B: No matter where or when you are listening, your messages, whether through letters, emails, or comments on our website, give us a wonderful sense of closeness and connection.
A: Postal letters, carrying your thoughts, words of affection, and stories about the places where you live, always give us a special feeling. We see images of your landscapes, your national symbols, and your cultural celebrations depicted on the stamps. Each envelope carries a little piece of your country into our newsroom.
B: Here’s a letter from Anand Mohan Bain, President of the Pariwar Bandhu SWL Club. The envelope is a First Day Cover celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Vietnam, with the theme printed in both English and Hindi. The design features cultural images, including people playing on a beach and the national flags of the two countries side by side.
A: There are two identical stamps featuring the portrait of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, known as “the God of music”, a legendary Indian vocalist of the Hindustani classical tradition. There’s also a floral stamp depicting an orange blossom and another featuring a pink dahlia. All the stamps bear postal cancellation marks.
B: In this letter, Anand told us about his Pariwar Bandhu SWL Club: “Our listeners’ club started on August 15, 1990. We constantly try to increase our listeners’ love of radio. Our club has 345 members who live in many countries. We welcome any friend as a member of our club. We regularly organize contests on different radio stations, and winners are given gifts by the club.”
A: On October 31, the club concluded a quiz about VOV. Participants had to answer True or False statements about VOV articles. Anand told us that 76 people took part in the quiz, and two of them ended up as the winners.
B: We’d lile to thank the Pariwar Bandhu SWL Club for organizing a quiz to promote VOV and Vietnam. Anand told us any listener could participate in the quiz by visiting the club’s Facebook page, “Pariwar Bandhu.”
A: We really appreciate the club’s encouraging radio listeners to learn about Vietnam through VOV’s broadcasts. We hope that your club continues to grow in the years ahead.
B: Here’s a letter from Fumito Hokamura of Japan. These two little stamps feature two iconic animals of Japan. The Japanese crested ibis is a rare bird known for its distinctive red face and white-pink plumage. Once nearly extinct, the species is now protected and has become a symbol of Japan’s wildlife conservation efforts. The other stamp has a Japanese serow, a mountain-dwelling goat-antelope with shaggy fur and short horns that’s considered a national treasure. Both stamps reflect Japan’s rich biodiversity and commitment to preserving endangered species.
A: Mr. Hokamura reported listening to VOV’s English program on November 7 on the frequency of 12020 kHz. He often listens to VOV’s programs in both Japanese and English.
B: Mr. Hokamura told us that he’s interested in Vietnam’s agriculture and farmers. “How was your rice harvest this year? How many varieties of rice do you have?” he asked.
A: Vietnam expects to produce 43 million tons of paddy rice in the 2024-2025 season. This translates to approximately 27 million tons of milled rice, grown on 7 million hectares of farmland. The average yield is about 6.16 tons per hectare.
B: Vietnam expects to maintain its place as the second-largest rice exporter in the world, after India and ahead of Thailand. Vietnam’s rice export industry is being shaped by trends such as diversifying rice varieties to meet shifting consumer demands. Exporters are offering more fragrant, glutinous, and organic rice to strengthen their competitiveness. Farmers are adopting eco-friendly farming methods to improve both quality and environmental impact. Digital platforms and technologies are streamlining trade and making transactions faster and more efficient.
A: According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, between January 2020 and May 2024, 267 rice varieties were recognized under Vietnam’s Crop Production Law. High-quality rice varieties, such as Đài Thơm 8, ST24, and ST25, have become dominant in production.
B: The Ministry says Vietnam has a varied rice portfolio that meets the key criteria of short growth duration, good pest and disease resistance, wide adaptability, high yield, and good quality.
A: With the shift to high-quality rice varieties, Vietnam’s rice prices have become some of the highest in the world.
B: We’re sure many of our listeners have tasted Vietnamese rice, and we’d be delighted to hear your thoughts.
A: Japanese listener Ogasawara Hiroyuki asks, “Do Vietnamese people prefer locally-grown or imported fruit?”
B: We almost always prefer domestic seasonal fruit. Although imported fruit is growing in popularity, domestic seasonal tropical fruit is by far the most widely consumed.
A: Vietnamese consumers strongly prefer mango, with a peak season from March to May, and durian, an expensive fruit from the Central Highlands and the southwestern provinces, with a peak season from May to August. Popular summer fruits are lychee, longan, and jackfruit. Staple fruits we consume throughout the year are watermelon, pomelo, and banana.
B: The production of fruit is substantial. According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, Vietnam produced 13.5 million tons of fruit in 2024, and the output is rising every year.
B: The Department of Customs said imports of fruits and vegetables fetched 2.42 billion USD last year, up 23% from 2023. The most-imported fruits are apples, grapes, tangerines, and pears — often available year-round at prices that are sometimes cheaper than seasonal domestic fruit.
A: Imported fruits are gaining traction in Viet Nam, driven by variety, availability, occasionally lower prices, and year-round supply, but domestic fruits are abundant and widely consumed.
B: Time is up on VOV’s Letter Box. Please keep writing to share your perspectives, experiences, and stories. Every message you send inspires us anew.
A: We’re NQ and PK. Goodbye until next time!