A: This week, we continued to receive a lot of emails and letters from our listeners around the world. In this digital era, email and online chat have become more popular channels of communication, but I personally have an emotional preference for postal letters and postcards.
 Hanoi autumn flowers |
B: Me too. I find handwritten letters more personal, more moving. I like them anyway even though I’m a little bit too lazy to write a letter when I can just send a chat message or type an email.
A: Among the many letters to VOV this week, Fumito Hokamura of Japan sent us reception reports for programs on August 17, 18, and 27 and September 6 and 7 on the frequency of 12020 khz. He rated SINPO between 3 and 4. Mr. Hokamura is particularly interested in the weather in Vietnam because Japan has been hit by several typhoons recently.
B: Well, Vietnam has also been hit by storms and flash floods over the past few months, resulting in heavy losses of lives and property. But the weather has been moderate lately, particularly in the north and around Hanoi.
 Terraced fields in northern Vietnam |
A: Vietnam’s northwest region welcomes September and October with golden terraced rice fields. Mu Cang Chai district in Yen Bai province is famous for its breathtaking rice terraces. Its name comes up a lot at travel agencies at the end of September and early October, the time when the fields of rice mature in Mu Cang Chai.
B: Mu Cang Chai at this time of the year exudes a sense of prosperity as the terraced fields turn a rich gold color. The terraced rice fields look like golden silk scarves rippling in the wind across green mountain slopes, making the mountainous landscape astonishingly beautiful.
A: Mu Cang Chai’s terraced rice fields and the distinctive culture of the local ethnic minority groups create a unique atmosphere. This explains why so many tourists flocking to here.
 Terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai |
B: In 2007, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially recognized 500ha of terraced fields in La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha, and De Xu Phinh commune of Mu Cang Chai district as a national landscape.
A: A paragliding festival is held annually in May and September at Khau Pha Pass in Mu Cang Chai. The paragliders have a rare opportunity to admire the beauty of Mu Cang Chai terraced rice fields from above.
 Hanoi in autumn |
B: Autumn is the most beautiful season in Hanoi. These days, the weather has been so great with cool breeze, yellow sun, and low humidity and temperatures between 19 and 32 degrees Celsius.
A: Vietnam’s southern region is now in the rainy season. The weather in the south is now cool with occasional showers. The temperatures vary between 24 and 32 degrees Celsius.
B: In an email to VOV, Mohammad Shamim of India told us about Onam festival of Kerala. He wrote: “In our State, people celebrate many festivals. Among them, Onam is the most popular. In my childhood, the Onam holiday was always the happiest. Chingam is the month for celebrating Onam. Chingam is one of the months in our traditional calendar. This year Onam was celebrated from August 24 to August 28. Ten days before Onam arrangements are made to welcome the occasion. Courtyards are decked with flowers. Clubs and organizations hold sports competitions and games and other entertainments. The Kerala government celebrates the week as a week of tourism.”
A: Thank you, Mr. Shamim, for sharing your story with us and other listeners. Mr. Shamim asked us about pepper production in Vietnam.
B: For many years, Vietnam has been the world’s number one pepper exporter. The pepper tree originated in India and was planted in Vietnam in the 17th century by the French. In the early 20th century, this tree spread to the basalt soil of Vietnam’s southeastern and the central regions.
 Pepper is one of Vietnam’s leading export farm produce (Photo: daknong.gov.vn) |
B: Today the pepper tree grows mainly in Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dong Nai and Gia Lai provinces. The Central Highlands and the Southeast rank first in terms of area and productivity, but there are also pepper growing areas in Phu Quoc and Kien Giang which have created their own trademarks in the market, and in Quang Tri.
A: Vietnam is the world’s largest black pepper exporter, accounting for 60-65 percent of global trade, and nearly half of global output. The total production area increased threefold between 2010 and 2017. About 95% of Vietnam’s total pepper output is exported and Vietnam now has about 200 companies involved in processing and trading pepper. Vietnam’s pepper is exported to more than 100 countries and territories, but mainly to Europe, Asia and North America.
B: We’d like to welcome back to VOV Marzio Vizzoni of Italy. In a letter to VOV, Mr. Vizzoni reported reception of the broadcast on August 19 from 15:00 to 15:30 UTC on the frequency of 12030 khz. He wrote: “Today I tuned in to your broadcast and started a journey in your country. I learned more about Vietnam, the life and culture. Your programs are very nice and interesting. I will continue to listen to your radio station again for many years.”
A: Thank you, Mr. Vizzoni, for tuning in to VOV and for the very beautiful postcard you sent. We’ll send you a QSL card to confirm your report.
B: This week Grant Skinner of the UK sent us a letter commenting on the technical problems of our broadcast. He wrote: “ The Voice of Vietnam has a lot to offer and deserves to be heard, but for a long while the Voice of Vietnam has endured a lot of noise and interference. Your efforts are much appreciated.”
A: Thank you, Mr, Skinner, for your report. We’ll forward it to our technicians to solve the problem you mentioned.
B: After listening to our program on August 29 from 12:30 to 12:57 UTC on the frequency of 9840 khz, Hiroyuki Akiba of Japan wrote: “Recently a lot of foreign tourists are visiting Vietnam. I also wish to visit your country because I haven’t been there for nearly 20 years and want to see how it has been changing. The good news is that Vietnam’s LCC Vietjet Air will launch flight to Tokyo and Osaka this autumn. I’m sure it will give Japanese residents cheap options. I’m planning to visit Vietnam again in the near future.”
A: We look forward to seeing you in Vietnam, Mr. Akiba. Vietnam has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. We believe that you will enjoy your time in Vietnam. And don’t forget to drop by our office. You’re always welcome.
B: Our time is up. We have to wrap up our Letter Box segment for today. Thank you all for tuning in to VOV. We 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.org.vn. You’re invited to visit us online at vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs. 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. Goodbye until next time.