B: Andreas Muecklich said: “Spring is arriving in Berlin, but it is still cold and windy outside. We have snow, rain, sun, and clouds alternately. So I am waiting for more sun, warmth, and blossoms.”

A: Here in Hanoi, we are in late spring, early summer. The weather is getting warmer. There are sunny intervals and spring drizzles. We are waiting for the summer tourism season, which starts in May. The school year ends in late May for a 3-month summer holiday. It’s the best time for family trips.

Lilies are in full bloom in the early days of April in Hanoi.

B: Andreas told us: “Coronavirus still rules our life in Germany. It is not easy for many people, especially for owners of restaurants and little shops. Vaccinations in Germany are slow and people have to wait for an appointment a long time. I know the situation in Vietnam is better than in other countries. So I am waiting for a better time.”

A: Although Vietnam is seeing almost no new coronavirus infections and domestic travel is unrestricted, we are still vigilant and cautiously planning our summer vacations. People arriving in Vietnam from abroad must undergo a 14-day quarantine and at least 2 coronavirus tests.

Lily gardens on the outskirts of Hanoi

B: In Vietnam vaccination priority is given to people working on the frontline –doctors, medical staff, sample collectors, contact tracers, members of community health groups, and local members of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

A: Besides these frontline workers, others in the priority list approved by the government include teachers, diplomatic personnel, customs and immigration officers, people working in essential services like transportation, people over 65, and people with chronic diseases that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. People who are seeking to study or work abroad or are living in pandemic-hit areas are also on the priority list for vaccination.

B: This week we received listener feedback on our new summer broadcast frequency. Christer Brunström told us he tuned in to 11.885kHz at 16:00 UTC on April 4th. SINPO rating was 34344.

B: Thank you for your remarks. We hope other VOV listeners in Central Europe and Central Asia will be able to hear our program loud and clear on 11.885kHz.

A: Christer said he was thrilled by a song in the weekend music segment, which featured soundtracks from movies. Christer said the songs really sounded universal. He said he would appreciate receiving a QSL card as it has been a very long time since he last received one.

B: Well, due to global travel restrictions, we stopped issuing QSL cards since soon after the coronavirus outbreak last year. We’re thinking about sending QSL cards to our listeners again someday soon. Once again, thank you very much, Christer Brunström, for your feedback.

A street vendor sells varieties of flowers in Hanoi.

A: Ralf Ladusch of Germany said he tuned in to our new frequency 11.885kHz with strong signal at 16:00 UTC.

B: Ralf wrote: “It was an interesting time to hear your program. I’m a listener of the German Service of VOV. I was waiting for the daily show of this section and had time to surf on shortwave. I caught VOV’s English Service on 9730 khz with some technical problems. The signal on 11.885 kHz is better.”

A: Thank you for sending us a short clip of the English program on 11.885kHz on March 28. We’re glad to know that the new frequency works well. Your report is useful for our technicians who are monitor transmissions.

B: As we said before, VOV stopped mailing QSL cards when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out last year. We are considering other ways to acknowledge listeners’ reception reports. Thank you for tuning in to our channel and sending us your feedback.

A: Andreas Muecklich of Germany said the new frequency 11.885 kHz is getting jammed by Adventist World Radio in Arabic on 11.880 kHz.

B: Thank you. We have forwarded your observation to our technicians, and hope to hear from other listeners.

Tourists visit dragon fruit farm in Binh Thuan province.

A: Jayanta Chakrabarty of India listened to a program on April 10 on 11.885 kHz. He rated SINPO all 4s, using a Grundig YB-80 receiver with telescopic antenna.

B: He said he enjoyed the Saturday Report. Vietnam is known for its beautiful landscapes and pristine beaches, as well as its cultural and historical sites. The Saturday Report highlighted another aspect of Vietnamese tourism, which is agricultural tourism.

A: Jayanta said he was interested in the way Vietnam’s Binh Thuan province promotes tourism. “Well-planned orchards are now cultivating the famous dragon fruit tree in addition to jackfruit, mango, coconut, grape and durian. Tourists are coming in droves (now somewhat less, due to the coronavirus pandemic) to observe the growing, harvesting, and processing of the dragon fruit and taste its cool, sweet juice.”

B: Vietnamese localities have taken advantages of their potential and specialties to promote domestic tourism during the pandemic. No foreign tourists have come since last year.

Can Tho city attracts tourists for boat trips through orchards.

A: People who live in urban areas like to experience the tranquility and fresh air of the countryside. Community tourism models offer pleasant short holidays suitable for families and small groups.

B: Jayanta said he would like to know the current status of the aviation industry in Vietnam and whether Vietnam is manufacturing any modern next-generation fighter aircraft.

A:  Like most sectors, the aviation sector has suffered losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although airlines have increased domestic flights, that hasn’t recouped their losses from international flight closures since last year, which are slowly resuming now.

B: In addition to cutting costs and reducing salaries, many airlines have had to reduce their workforce during the pandemic. The tourism industry is frozen and the demand for commercial transportation has declined.

A: It is expected that, with global vaccination and the acceptance of vaccine passports, international flights will resume later this year, and the number of international passengers will reach pre-pandemic levels by the first quarter of next year.

B: While Vietnam is not yet manufacturing its own aircraft, multi-national groups have set up aircraft component factories in Vietnam.

A: The US’s Universal Alloy Corporation has built a 170-million-USD aerospace parts factory in the Da Nang Hi-tech Park. The factory produces and installs aerospace components made from aluminum alloys and composites. All of its products are exported.

B: Hanwha, a South Korean aviation engine manufacturer and one of the 10 most advanced tech-companies in the world, operates a component factory in the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park on the outskirts of Hanoi.

A: Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industry has set up a facility in Hung Yen province that makes aircraft doors from carbon fiber compounds for Boeing 777 passenger aircrafts.

B: Analysts say these foreign-invested airplane component factories in Vietnam are good news for Vietnam, which is becoming an aircraft component manufacturing center.

A: Thanks for listening to the Letter Box today. We always 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.vn. You’re invited to visit us online at vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs. Goodbye until next time.