan toys for sale. The toy includes a basket in which two small spotless white stuffed swans with cute red beaks nestle among colorful flowers.
A: Large numbers of stuffed toy chickens, swans, and other birds used to be sold in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
B: When more modern toys appeared children became less interested in stuffed swans.
A: Like stuffed swans, tin toy boats used to be popular during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Parents would fill a big pot with water and the children would sit and watch the boat sail around the pot with fascinated eyes.
 Tin boats were used to be popular toys (Photo:daidoanket.vn) |
B: ‘To he’ are colorful miniature figurines made from glutinous rice powder. In the past, tò he were sold only on the occasion of festivals popular with children like Tet (the Lunar New Year Festival) and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Today to he can be found at most festivals in Vietnam, and throughout the year in public parks and gardens, thanks to efforts by artisans and cultural researchers to preserve the craft.
 To he’ are colorful miniature figurines made from glutinous rice powder |
A: To make the tiny figurines, glutinous rice powder is dyed and steamed until it becomes a shiny dough. Then craftsmen shape the dough into edible figurines such as trees, animals, flowers, or characters from folk stories.
B: The toys are becoming more diverse in design, but still reflect the values of Vietnamese culture. Let’s get in the festival spirit by listening to a signature song of the Mid-Autumn festival called “the star-shaped lantern” composed by Pham Tuyen.
A: This week Juan Diez of Spain said VOV’s popularity is growing, thanks to its reliable news and stories, which have brought Vietnam closer to people around the world. He said the development of social networks and technology has helped VOV attract more listeners.
A: Many listeners mentioned the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians held in Hanoi last week with the theme “The role of the young in promoting the implementation of SDGs through digital transformation and innovation”. Tey Maly of Cambodia said that theme is of great interest to young people and the conference has drawn greater public attention to digital transformation in Vietnam.
B: Lutz Winkler of Germany said he loves our stories about the politics, culture, landscapes, and traditions of Vietnam, which allow him to imagine that he is travelling around Vietnam.
A: Bunthavi of Khammuan, Laos, said he’d like to drink coffee and eat com (young green rice) at a street shop in Vietnam.
A: Khamsi of Laos and several other listeners asked about the braised fish eaten in Vu Dai village in Ha Nam province.
B: Vu Dai village, also known as Dai Hoang village, in Ha Nam province is famous for its specialty of fish braised in earthenware pots. The sweet smell of braised fish is strong all over the village. The most popular fish are black carp, grass carp, and mud carp.
 The braised fish pots on fire. (Photo: Ngoc Anh/VOV5) |
A: The braised fish made in Vu Dai village requires many steps to create. Each family has its own secret recipe handed down from generation to generation. What makes the dish stand out is the clay pots used for braising.
B: Before cooking, the bottoms of the earthenware pots are coated with a layer of lime and then boiled many times. According to the villagers, the wood used to braise the fish should be from longan trees. The wood is mixed with rice husks to remove the earthy odour of the pot and give the fish a better flavor.
A: The fish should be black carp, and only the body, not the head or the tail, is used. One portion is about 1 kilo. The fish should be fed on snails. Ground alpinia, ginger, lemon juice, a sauce made from ground freshwater crab, and certain herbs are added for flavor, according to the family recipe.
B: The ground freshwater crab sauce is the key to delicious braised fish. The crab is pickled for 12 months and then decanted for the first extract. Experienced cooks know just how much crab sauce is needed for a kilo of fish. The carp should be between 6 months and a year old. Each fish should be mature and firm and weigh at least 5kg. The fish is simmered for 12 to 14 hours over a low fire so that it can absorb the spices.
A: Vu Dai village’s specialty has enriched Vietnamese cuisine. Braised fish has become one of Vietnam’s favorite dishes for the Tet holiday.
B: Thank you all for your interest in VOV, for sharing your love of our country, and for sending us your feedback. We hope to see you soon in Vietnam.
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