Wednesday January 22, 2025

(VOVWORLD) - We hope this edition of the Letter Box finds you well. It’s winter here in Hanoi, but the weather’s not too cold, thankfully. It’s just right as we get ready for the upcoming Lunar New Year Holiday.
 
Wednesday January 22, 2025 - ảnh 1Hang Ma street in Hanoi's Old Quarters sells decorative items for the New Year celebration. (photo: VOV)

B: And to our listeners far and wide, whether you’re enjoying sunshine or staying warm indoors, we’ve got an exciting show for you today with a lot of feedback from listeners.

A: We’re grateful to have received an email from Gerry Neumann of the UK, who told us that, although he does not send feedback on the broadcasts as often as before, he wants to assure us that he still listens to VOV's programs just as regularly as always.

B: Mr. Neumann highlighted some recent items he enjoyed which include the Sunday Show on January 12th was about the Green Vietnam initiative that's becoming more widespread in Vietnam and the Letter Box with stories about Vietnam’s domestic airlines, and the ceremony of the kitchen gods, a major feature of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.

B: Mr. Neumann recalled: “I’ve been in Hanoi and Hue several times for Tet, the most important celebration of the year, and have many happy memories of the greeting 'Chuc mung nam moi!' (Happy New Year!) and children asking for 'li xi' (lucky money) and experiencing the atmosphere while staying with friends. Listening to the Letter Box and seeing the transcript online, with added pictures of Hang Ma street in the Hanoi Old Quarter, made me very nostalgic.”

A: Mr. Neumann, it’s wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed your time in Vietnam. We wish you’ll return to Vietnam one day.

B: Like Mr. Neumann, many listeners shared their interest in stories about Vietnam’s sea and islands, featuring the fishermen of Quang Tri province preparing for their final voyage before Tet, and a story about Dong Ho folk painting which originates from Bac Ninh province.

Wednesday January 22, 2025 - ảnh 2Dragon procession, a typical Dong Ho painting for Tet (photo: VOV)

B: This week, Omar Faruk of Bangladesh reported tuning in to VOV’s program on January 17th on the frequency of 7220 khz. He noted a strong signal and clear sound quality on a Grundig YB400 receiver.

A: Mr. Faruk is a regular listener of VOV’s English program. He said that in general the reception is good. “I like the news, Digital Life, Discovery Vietnam, Culture, Village life, Economy, and Letter Box. All those programs are very informative. I also like the music.”

B: Another Bangladeshi listener Mr. H.M. Tarek, also tunes in to VOV’s English program on the frequency of 7220 khz quite often, saying the signal is always good. The Sunday Show on January 19 was interesting, Tarek said. It featured the CO4 Growth Model, which fuels startup success through collaboration.

A: Thank you, Mr. Faruk and Mr. Tarek, for regularly tuning in to our programs and sending us useful feedback. We’ll verify your reception reports and send you QSL cards.

Wednesday January 22, 2025 - ảnh 3Dong Ho painting "Vinh Quy Bai To", literally translated as to return home to pay thanks to ancestors after achieving academic honours (photo: VOV)

B: Here’s an interesting question from Dewan Rafiqul Islam, a member of the Friends Radio Club of Bangladesh. He asks: “How many people use the Internet in Vietnam?”

A: Vietnam is now one of the countries with the largest number of internet users. Vietnam’s citizens first gained access to the Internet in November 1997. Nearly three decades later, in 2023, Vietnam’s internet coverage reaches about 80% of its population of more than 100 million people. Vietnam has a high penetration rate of smartphones, which are the primary mode of Internet access here. For many Vietnamese, using the internet has become a daily habit, serving work, study, communication, entertainment, and more.

B: Vietnam is on the brink of a digital revolution, with projections indicating it will have 100 million Internet subscribers by 2029. As technology rapidly evolves, the need for digital transformation grows, and the Vietnamese government’s strategy is to expand internet access, especially in remote and rural areas.

A:  In 2008, Vietnam had just 20 million Internet users, about 24% of the population, but just six years later this figure had surged to over 40%. The number of Internet users is expected to continue its steady rise in the next 5 years, setting the stage for Vietnam to become an innovation hub in the era of Artificial Intelligence.

B: This year marks an important milestone in the rollout of 5G in Vietnam by major telecom operators like Viettel, VNPT, and MobiFone. To enhance global communication and data exchange, Vietnam plans to lay at least two new undersea cable lines this year, with an additional eight slated for completion by 2030.

Wednesday January 22, 2025 - ảnh 4The new Vietnam Military History Musuem was inaugurated in November, 2024. (photo: https://xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn/)

A: This week, Hans Joachim Pellin of Lübz, Germany, said he finds VOV’s programs interesting and enjoyed stories about museums in Vietnam.

B: At the end of 2023, Vietnam had 181 museums – 127 public museums and 70 private museums. These museums house approximately 4 million artifacts, of which 265 have been officially recognized as national treasures by the Prime Minister.

A: In Hanoi, the Vietnam National Museum of History offers a comprehensive view of Vietnam’s history from prehistoric times to the present day through an extensive collection of artifacts, documents, and artworks.

B: The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is the most interesting place to explore the diverse cultures of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. The indoor exhibition features artifacts, photographs, and videos of the daily life, customs, and traditions of all 54 ethnic groups, and on the extensive museum grounds are  many traditional houses and other typical constructions of the ethnic groups.

A: The Vietnamese Women’s Museum is honors the role of women in Vietnamese history and culture. It’s not a big museum, but it houses some cultural treasures related to three themes: Women in the Family, Women in History, and Women's Fashion.

B: One of the best-known museums in Vietnam is the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. The museum is in a grand building designed to resemble a lotus flower, symbolizing President Ho Chi Minh's noble life. The exhibits showcase his journey from his youth to his leadership of the Vietnamese revolution.

A: The War Remnants Museum is one of the oldest museums in HCMC. Its outdoor exhibits and three-story exhibition building hold more than 20,000 documents, artifacts, and films. The courtyard displays aircraft, armored tanks, missiles, bombs, and mines, and photographs show the war's devastating effects, including the destruction of forests and land by toxic chemicals.

B: In every province and city in Vietnam, there are public and private museums that offer visitors a wealth of information about local culture, history, and traditions. They offer valuable insights that help visitors connect with the rich culture of Vietnam.

A: Exactly one week from today, Lunar New Year 2025 will begin, and the celebration will run from January 28 to February 2. We’re putting the finishing touches on our special Tet program of broadcasts highlighting Vietnam’s achievements over the past year, Tet traditions and customs, and how Vietnamese people at home and abroad are celebrating the holiday. Don’t miss it!

A: Our producer today was … I’m … Goodbye!

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