Vicentiu Daniel Gheorghe, winner of the contest "What do you know about Vietnam?" visits VOV's English Service, Hanoi, September 24, 2025.

B: They are Rudy Hartono from Indonesia, Oikawa Kazuaki from Japan, and Vicentiu Daniel Gheorghe from Romania.

A: As soon as he landed in Hanoi, Vicentiu, an avid follower of the English Service, joined our reporter Cam Thi for a conversation.

Vicentiu Daniel Gheorghe and Cam Thi at VOV's studio

Thi: Welcome to Hanoi. How do you feel about your first trip to Vietnam as the winner of the contest “What do you know about Vietnam?”

Vincentiu: Hello. Thank you. I have been a regular listener and follower of VOV5 for many years, so I always look forward to your special programs and contests. I was truly honored and very happy. Winning this quiz felt like recognition of my long-standing connection with Vietnam and with VOV. For me, the real prize is the chance to strengthen this friendship and share it with others.

Thi: Could you share more about your listening journey and what programs have impressed you the most?

Vincentiu: I have been listening to VOV for more than 20 years. During this time, VOV has been my window into Vietnam — a bridge of friendship and understanding. Your programs have given me not only  knowledge but also inspiration. I especially enjoy the news and cultural features, because they provide both timely information and deeper insights into the daily life of the Vietnamese people. I also value the way VOV gives listeners around the world a voice through letters and interactions.

Thi: We know you have operated a Facebook fanpage to promote VOV. What inspired you to run the fanpage?

Vincentiu: I established the Romanian VOV Club, an online community dedicated to bringing the image of Vietnam closer to Romanian audiences and beyond. Just in the past four years, I have had the privilege to post tens of thousands of articles, videos, and cultural insights about Vietnam. I acted as a bridge of friendship, helping to showcase Vietnam’s landscapes, traditions, economic progress, and above all, the warmth of its people. It was also a privilege to collaborate with the Embassy of Vietnam in Romania, and to contribute in a modest way to strengthening the ties of friendship and understanding between our peoples.

Thi: Finally, what message would you like to send to VOV listeners and your Vietnamese friends?

Vincentiu: To all the listeners of VOV and to all my Vietnamese friends, I would like to express my warmest greetings. Winning this contest is a great honor, but even more important to me is the friendship that connects us across borders. Vietnam holds a special place in my heart — through its culture, history, and especially the kindness of its people. Thank you, VOV, for being a bridge of friendship between Vietnam and the world. 

A: During their stay, our guests explore iconic destinations in northern Vietnam, including the UNESCO-recognized Trang An Landscape Complex, the Temple of Literature, which is Vietnam’s first university, and Duong Lam ancient village; and enjoyed water puppetry.

B: Their journey will culminate on Thursday evening with the award ceremony at VOV’s headquarters as wecelebrate VOVWORLD’s 80th anniversary.

 

Rudy Hartono from Indonesia, Vicentiu Daniel Gheorghe from Romania, and Oikawa Kazuaki from Japan visit Duong Lam ancient village and try their hand at crafting items. (Photo: Trieu Vy/VOV)

Vicentiu Daniel Gheorghe and Oikawa Kazuaki visit the Temple of Literature, where they try calligraphy writing the word An, which means the peace of mind. (photo: Trieu Vy/VOV)

A: You’re listening to the Letter Box on VOV. Now let’s move on to the emails and letters we received over the past week.

B: Sanil Deep of India emailed us to express his appreciation for VOV’s informative and engaging broadcasts. “As a regular listener, I am particularly fond of 'Colorful Vietnam,' 'Personality of the Week,' and the 'Saturday Music Program.' The 'Personality of the Week' features remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions to Vietnam in various fields. Their stories motivate and educate listeners about the country's progress and achievements. The Sunday Show is superb. I never miss it.”

A: He also said that the Saturday Music Program is a highlight, featuring Vietnamese songs that promote cultural heritage and national pride.

B: Thank you, Sanil Deep, for your compliments and your continued support for VOV and Vietnam.

A: I’m now reading an email from Tore Gunnarsson, a 76-year-old retired construction worker from Rydöbruk village in Sweden. He has been a DX enthusiast since 1965 and is a member of the Swedish DX Federation. He also enjoys music, stamp collecting, and fishing. Mr. Gunnarsson expressed great pleasure in hearing Vietnamese songs.

B: He noted that he listened to the Voice of Vietnam broadcast on 9730 kHz, at 21:32 UTC on September 14. The signal strength was moderate, with some noise and fading, giving an average SIO rating of 333.

A: And now, we’d like to share a message from Mr. Arnaldo Slaen, a 58-year-old listener from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

B: Mr. Slaen wrote about his passion for DXing, a hobby he has pursued since 1981. He uses several receivers, including an Icom R75, a Sony ICF-2010, and a Realistic DX-10, along with a T2FD antenna installed on a 12-meter tower.

A: Despite the many sources of interference and noise in Buenos Aires, he was able to listen to VOV and kindly sent us a detailed reception report. He even included some photographs of himself in his radio shack.

B: Now, let’s move on to another report from Brazil. Listener Reginaldo Anunciação tuned in to the Voice of Vietnam’s English program on August 22, 2025, at 19:00 UTC, on the frequency of 11885 kHz.

A: In his report, he mentioned hearing our interval signal and station identification, followed by female announcements about Vietnam and a song performed by a male singer. He also shared his impression of Vietnam as a beautiful country, rich in music, traditions, and culture.

B: Mr. Anunciação noted some interference from China Radio International but overall rated the reception SINPO 43333 using his Motobras 7 BW receiver with a telescopic antenna. Along with his detailed feedback, he requested more information about our English service and a verification card.

A: Thank you all for sharing your reports with us. We’ll gladly send you QSL cards in response.

B: And here we wrap up our Letter Box today. Your feedback is warmly welcomed 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.