B: Our “What do you know about Vietnam?” contest, held by VOV every 5 years, is back. The 2020 contest, which coincides with many important events in Vietnam and at VOV, is open to foreigners and overseas Vietnamese around the world.
A: To participate in this contest, you need to answer 6 questions:
B: 1. In 2020, Vietnam will serve as the ASEAN Chair and as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure. What are Vietnam’s priorities for the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020? What were Vietnam’s contributions to the UN Security Council during its term as the Council’s President in January?
A: 2. Vietnam will host a number of important political and external affairs events in 2020. Name the 5 events that you find of greatest interest. What are your thoughts about the event that interests you most?
 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives ASEAN President's Hammer from his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha, November 4, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Vietnam Government Portal) |
B: 3. Vietnam has been actively involved in UN peacekeeping missions. What achievements has Vietnam already recorded in this area and what do you expect Vietnam to accomplish in the future?
A: 4. Vietnam boasts a wealth of UNESCO-recognized heritages. Name at least 5 of these heritages and talk about the heritage you find most impressive.
 Ha Long Bay, a world natural heritage site in Quang Ninh province |
B: 5. What thoughts strike you first when you think about Vietnam? Why?
A: 6. How do you access the Voice of Vietnam’s programs? Which VOV program do you like best? Why?
B: Those are the six questions you have to answer in order to participate in our contest “What do you know about Vietnam?”, which is held every five years for foreign and overseas Vietnamese listeners.
A: Entries should be accompanied by a clear photocopy of the contestant’s passport or other ID. All the information you need to answer these questions can be found in our radio broadcasts and on our website at vovworld.vn.
B: Entries should be sent by post to VOVWORLD, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam, or emailed to: englishsection@vov.vn between March 15, 2020 and July 15, 2020.
A: The contestants who submit the 3 best entries will win a free 5-day trip to Vietnam. Good luck to you all!
 Trang An scenic landscape complex is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
B: You can find materials for your entry on our website at vovworld.vn. We hope to meet some of you in Vietnam when the epidemic is contained.
A: Now let’s check reception reports we received during the week. Faria Khanam Mumu of Bangladesh said he listened to VOV on March 26th on the frequency of 7220khz. The signal was good. Mumu told us that he learned more about Vietnam’s ethnic groups, scenic spots, and culture, and listened to a story about the Ban flower, the signature flower of Vietnam’s northern mountains.
B: Mumu wants to know about children’s parks in Vietnam.
A: In major cities such as Hanoi and HCMC, family activities are plentiful and suited to kids of all ages. In the city things to do with kids range from expansive theme parks, lush gardens, and game centers to theater performances and free playgrounds inresidential areas.
B: There are plenty of electronic game centers and parks offering physical activities. The biggest and most popular public parks in Hanoi are Thu Le Park, the Botanical Garden, Reunification Park, Yen So Park, and Nghia Do Park. There are also many smaller parks in every precinct.
A: The Hanoi Zoo in Thu Le Park has more than 90 different species on exhibition, including big cats, monkeys, and reptiles.The park also features a lake with pedal boats and an ornamental garden.
 An old elephant in Thu Le Zoo |
B: The zoo has a conservation and breeding program for rare animals from Vietnam and elsewhere. On exhibit at the Hanoi Zoo are native species of pheasants, reptiles, and monkeys. The star exhibit is ‘baby of the forest’ Lam Nhi – a tiger who was rescued from wildlife smugglers. The zoo’s other big cats include Indochinese tigers, Siberian tigers, and cloud leopards.
A: Asian elephants are kept at the edge of the lake next to a small aquarium filled with turtles and tropical fish. Families who visit the zoo can picnic in a shaded area and then cruise the lake in a swan pedal boat. The zoo shop sells souvenirs and ornamental plants.
B: HCMC’s Suoi Tien Cultural Amusement Park attracts families looking to enjoy a fun-filled day. There are water slides, an artificial beach, a rollercoaster, parades, a 4D theatre, and an aquarium. Staff dressed as golden monkeys entertain young visitors with impressive tricks and skilled performances.
 The water park in Suoi Tien park |
A: The water park area has a “lazy river” where you can float on boats shaped like turtles and dogs, as well as several water slides that emerge from the mouths or beards of gigantic Buddhist sages. There’s also a big crocodile farm with more than 1,000 crocodiles that visitors are allowed to feed.
B: Last week we talked about a pilot program of disinfection chambers installed at Noi Bai International Airport and other public places to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. That drew the attention of many listeners who told us they want to buy one.
A: Right now the disinfection chambers are just being tested and are not yet for sale. You can find further information on the website of the Ministry of Health’s Institute of Occupational Health and Environment as well as on the website of the Hanoi University of Technology.
B: Some listeners want to know what animal products Vietnamese people eat. We eat pork, beef, poultry, aquaproducts, and seafood. Pork is the most widely consumed animal product in Vietnam. Pork is eaten by more than 95% of the population.
 Pork is a popular dish in the meal of Vietnamese people, beside fish, beef, poultry, and seafood. |
A: Vietnam is one of the world's top pork consumers. In Asia its pork consumption is 2nd only to China. Vietnamese people widely prefer fresh meat to frozen or canned meat,but in recent years the domestic market has seen more imported frozen or canned pork because African swine fever reduced domestic pork production.
B: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that in January Vietnam imported 4,500 tons of pork, mainly from Germany, Poland, Brazil, Canada, and the US.
A: Thank you to all our listeners for your reports and feedback. We’ll send you QSL cards to confirm the reports. We welcome your feedback at: English Service, VOVworld, the Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam.
B: Please send emails to our new email address: englishsection@vov.vn. You’re invited to visit us online at vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs.
A: 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. Keep safe during the COVID-19 epidemic. Goodbye!