B: Our listener R.S. Vijay Kumar in Visakhapatnam, the capital of Andhra Pradesh in India, told us: “The temperatures are rising quickly, and schools and colleges have been closed for summer holidays since May 1.”
A: Summer is also on its way in Vietnam, with warmer days gradually replacing the last cool days of spring. During this seasonal transition in April and May, northern Vietnam often experiences thunderstorms, whirlwinds, and lightning.
B: But just a couple of days ago, Hanoi saw hail twice, with some ice pellets as large as fists. The National Weather Forecast Centre called this a rare phenomenon in the changing season and warned of the risk of further hailstorms due to the impact of cold air and unstable weather conditions.
A: Forecasters say that as summer rainy season begins, people should be prepared for sudden downpours and more extreme weather.
B: May is the month that Vietnamese students wrap up the school year by taking their final exams. An academic year usually ends by May 31 and the new one begins in early September.
A: For students at a transition stage, this is a crucial period as they sit important graduation exams before the summer holiday. The exam to enter high school will take place from May 29 to June 1, followed by the high school graduation exam, from June 10 to June 12.
B: It’s an intense period for the students preparing for these important exams. They want to perform their best in order to get into their desired school. We call May “the exam season”, and it can make the summer feel even hotter.
A: Mr Kumar told us that, at 64, he’s a retired employee of Indian Railways. He says he really enjoys tuning in to shortwave stations around the world, and has been listening to VOV since 1984. He has a paper QSL card issued by VOV several years ago.
A: Thank you for your long-standing support of VOV. Listeners like you have been an important part of our journey over the years.
B: You sent us some interesting questions, and we’re going to answer all of them. “Is pure vegetarian food available in Vietnam? Are there Indian restaurants in Hanoi or other cities of Vietnam? Has any staff member of VOV ever tasted Indian food?
A: You know, it’s quite easy to find pure vegetarian food in Vietnam. Vietnamese kitchens are known for balanced, flavorful, healthy cooking, and liberal use of fresh vegetables and herbs in every meal.
B: Although most Vietnamese are adventurous meat-eaters, many have a positive view of vegetarianism. Most Vietnamese restaurants offer a selection of salads and cooked vegetables, and many have a dedicated section of vegetarian options.
A: Many Vietnamese Buddhists follow a meat-free diet on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month. On those days, it’s easy to find a variety of vegetarian options in restaurants and street markets. There are dedicated vegetarian buffets offering a great variety of dishes.
A: We’d like to teach you a few words that can help you locate vegetarian food in Vietnam.
B: The most useful word is chay, which means ‘vegetarian’. You can say Tôi ăn chay (I eat vegetarian food) to let people know you don’t eat meat. You can add chay to the name of a dish to request a vegetarian version—like phở chay (vegetarian rice noodle soup), bánh mì chay (vegetarian Vietnamese sandwich), or nem chay (vegetarian spring rolls).
A: Simple, right? And remember to say “không nước mắm (no fish sauce)” when you order something, since fish sauce is a common ingredient in many Vietnamese dishes.
B: A quick online search will show you some vegetarian restaurants near you, or ask the locals who may know some pagodas and temples offering vegetarian meals to visitors as well as the resident monks and nuns.
A: An online search will also show you that there are abundant options for Indian food in Hanoi and other cities in Vietnam. Let’s see right now what we can find.
B: I just found some customer reviews and ratings for the top Indian restaurants in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Here’s an audio clip from The Traveling Tales, a highly-regarded Indian tour operator that offers tours of Hanoi.
A: I’ve tried a few Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala, samosas, and lassi cakes. Some of my VOV colleagues have visited India for work or as tourists. Bảo Trâm of the English section made a working trip to several Indian states, where she reported on iconic sites in New Delhi, as well as Indian music and cuisine. You can read her stories on our website, vovworld.vn, in the Culture Rendezvous segment.
A: Singer Sunny Ha Linh’s song “Vao Ha” (Entering Summer) captures the feeling of early summer – warm, nostalgic, and full of youthful emotion. Yeah, it’s now sunny and warm in Vietnam, but in another part of the world, it’s cool and full of spring vibes. I’m reading a message from Juan Carlos Pérez Montero of Spain, who wrote: “Spring is definitely in the air in Valladolid, with longer days, better weather and an atmosphere that encourages you to get out a bit more and enjoy the little things.”
B: He continued: “As always, I’m delighted to sit down and write a few lines to you to continue fostering this close bond we’ve built up over time. I hope all is well over there and that the station continues to operate as normal. From here, I continue to tune in whenever I can, enjoying your programs and that special feeling that shortwave radio brings, which makes the distance disappear for a few moments. Thank you VOV, as always, for continuing to be there and for the work you do.”
B: Thank you Mr. Montero for staying connected with VOV and sharing a bit of your life in Spain with us. Your message reminds us that, for many of our listeners, we’re more than just a radio program.
A: Here’s a reception report from Muhammad Aqeel Bashir of Pakistan, who always likes our news and current affairs reports. “Your reports show strong journalistic authority, and help me understand Vietnam and the world in a simple way.”
B: After listening to an article about the Vietnam Naval Museum in Hai Phong city, Mr. Bashir said: “It was very touching history. The way you described the museum, its design like a ship, and the many artefacts made me feel very close to the story. I was deeply moved by the sacrifices of the naval soldiers who gave their lives to protect their country. Items like the belt and the rice bag of the fallen soldiers show real human emotions and bravery. This report increased my respect for Vietnam’s history and brave people.”
A: Your attentive listening and thoughtful reflections are a great source of encouragement for us. We’ll send you a QSL card to verify your report.
B: We would also like to sincerely thank Amir Jameel, President of the VOV Online Visitors Club of Pakistan, and Bidhan Chandra Sanyal of India for their continued efforts in sending us daily reception reports.
A: Our warm appreciation goes to 11-year-old Erik Oliván Orós of Spain for tuning in to our channel and taking the time to write to us.
B: We want to verify a reception report from Ivan Lebedev of Russia, who tuned in to our program on the frequency of 11885 kHz on April 29 from a suburb of St. Petersburg. He used a Tecsun S-8800 receiver and rated SINPO 44454.
A: We were touched to receive a message from Sami Mosaad of Egypt on April 30, Vietnam’s Reunification Day. Sami wrote: “We remember the story of a people who never surrendered—who turned pain into strength, division into unity, and war into peace.”
B: That brings us to the end of this week’s Letter Box. Thank you for tuning in to VOV and for sharing your thoughts with us. Until next time, goodbye!
