Hello and welcome to VOV’s Letter Box, our weekly feature dedicated to our listeners throughout the world. I’m Mai Phuong.
And I’m Ngoc Huyen. It’s nice to be back on the Letter Box again.
A: First on our show today, we would like to remind you that on October 27, we adjusted the frequencies of our winter broadcasts. We made some minor changes and have sent the latest frequency list to listeners by mail. For now, listeners in Europe, Central Asia, and Eastern America please take note of the following adjustments.
B: VOV’s relayed broadcast from Moosbrunn, Woofferton, and Dhabayya to Europe at 18:00 and 18:30 UTC is on 5955 kHz. Our broadcast from Woofferton, and Cypress Creek to Eastern America at 01:00 UTC and 02:30 UTC, and to Central America and the Caribbean at 03:00 UTC is also on 6175 kHz.
A: These changes can also be found on our website at www.vovworld.vn. We hope to receive your feedback on the quality of the signal soon.
B: This week, we received a very cute pumpkin picture with beautiful wishes from Mr. Robert Kralikdski of the US. Robert wrote about Halloween in the US, saying it’s his favorite time of the year.
A: Thank you Robert. Halloween is a yearly celebration observed in number of countries on October 31st, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints, martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers. It is celebrated with a variety of activities including trick or treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, “haunted house” tours, carving pumpkins into Jack – o’ – lanterns and reading or watching scary stories.
B: Although Halloween is a typically Western tradition, many Vietnamese also celebrate Halloween parties. Halloween parties are mostly held in backpacker areas, usually in coffee shops, bars and restaurants. There are many popular activities at a Halloween party but the most popular is wearing Halloween costumes.
A: At coffee shops scary movies are often played until midnight while bars and restaurants offer special Halloween dishes such as “blood soup” made from tomato sauce or tomb-stoned-shaped cookies with the letters R.I.P on them. Because Halloween was introduced to Vietnam as a touristy gimmick, Halloween night in Vietnam is basically for the purpose of having fun.
B: On the Letter Box today, we would like to say hello to Gerry Newman of England, a loyal listener for many years. Gerry, we highly appreciate your comments that the transmission quality of our broadcast to Europe on October 27 and 28 on the frequency of 5955 Khz was disappointing and that on October 29, VOV broadcast signal had a SINPO of all 5s and there was no other station on the frequency.
A: Thank you Gerry. We hope the reception will continue to be as good for the remainder of the winter season, and hope to see you in Vietnam soon.
B: From Spain, Juan Carlos Gil reported listening to our program on October 1st, 5th, 8th and 9th on a frequency of 7280 Khz or 9730 Khz with SINPO rated at all 4s. Carlos wrote: “I’m one of your listeners in Spain. I’m very happy because I have received your answer to my most recent letter and because I can listen to your programs in Europe quite well. I’m a three-year listener of VOV and I enjoy especially your programs about history, tradition and culture”.
A: Thank you Carlos. We’re very happy to learn that our frequency changes for winter broadcasts have been stable. We are sending you QSL cards to confirm your listening.
B: Mohammad Shamim of Keralam State in India reported listening to our program via shortwave on 12005 Khz from 0230 to 0300 UTC on October 25. Shammim wrote that he liked the report on museums in Vietnam and said the signal was very good. Shammim is interested in knowing about the average annual rainfall in Vietnam.
The Central Highland city of Da Lat |
A: Vietnam is located between 9 and 23 degrees north latitude. Eastern Vietnam has a long coastline on the Gulf of Tonkin and the East Sea. It has a tropical monsoon type of climate; from May-Sep the south monsoon sets in, and the country is dominated by south or southeasterly winds. From Oct-April, the north monsoon is dominant with north or northeasterly winds affecting the country. There is a transition period between the monsoon seasons when winds are light and variable.
B: The country is mountainous in the northwest and in the central highlands facing the East Sea, with peaks reaching up to 2450m. In the north around Hanoi and in the south around Ho Chi Minh City, there are extensive low-lying regions in the Red River delta and the Mekong delta respectively.
A: Vietnam has a single rainy season during the south monsoon from May to September. Rainfall is infrequent and light during the remainder of the year, but overall rainfall is abundant, with annual rainfall exceeding 1000mm almost everywhere. Annual rainfall is even higher in the hills, especially those facing the sea, in the range of 2000-2500mm.
B: In coastal areas and the parts of the central highlands facing northeast, the season of maximum rainfall is during the north monsoon, from September to January. These regions receive torrential rain from typhoons which move in from the East Sea at this time of the year. The weather at this time is cloudy with frequent drizzle.
A: During the north monsoon, northern Vietnam has cloudy days with occasional light rain, while southern Vietnam tends to be dry and sunny. Temperatures are high all year round for southern and central Vietnam; but northern Vietnam has a definite cooler season as the north monsoon blows cold air in from China. Frost and some snow may occur in the highest mountains in the north for a few days a year. In southern Vietnam, the lowlands are sheltered from the colder northerly air and the dry season is warm to hot with much sunshine.
Hanoi |
B: In all, Vietnam’s climate is so diverse that it’s misleading to talk about an average temperature for the whole country. Thanks to these regional variations in weather, you can visit Vietnam any time of the year. You should plan to catch the good weather by landing Ho Chi Minh City in February or March and then following the coast to north or by visiting Hanoi in October or November and then making your way southward. The choice is yours.
A: From the USA, Anna Rose sent us an email saying that she rediscovered our station at 6175 kHz coming in loud and clear and she would like to learn about Vietnam’s approach to socialism.
B: Welcome back to VOV Anna, to answer your question about Vietnam’s approach to socialism, you can check out the website of the Communist Party of Vietnam at tapchicongsan.org.vn, where you can learn more about Vietnam’s political guidelines.
A: On today’s show, we’d like to acknowledge letters and emails from Ashik Eqbal Tokon and Mizanur Rahman of Bangladesh, Abid Hussain Sajid of Pakistan, Shri Bhagwan Sharma, Bhaikan Hazarika and Karobi Hazarika of India, Merkouris Gogos of Greece, Bo Samuelsson of Sweden, Tjang Pak Ning of Indonesia, Richarch Lemke of Canada and Howard Barnett of England.
B: We highly appreciate your listening. We’ll verify your reception reports and send you our QSL cards soon. That’s it for today’s Letter Box. We welcome your feedback at: English section, Overseas Service, Radio Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Or you can email us at: englishsection@vov.org.vn. You’re invited to visit us online at www.vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs. Good bye from Hanoi.