A: More than 23 million students across Vietnam, one-fourth of the total population, started a new academic year on Wednesday, September 5. Before that date, many schools in the northern and central regions suffered serious flooding, but authorities have worked hard to allow students to begin the new school year on schedule.
B: Hà Nội has reported serious over-enrollment this year, particularly for first grade. The 2018-19 school year will welcome 130,000 children to the first grade of primary education, an increase of 30,000 from the previous year.
A: We know believe that schools in other countries are starting their academic year around this time. Please let us hear your story.
B: This week, Siddhartha Bhattacharjee sent us a reception report for the program from 16:00 to 16:30 UTC on September 3rd on the frequency of 7720khz. He asked about foreign students in Vietnam.
A: There are more than 20,000 foreign students studying in Vietnam. The number is small compared to the 130,000 Vietnamese students studying abroad. According to education experts, universities in Vietnam should create more programs for foreign students as demand for study-abroad programs continues to increase around the world.
B: The recent American Abroad Conference 2018 in HCM City was told that more than 320,000 US students studied abroad for academic credit in the 2016-17 academic year. Of these, 11 per cent studied in Asia.
A: Vietnam is becoming a more popular destination for American students. In the 2016-2017 academic year, Vietnam welcomed more than 1,000 students from the US. Vietnam is a low-cost option, has good English-language levels in many organisations, is perceived as an important business region and is safe and welcoming. A number of study tour programs in Vietnam have been organized by universities in the US, the UK, Singapore and Germany.
B: A favorite destination for foreign students in Vietnam is FPT University. There are 140 foreign students following Master and MBA programs there. Every year, the university receives more than 300 students in exchange programs, mostly from the US, Japan, France, Thailand, Brunei, the Republic of Korea and Cameroon. According to Rector of FPT University Doctor Dam Quang Minh, 27% of foreign students receive scholarships of 25%, 50%, or 100%.
A: Other universities in Ho Chi Minh City draw foreign students - Ton Duc Thang University, the University of Social Sciences and Humanity of the Ho Chi Minh City National University, RMIT, the Economics University, and the Fine Arts University.
B: This week, we have continued to receive congratulations on Vietnam’s 73rd National Day and VOV’s 73rd founding anniversary. Omar Lassas of Algeria wrote: “Please accept my congratulations on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of National Day of Vietnam. I would like to take the opportunity to wish peace, prosperity, and every success to you and all our Vietnamese friends.”
A: After listening to our broadcast from 0:00 to 0:27 UTC on the frequency of 7315 khz, Richard Nowak of the US wrote: “Happy Independence Day. The News mentioned the 73rd anniversary of Vietnam’s August Revolution and Independence Day. World leaders sent their congratulations to Vietnam. A special program about September 2, 1945 when Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence was aired. Vietnam fought the French for 80 years and joined the anti-fascist group. A nice patriotic song called “Glory Vietnam” was played. I enjoyed tonight’s show.”
B: Gerry Neumann of the UK wrote: “I usually listen to VOV on the internet since reception on shortwave here in the south of England isn’t always possible because of interference from China Radio International either on 7280 or 9370 khz. However, on Wednesday, August 29 at 19 UTC on 7280, reception was good: 45444. During the domestic news and again in the Letter Box, the announcers mentioned the 73rd anniversary of the first broadcast of VOV on September 7th which will also be the day that VOV commences broadcasts in Korean, bringing VOV’s total number of broadcast languages to 13. I send all the staff of VOV my congratulations on the anniversary and my best wishes for the future of VOV.”
A: Thank you, Mr. Nowak and Mr. Neumann and other listeners for your greetings. We look forward to your frequent feedback.
 VOV launches Korean language program on its 73rd founding anniversary September 7, 2018 |
B: Najim Uddin of India wrote: “I would like to congratulate VOV on its 73rd anniversary. We’ll mark the important day with some special radio programs reviewing VOV’s achievements and plans.”
A: Thank you, Uddin, for your greeting. It’s great to know that listeners in India want to organize an event to mark anniversary. In his email, Uddin also asked about famous film stars in Vietnam.
B: As cinematography was first introduced to Vietnam in the early 20th century, there is a countless number of film stars. But today we only have time to tribute one of them: the late actress Tue Minh.
 People's Artist Tue Minh |
A; Tue Minh has been one of the greatest names of Vietnamese revolutionary cinema since the 1970s. She was a founder of the Vietnam Cinematography Association and a member of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association. Tue Minh was born in 1938 into an intellectual family in Hanoi. She began working for Vietnam’s central art troupe at the age of 15, performing in plays, Cheo opera, and dance. Minh was among the first generation students of Vietnam’s revolutionary cinema from 1959 to 1962.
A: Tue Minh became famous for a series of popular feature films, including “The First Day of Fall”, “Parallel 17 Days and Nights”, “The Holly Day”, “Mr. and Mrs. Luc”, and many others. She was also known for her acting in plays, such as the role of “Phuong” in “Revolution” by Nguyen Khai, as well as for her talent in movie voice-overs.
B: Tue Minh appeared on many radio shows on VOV including “Night Stories”, and “Children’s Stories”. Emeritus artist Minh Chau who used to work with Minh said: “Tue Minh had an expressive voice, which made her performance more moving, especially when she was on stage. Minh successfully conveyed the emotions of each character through her mesmerizing voice”.
A: Tue Minh passed away on February 24 at the age of 80. Her great contribution to cinema art was recognized by the State;s conferring on her the title “People’s Artist”, in 2016.
B: Thank you all for tuning in to VOV. We welcome your feedback at: English Service, VOVWORLD, the 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 vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs. Check out our VOV Media App available on both the IOS and Android platform to hear our live broadcasts. We look forward to your feedback on the mobile version of vovworld.vn. Once again, thank you all for listening. Good bye until next time.