A: Wherever in the world you’re tuning in from, we hope you’ll enjoy listening to some stories from other listeners.
B: We’re always happy to hear from you. Your letters, emails, and messages make the Letter Box a special place to stay connected with our listeners around the world.
A: We have plenty to share with you today — listener questions, comments, reception reports and, of course, some interesting stories about Vietnam.
B: We received some warm greetings from Egypt, the land with a history as long as the Nile River. Mohamed Elsayed Abd Elraheim wrote to us with some beautiful thoughts about radio. “I’m writing to you with great joy to say that VOV brings us all together from every corner of the world. This long and glorious journey has proven that radio has the power to be a spacious and beautiful oasis, where everyone can gather in its embrace and find shelter under its great, shady tree.”
A: What beautiful words! Your message reminds us that Egypt is a land of poetry and great poets.
B: Mr. Elraheim goes on to paint an equally beautiful picture of the season. “As I write to you now, autumn has arrived. Its distinctive breezes have begun to caress everything around us, and the melodious birds have started to play their special tunes for this beautiful season. I will always remain a devoted follower and listener of the Voice of Vietnam, in all seasons and in all weathers.”
A: What a lovely way to describe autumn — and what a wonderful commitment to VOV! It’s so encouraging to know that, no matter where you are or what season it is, you continue to tune in to the Voice of Vietnam.
B: Here in Hanoi, we’re also enjoying the autumn season. The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of Vietnam’s most beloved traditional celebrations, will be observed on September 25, just 9 days from now. Later in the program, we’ll tell you more about this celebration and some of the traditions associated with it.
A: Now let’s get back to our mailbox. We have a message from Seji Hattori of Japan, who listened to VOV on September 7 on the frequency of 11885 kHz. He shared a lovely personal memory with us.
B: “Thank you for featuring my letter in your Letter Box segment. I was surprised to hear my letter read on a non-Japanese program — it had been about 50 years since the last time that happened, back in around 1978. At that time, I was living in Hiroshima and still attending high school.”
A: VOVWORLD broadcasts worldwide in 13 languages, and many of our listeners, like Mr. Hattori, enjoy listening to more than one of our language services.
B: Whether you listen to us in English, Japanese, French, or any of VOV’s other broadcast languages, we’re delighted to have you with us.
A: Seji continued: “In Japan, the average life expectancy for both men and women has now surpassed 80 years, making Japan one of the world’s leading nations for longevity. When I was born in 1959, the average life expectancy for men was 65.21 years. By that measure, I have already lived longer than the average. I believe this is largely due to medical advancements and improved nutrition.”
B: Like Japan, Vietnam is also seeing people live longer as healthcare, nutrition, and living standards improve. According to the latest World Bank data, life expectancy at birth in Vietnam was about 75 years in 2024. That’s a significant increase compared to previous decades and reflects improvements in healthcare and living conditions.
A: Mr. Seji, thank you for sharing your personal reflections.We hope you’ll continue with VOV for many more years.
B: Now, let’s move on to a detailed reception report from Ashik Eqbal Tokon of Bangladesh, who listened to VOV’s English program on September 12 on 9840 kHz.
A: He told us that the signal was strong and stable, with only slight interference. The audio was clear and easy to follow, so he gave it a SINPO rating of 43443.
B: Mr. Tokon mentioned a few of the stories that caught his attention – Vietnam-France relations, Vietnam’s participation in BRICS, and the revival of traditional cultural heritage among ethnic communities in central Vietnam.
A: Mr. Tokon, your detailed feedback gives us valuable information about our signal and content and helps us stay connected with listeners around the world. We hope you’ll continue to tune in to VOV and share your listening experiences with your friends in Bangladesh.
B: Before we continue with more messages from listeners, let’s take a short break to enjoy a song called August Lantern Parade by Duc Quynh. It’s a classic Mid-Autumn Festival song about children welcoming the full moon with colorful lanterns and enjoying the festive celebration together.
and sizes are joyfully arranged for children.
(Photo: BongRy shop)
A: Little Annie Thien Kim singing August Lantern Parade. Now let’s talk a little about the Mid-Autumn Festival, the celebration most-beloved by Vietnamese children.
B: An iconic feature of the festival is, of course, its colorful lanterns. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the traditional five-pointed star lanterns to lanterns shaped like animals, flowers, and folk characters.
A: The Mid-Autumn Festival isn’t just for children anymore. These days, people of all ages join in the celebration, and the lanterns have become bigger and more spectacular than ever.
B: One of the best-known examples is the Tuyen Quang Autumn Festival in Tuyen Quang province, where local communities create enormous lanterns inspired by Vietnamese folk characters, animals, historical figures, and familiar cultural symbols.
A: These giant lanterns are paraded through the streets, accompanied by lion and dragon dances, creating a spectacle that excites both local people and visitors. The festival has become a much-loved annual event in Tuyên Quang, blowing up the Mid-Autumn lantern procession into a huge community celebration.
B: And what would a Vietnamese celebration be without food? Two treats that are always part of the Mid-Autumn celebration are mooncakes.
A: And we can’t forget the traditional fruit tray, a colourful selection of seasonal fruits beautifully arranged for everyone to enjoy.
B: Lanterns, mooncakes, and a colourful fruit tray under the bright full autumn moon make the Mid-Autumn Festival a special time for Vietnamese families.
A: If you happen to be in Hanoi right now, there will be plenty of opportunities to experience Mid-Autumn Festival yourself.
B: In the Old Quarter, you can explore exhibitions of traditional lanterns and toys, learn how to make these items, and even try your hand at making a mooncake or a lion’s head at the Heritage House. There are two Heritage House locations: 22 Hang Buom street and 87 Ma May street.
A: Hang Ma street is filled with colorful lanterns and Mid-Autumn toys, and the celebration will culminate on September 25 in a Full Moon Festival night with music, dancing, and a lantern procession around Hoàn Kiếm lake.
B: Before we wrap up today’s program, let’s acknowledge a few more messages from our listeners around the world.
A: From Mexico, Armando Francisco Higuera del Reyo sent his congratulations to the Voice of Vietnam on its anniversary. He praised VOV’s development as a multi-platform and multimedia broadcaster, bringing audiences reliable information about events in Vietnam and around the world.
B: From Brazil, Manoel Messias Soares Germano Júnior told us that he continues to learn about Vietnam’s culture, history, and current affairs through VOV’s programs. He thanked VOV for keeping shortwave radio alive.
A: Reece Lloyd of the UK said Vietnam is a country he has always loved and wanted to explore, and that this was his first time listening to a Vietnamese radio broadcast. He enjoyed the music and found the program entertaining and informative.
B: Thanks to all our listeners for listening and sending us feedback. Your letters and emails to Letter Box are a wonderful way for us to stay connected with you.
A: We hope you’ve enjoyed today’s program. Until next time, goodbye and happy listening!
