A: To He, or toy figurine, is a traditional toy that Vietnamese children are exceedingly fond of. Dating back to the 17th century, To He are made of glutinous rice powder in the form of edible figurines of animals, flowers and characters from folk tales.

(VOVworld) - I’m reading an interesting letter from Radhakrishna Pillai of India. He told us about his participation at the National Council Meeting of Indian Society for Cultural Co-operation and Friendship (ISCUF) held at Guwahati in Assam, a mega event to promote India-Vietnam cultural co-operation and friendship.

A: We think we sent you an embroidery painting of Ha Long Bay. Embroidery painting is a popular craft in many localities throughout Vietnam. XQ embroidery, for example, is a famous hand embroidery shop in Da Lat designed to look like a traditional and historical rural village.

A: In Hanoi thousands of students and other volunteers attended the launch ceremony. This was the 9th Earth Hour event held in Vietnam. Last year’s campaign saved 450,000kwh, 3 times higher than in 2009, when Vietnam hosted the first event. The amount of electricity saved during the one hour the lights are off is the measures of society’s response to Earth Hour.

(VOVworld) - We are very glad to know that Gerry Neumann has returned to his home in England safe and sound. On his latest email on March 20, Gerry wrote “At last I’ve got around to sending you a reception report after my recent trip to Vietnam over the Christmas and Tet period, including my visit to VOV’s office in Hanoi, where I again received a tremendous welcome from the staff. My sincere thanks for the gifts you gave me on that occasion.”

B: We’d like to thank Gerry Newmann for his great gift, a book of English culture and traditions throughout the year. We like the book every much, Gerry. It’s a great help to us, especially Thu Ly and other reporters involved in producing our Culture Rendezvous segment. We thank you very much for the gift and we hope to meet you again soon.

(VOVworld) - First, we want to congratulate all our female listeners on International Women's Day, a day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Remember that all human life springs from women. Smile, all you women, because without you life would be impossible. Enjoy your day to the fullest.

B: Pho, Vietnam’s noodle soup tops the list. This simple staple consisting of a salty broth, fresh rice noodles, and a sprinkling of herbs and either chicken or beef, features prominently in the local diet. It's cheap, tasty, and widely available at all hours.

(VOVworld) - We’re very glad to get a letter from David Ansell of Sussex, England, after quite a long time. He listened to our broadcast on January 19 on 7280 khz and rated SINPO at 45433 with moderate fading.

A: The traditional Vietnamese wedding is one of the most important ceremonies in Vietnamese culture with influences from Confucian and Buddhist ideology. It is a significant day not only for the couple involved but also for their entire families and it usually includes quite a few formal ritual observances.