B: To start with, we’d like to welcome back Giovani Vazquez of the US, from whom we last heard in November 2023.

Oxnard is famous for being the number one producer of California strawberries. I can describe the climate here as a dry subtropical climate with mild, relatively humid winters and hot, dry summers. It is also home to hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds, wrote Giovani Vazquez in his postcard to VOV

 

 

A: In his recent letter to VOV, from California, he wrote: “Thank you for the effort you put into interacting with your listeners. It’s heartwarming to see how much you value feedback and take the time to respond to us. Your dedication to fostering a community makes listening to your station even more special. The last time I contacted you I was in Michoancan, Mexico, I am now in the city of Oxnard.”

B: Vazquez continued: “I tuned to 12020 khz and to my surprise, it was a Voice of Vietnam in English. The signal came in decently but was affected slightly by international interference. I was able to listen to local and world news and the program ended with the mailbag from a listener and followed by the song ‘We are Vietnam.’”

A: Thank you Mr. Vazquez for coming back and sending us the reception of our broadcast from such a beautiful city of Oxnard. Your report is very useful to us and we’re always happy to hear from our listeners around the world and read their feedback, which shows that they love Vietnam and follow its development through VOV.

B: In a letter to VOV this week, Anand Mohan Bain of India told us that his Pariwar Bandhu Listeners’ Club organized a contest on the Voice of Vietnam and suggests that we give greater consideration to long-term listeners who have been tuning in for several years.

A: As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press, June 21, we’re deeply moved by the messages pouring in from across the globe. Your words remind us why we do what we do and that is to build bridges, share stories, and bring Vietnam closer to your homes and hearts.

B: Amir Jameel from Pakistan wrote to us: “On this special occasion, we would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the staff of the English Section of the Voice of Vietnam for your tireless dedication to broadcast quality and the spirit of revolutionary journalism. Your work always reflects the values of truth, responsibility and global connection – the factors that shape the face of Vietnamese media. I have made a special card to mark this occasion and hope you will like it.”

A: Amir, thank you so much for your warm wishes and the beautiful card! Your recognition of our values means a lot, and we’re honored to share this journey with you.

B: Yoshiyuki Okayasu from Saitama, Japan, wrote: “I’m delighted that you have so many programs that help me understand Vietnam. In Japan, there aren’t many newspapers that report on your country, so VOV’s news bulletins are very precious to me.”

A: Yoshiyuki, Your words inspire us to keep improving and broadening our coverage. Do let us know if there’s a topic you'd like us to explore more!

B: David Iurescia in Buenos Aires, Argentina, wrote: “I always love the station’s diverse programming, where we can learn about many different aspects of Vietnam. The relationship between our two countries is being strengthened day by day… Regarding the contest, ‘What do you know about Vietnam?’ I have almost finished my entry and will send it to you in the next few days.”

A: David, we’re excited to receive your contest entry and grateful for your keen observations about Argentina–Vietnam ties. We hope to keep bringing more insight into this growing friendship!

B: As the What do you know about Vietnam contest is approaching the deadline, June 30, we’ve continued to receive more and more entries from listeners.

A: In his entry to VOVWorld, Sanil Deep of India shared his great interest in participating in our contest. In his very detailed entry, he elaborated his understanding about Vietnam, its development strategies and shared his love for VOV over the past years. “The happiness which I couldn’t express when my name is mentioned on the Letter Box program regularly and the time when I receive your reply with QSL cards. My day starts with the Voice of Vietnam.”

B: Thank you, Mr. Deep, for having been a regular listener of the Voice of Vietnam for a long time. We wish you all the best of the luck in our contest and hope to welcome you in Vietnam.

A: Sending his entry to our contest, Muralidhar of Sweden wrote: “I am delighted to participate in the "What Do You Know About Vietnam 2025" contest. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Voice of Vietnam for offering overseas listeners this opportunity to share their knowledge and appreciation of Vietnam—its people, its culture, and its heritage. This contest is also a meaningful way for us to express our gratitude for the enduring connection we feel with VOV. Thank you once again for this wonderful initiative.”

B: In his entry, Sami Mosaad of Egypt wrote: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude for organizing the wonderful contest "What Do You Know About Vietnam?" It was a great pleasure to take part in it, and I truly hope to be the first Egyptian to win a trip to your beautiful country — a land I have always dreamed of visiting to experience its rich culture and the kindness of its people. Thank you to everyone involved in organizing this meaningful competition. I wish you continued health, success, and an ever-growing number of winners who get the chance to discover the charm of Vietnam.”

A: That’s so great to hear from your Sami Mosaad. We highly appreciate your entry, which, we can’t not judge the result yet, but really impressed us with a well-structured story and beautifully illustrated. We wish you, all our dear listeners, the best of luck and see you in Vietnam soon.

B: Next, we’d like to thanks Hatato Furukwa of Japan for having sent to us multiple letters, reporting on the reception of our broadcasts, on the frequency of 12020 khz with SINPO of all 4s.

A: This week, we received a letter of Peter Ng of Malaysia. It has been such a long time since we last heard from you Mr. Ng. We always remember your handwritten letters and thank for still listening to us on the frequency of 9804 khz and writing to us. We hope to hear from you more regularly.

B: Upon updating the news that three more Vietnamese universities have made the highly respected Times Higher Education (THE) rankings, including the University of Economics HCM City (UEH), which ranked the highest among the national names, at position 136, many listeners have shared their interest in learning about universities in Vietnam. Sou Sambath of Cambodia asked about old universities in Vietnam, in addition to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam.

Hanoi Medical University (Photo: hmu.edu.vn)

A: So, this week, let’s explore Hanoi Medical University, which was established on November 8, 1902, under the name Indochina Medico-Pharmaceutical University. It was the first university of Indochina established by French Governor-General Paul Doumer to train doctors.

B: Its first rector was the renowned scientist Dr. Alexandre Yersin. Over time, Vietnamese physicians trained at home and abroad joined the university, forming a distinguished faculty that included prominent figures like Prof. Ho Dac Di and Prof. Ton That Tung.

A: After the August Revolution, it became the first university of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. During wartime, the university relocated to the resistance zones, contributing both to education and frontline medical support. It trained thousands of doctors and sent many staff and students to the battlefields, where some, like Dr. Đặng Thùy Trâm, became national heroes.

B: Post-1975, the university expanded training nationwide, pioneering postgraduate programs such as residency and specialist training. It has since trained over 21,000 doctors and nearly 600 PhD’s, significantly contributing to Vietnam’s healthcare system.

A: Once again, thank you to all our listeners around the world. Your messages light up our newsroom and inspire us to work harder every day. Please keep writing, and until next time — happy listening from all of us here at the Voice of Vietnam!

B: If you have something to share? Email us at: englishsection@vov.vn And don’t forget to follow us on our website and social media for more stories from Vietnam.