A: We’ve got two national celebrations coming up, and most people will be off on a long holiday. I’m really looking forward to it.
B: I know, it’s exciting, but I’m a bit worried as well, we’ve got loads of programs to get ready.
A: Oh, don’t stress. We’re used to being rushed off our feet before big events like this, and we’ll still be working through the holiday to keep our audience up to date with the latest news.
B: Can’t agree more, making the most of it, even with all the work on. Have you got anything special planned for the Hung Kings’ Commemoration this weekend, then National Reunification Day and Labor Day late next week?
A: Nothing too fancy, just a bit of family time, maybe a short trip or a nice meal together to mark the celebrations. How about you?
B: My family’s planning a trip to Phu Tho Province. We’ll attend the Hung Kings’ Temple Festival and then spend a couple of days at the nearby Thanh Thuy hot spring resort.
A: What a coincidence! Let’s take this opportunity to answer a question from our Laotian listener, Duongchan, about experiential and ecotourism in northern Vietnam.
B: Perfect timing! With last year’s merger of Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc and Hoa Binh provinces into the new Phu Tho Province, the festival is being held on a much larger scale this year.
A: That’s right. The festival is held annually in honor of the Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the Vietnamese nation. The main celebration falls on the 10th day of the third lunar month, though related activities usually begin at least a week earlier. The day has been a public holiday since 2007, and this year it falls on Sunday, April 26.
A: It’s already drawing huge crowds. In just the first 5 days of the festival, along with the Ancestral Land Culture and Tourism Week, more than 90,000 people visited Phu Tho to offer incense and join the festivities.
B: There’s so much going on, from the Phu Tho Folk Arts Festival with its performing troupes to sporting events involving hundreds of athletes. There’s also a book fair, an exhibition titled “Culture of the Hung Kings Era – Essence of Convergence”, and a night tour of the Hung Kings’ Temple.
A: That’s the one my family’s planning to join, the “Hung Temple – Sacred Ancestral Land” night tour. It’s one of the highlights this year. We’ve covered it in our Discovery segment, and you can read more on our website vovworld.vn.
B: In addition to the well-known Hung Temple Complex, Phu Tho province offers other appealing destinations for visitors seeking relaxation and nature. I’ve been to the Thanh Thuy hot springs several times, a popular retreat with mineral-rich waters ideal for rest and wellness.
A: It’s just 70 kilometers from Hanoi, and the route is pretty straightforward. For those interested in outdoor recreation, Xuan Son National Park has lush forests, limestone mountains, caves, and ethnic minority villages, so you can enjoy both outdoor adventure and cultural experiences.
B: Ao Chau Lagoon presents a tranquil landscape of calm waters dotted with small islands, often likened to a miniature Ha Long Bay. It’s adjacent to the Long Coc green tea hills, a peaceful country setting.
A: The new Phu Tho province offers lots of destinations to explore – the cool mountain retreat of Tam Dao, eco-tourism areas, hot springs, and traditional villages.
A: Now here are some messages from other listeners. Kanu Kumar Paul of India commented on our story “A Journey to Tay Thien, the Sacred Ancestral Land”. He said: “I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the natural scenery and the calm, reflective atmosphere experienced by pilgrims and visitors. It was both educational and enjoyable.”
A: Rui Cruz of Portugal sent an email to say: “I received your QSL card with a great design, and I really appreciate it. The photo of the sunrise on the Hoai River in Hoi An city is very beautiful. The envelope is also well designed. I keep listening to your transmissions whenever propagation and time permit.”
B: Thank you all Kumar Paul and Rui Cruz for your kind words. We’re really pleased that Cruz liked our new QSL card, and we appreciate you tuning in regularly. We hope you’ll keep collecting our variety of QSL cards.
A: Listener Nijat Imranli of Germany told us: “Every program of the Voice of Vietnam makes me feel like I’m coming home, bringing me warmth and a great deal of inspiration. When I was living in Baku, I listened to the radio almost every day and always found joy and comfort in your broadcasts. Since moving to Germany, I’ve continued to follow your station via its official website and online programs.”
B: Nijat had the opportunity to visit Vietnam in 1990, which, he said, helped him gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture, history, and people. He went on to say: “Now living in Berlin, I still often visit Vietnamese markets and restaurants and meet Vietnamese friends as a way of maintaining my connection with a country I cherish. I’m arranging a small corner in my living room dedicated to my D-Xing passion, with the Voice of Vietnam at its center. I plan to display QSL postcards, souvenirs, and materials related to your station.”
A: It’s wonderful to hear that you’ve kept your connection to Vietnam alive over the years. We applaud your passion for D-Xing and your plan to make VOV the center of your radio space. We hope our broadcasts will continue to be a comforting companion to you wherever you are.
B: Listener Fan Hongjie of Zhejiang, China, emailed us to say that in recent days, Chinese media outlets have covered the visit to China of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam. Fan said he was pleased that the visit strengthened the fraternal friendship between Vietnam and China in the new era.
A: The visit attracted comments from other listeners as well. Cuban listener Ezequiel Hernández Gómez, for instance, asked about the main goods traded between Vietnam and China.
B: That’s an interesting question. According to our Ministry of Industry and Trade, trade between Vietnam and China is large-scale and growing rapidly. Last year, total bilateral trade reached more than 256 billion USD. Vietnam’s exports to China totaled over 70 billion USD and imports from China hit 186 billion USD.
A: Vietnam mainly imports from China goods serving production needs – machinery, equipment, tools, spare parts, computers, electronic products and components, and raw materials such as fabrics, plastics, and metals.
B: Vietnam exports to China electronics, computers and components, phones,machinery, and agricultural and aquatic products.
A: We hope that gives you a clearer picture, Gomez. And that brings us to the end of today’s Letter Box. We always appreciate your interest and feedback. Please write to us at englishsection@vov.vn or leave your comment on our website or Facebook fanpage.
B: We hope you’ve enjoyed today’s program. Goodbye until next time!
