First on our show today, we’d like to welcome Javed Iqbal, a new listener in Pakistan. Javed wrote: “I’m new to radio VOV but in a very short period of time I am much impressed with VOV programs. It gives me the opportunity to learn more about Vietnam and its people. Attributes that make VOV so exciting are the varied range of its programs, interesting features and lively music. VOV is the perfect ambassador spreading the message of peace, friendship and brotherhood to its worldwide listeners”.

(VOVworld) - To begin this week’s Letter Box, we would like to express our sympathy for the people in the flood-stricken Muzaffargarh area of Punjab, India. Syed Khizar Hayat Shah, President of the Sadat Listeners Club in India, told us about rescue and humanitarian activities for people living in relief camps there.

A: Alex, in Vietnam, we have a great number of songs about our beloved President Ho Chi Minh. The songs praise Uncle Ho’s love for children, soldiers, the Vietnamese people and the nation. Many songs praise his great personality, his simple life and his contributions to the nation. Others recount stories of his revolutionary life. These songs are very beautiful and familiar to every Vietnamese person. Here’s one of those songs

(VOVworld) - First of all, we sincerely thank all listeners for your warm wishes on our 69th founding anniversary last week. Your wishes and sentiment for VOV are a special reward and source of motivation for the VOV staff.

September 2, 1945, was a resplendent milestone in Vietnam’s thousand years of national construction and defense. The Declaration of Independence established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, affirming the freedom and independence of Vietnamese people internationally. The Declaration laid a foundation for a Vietnamese state governed by law, striving for independence, freedom, and happiness, and guiding the revolutionary cause to build a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

(VOVworld) - Walt Davison of the UK wrote: "I was surprised to discover what a beautiful country Vietnam is, and how many tourism opportunities there are for visitors from other countries. I hope one day I may be able to visit your lovely country.

A: This week we got a lot of compliments for the music we play on our program and post on our website. Jayanta Chakrabarty of India wrote: “Once again I have enjoyed hearing Vietnamese pop music on the VOV website. I have really become a fan of Vietnamese modern pop and folk songs. The two songs entitled “Con mua tinh yeu” by Phuong Linh and Ha Anh Tuan and “Em khong can anh” by Ho Ngoc Ha were beautifully sung and have remarkable melodies. Since VOV provided an option to transfer the songs to Youtube, I have saved them in my account to hear them again in the future”.

The village of Thanh Tien has been famous for its paper flowers for over 300 years. Like the people of Hue, Thanh Tien paper flowers have a simple, delicate beauty.

(VOVworld) - I got an email from Abdelilah Boubchir of Algeria expressing his love for Vietnamese music, culture, heritage, and the way Vietnamese people maintain their authentic values. Abdelilah said he always gets a feeling of wonder when he hears the slogan at the beginning of our show. He visits our website almost every day to read the news and listen to songs.

The oldest university in Vietnam is also known as the Temple of Literature, which is about 2km west of Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi. The Temple of Literature is a rare example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in 1070 by King Ly Thanh Tong, the temple is dedicated to Confucius (Khong Tu) and honours Vietnam’s finest scholars and men of literary accomplishment. Vietnam’s first university was established here in 1076.