A: Spring is all over Vietnam now and it’s the peak season of festivals in our country. These days, hundreds of thousands of people are making pilgrimages to places of worship like pagodas and temples to pray for health and good luck in the new year. This may be the biggest reason most of Vietnam’s major festivals take place in the spring, right after Tet.
B: This was our answer to American listener John Moore, who wrote on February 6: “I listen to your broadcast and visit your website almost every day. Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard a lot about festivals in your country. Why do they often come in spring and can you name some big festivals in Vietnam?”
A: Thank you for writing, Mr. John. Now, we’ll try to answer your second question. The first festival the new lunar year, also the biggest and longest one in Vietnam, is the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda Festival which opens annually on the 6th of the first lunar month. It lasts through three spring months, welcoming more than 1 million pilgrims and tourists each year. Built in the late 17th century, Huong Pagoda is located 60 km from Hanoi at a historic site that has a large number of pagodas, temples and caves filled with marvelous stalactites.
B: Another major festival is the Yen Tu Pagoda Festival at Yen Tu mountain in Quang Ninh province. The event begins on the 10th day of the 1st lunar month and runs through the 3rd lunar month. Yen Tu Mountain is located about 50km from Ha Long City. The winding route of the pilgrimage from the foot of the mountain to its peak is almost 30km. On the highest peak sits the Dong Pagoda, which is more than a kilometer above sea level. The area’s natural beauty and the stunning landscape surrounding its ancient pagodas and hermitages is said to be one reason 13th century King Tran Nhan Tong renounced his throne to devote his life to Buddhism. He crowned his son heir to his empire and, after becoming a monk, founded the Truc Lam Zen sect which later made Yen Tu Vietnam’s recognized centre of Buddhism.
A: At the end of spring is the Hung Kings Festival, which takes place on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month in Phu Tho province. The festival is held annually to commemorate 18 Hung Kings who were the founders of the country and started a golden age in Vietnamese history. The Hung Kings Temple, located on Nghia Linh Mountain, is a complex of ancient tombs, monuments and temples.
B: There are a great many more spring festivals in Vietnam that we won’t be able to mention today due to time constraints. If you have time, Mr. Moore, come and enjoy some of them.
A: This week we received a very thick envelope, which contained 10 reception reports and a great postcard featuring scenes of the US city of Miami. Loyal listener Joseph Latavish wrote: “In these days of difficult economic conditions, it’s important for listeners such as myself to let you know your broadcasts on shortwave are heard and much appreciated as an important source of news and culture. I listen to VOV very often but I’m not so good at sending reception reports often. So I now have an entire set of 2011 reports. I hope it’s not too late for QSLs.”
B: Well, we’re glad to hear from you after more than a year’s hiatus, Mr. Latavish. Although you reports came late and it will take time for us to verify them, we always appreciate our listeners’ feedback. It shows that you care about us and also provides us with the information we need to improve our service. You’ll receive the verification cards. Anyway, we’re very curious to know why the date of each of your reception report matches the month. One report was dated February 2nd, another March 3rd, and so on until December 12th. Is there any story behind your idea? We find this very intriguing and look forward to your answer in the next letter, if you don’t mind.
A: A nice surprise came last week when we received letters from 2 Cuban listeners. 33-year-old Maikel Viltras Estrada wrote on December 6: “I recently listened to your station and liked it very much. I especially enjoy listening to international shortwave radio because I don’t have internet or satellite TV. I want to learn more about the culture, music, customs and news of other countries. I use an old radio set made in Russia in the 70s.”
B: Another Cuban listener, Miguel Angela Lahera emailed us: “It’s a pleasure to write to you for the first time. I hear your programs on shortwave and fortunately, the signal comes in quite well here in my country. I’m currently studying in Havana. I’ve learnt something about your country through your new stories. Thanks to your radio, I can follow the achievements of your country. I have some problems at home because of a destructive hurricane some years ago and we’re still struggling to recover from its aftermath. My radio broke down a bit but luckily, it has returned to work even though I lost the antenna. I hope to get another radio when the economy improves.”
A: It’s a great pleasure to hear from our Cuban friends. You know, Vietnamese and Cuban people share a close bond and we’re eternally grateful for Cuban support during our past struggle for national independence. We appreciate that you’ve managed to listen and write to us while trying to overcome economic difficulties largely due to the US embargo over the past half century. Be sure that we’re always on your side. Vietnam has sent experts to Cuba to help boost agricultural production and bilateral cooperation has been expanded in various other fields. Our Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is scheduled to visit Cuba in the 2nd quarter of this year. On this occasion, Vietnam will present 60 LED street lamps to Havana.
B: We’ll send you some materials from our station as a token of thanks for your interest in our broadcast, Mr. Estrada and Ms. Lahera. Mr. Estrada will also receive a CD of Vietnamese music he requested. We look forward to hearing from you again.
A: From Hamstad, Sweden, listener Christer Brunstrom reported catching our February 6 show on 5955 KHz with a SINPO of all 4s. Mr. Brunstrome wrote: “I certainly enjoy learning more about Vietnam. I’ve been a listener to VOV for a great many years. Vietnamese music is extremely pleasant. We’re currently experiencing a spell of very cold weather here in Sweden. This morning, the temperature is -13 degrees Celsius.”
B: Well, while Sweden is being hit by the cutting chill, Vietnam is also experiencing unpleasant weather. It’s been drizzling all day long. As Vietnam is a tropical country, it’s quite hard for us to imagine how cold it must be when the temperature drops below 0.
A: You’ll receive a QSL card verifying your reception of our transmission. Since you say you love Vietnamese music, don’t forget to tune in to our Saturday show to hear our weekend music session, where you can enjoy various genres of Vietnamese music, from folk to modern pop. Let us remind you that our correspondence is welcome at:
English program
Overseas Service
Radio the Voice of Vietnam
45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Or you can email us at: english section@vov.org.vn
You can visit our website at: www.vovworld.vn or www.vov5.vn to see the text or hear the recording of our programs.