A: This week we continued to receive letters from listeners in North America who tuned in to our broadcasts on 6175 kHz and expressed concerns that the closing of the Canadian Sackville transmitter would affect relays from Asian countries like Vietnam.
B: Ted Schuerzinger of Kingston, NY, USA, reported listening to our May 6th broadcast with a SINPO of all 5s. He said of Sackville closing: “…I’m so worried about what’s going to happen after the summer. I’d like to continue listening to the Voice of Vietnam, and have had no luck with the streaming audio of your site….I have to admit that I still prefer shortwave…”
A: In his letter dated April 23, Allan Anderson of Massachusetts in the US wrote: “…Is it time to form a union or association of the listeners of worldwide shortwave to save our hobby? It’s actually a lot more than that, and if a financial stake by those of us who can would reverse the trend of many countries ending shortwave, I think it’s worth it. For those who can’t, their voice is just as important. I would like to be part of such a venture…”
B: Dear Ted and Allan, we assure you that Voice of Vietnam has no plans to stop its shortwave broadcasting and we mentioned in our previous Letter Box that many American listeners are able to catch our broadcasts direct from Vietnam on the frequency 9840 kHz. But we appreciate Allan’s idea of establishing a union or organization to protect shortwave broadcasting.
A: In addition to shortwave broadcasts, we have tried to support our listeners by creating a website at www.vovworld.vn where they now can access our programs. You can choose to listen live or catch our programs on demand, because we’re streaming programs on the web.
B: We’re happy to have received so many detailed reception reports of our programs. While Allan Anderson said he really enjoyed our Sunday Show program on xoan singing, Ted Schuerzinger was able to note down the names of Thu Hien and Trung Duc during our weekend music session. The duo are famous for their performances of Vietnamese revolutionary songs. A: Meanwhile, in his letter dated April 26, Joseph Pecenka of Indiana, US, said he tuned in to our April 25th broadcast on 6175 kHz and was very interested in the story of the 1975 liberation of Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City that led to Vietnam’s national reunification that year.
B: From England, Allen Dean who lives in Padiham, Lancashire, wrote: “..I continue to hear you regularly and am pleased to say that after the recent frequency changes, you are being heard well at 17:00 UTC on 9625 kHz. Your programs continue to be of great interest because they give a really good insight into life and events in Vietnam...This is exactly what international shortwave broadcasting is all about, long may it continue…”
A: Also from Lancashire in England, Mick Horsfield reported listening to us at 19:00 UTC on 9730 kHz. He informed us of a new address, as he just moved to a new house in rural Preston, Lancashire which he said is most likely the cause of his poor reception.
B: Dear Allen and Mick, thank you very much for your interests in our programs, we’ll send you our QSL cards to acknowledge your reception reports. Right now, let’s take a short break before we continue with more letters and emails from our listeners around the world.
A song
A: From Sweden, regular listener Christer Brunstrom emailed us and said he’ll spend much more time listening to us during May after traveling quite a lot in April. He was interested in our report on corruption, which is a serious problem in Vietnam now, and asked what is being done to improve the situation?
B: The Vietnamese government is doing its best to fight corruption by any means. It is seeking any possible measures for administrative reform at all levels to help create transparent administration and society.
A: As part of this effort, a website on fighting corruption was launched early this month, serving as an information bridge between the Party, State and people. The website is the official voice of the Central Steering Committee on fighting corruption, carrying viewpoints and policies of the Party and State laws to officials, Party members and the public.
B: It also provides accurate and timely information on fighting corruption across the country and encourages people to join in the effort.
A: This week we also received letters from Japanese listeners. Nishizawa Kazuhiro of Shiga, Japan, reported listening to our April 27th broadcast from 11:30 to 11:57 UTC on 12020 kHz.
B: Mitsunori Kawazoe of Tsushi, Japan, in an email sent to us on May 3rd said: From listening to the “Letter Box” I know many Japanese listeners send letters or reception reports to the English section…. Meanwhile Toshiya Nishimura of Fukuiken said he was excited and proud to hear a report on a Japanese person who strove for bilateral ties between Vietnam and Japan. He also expressed his wish to deepen his understanding of Vietnam by listening to VOV broadcasts.
A: From Kerala, India, Brijesh emailed us for the first time on May 8th and said he was very interested in listening to VOV broadcasts, especially the news reports and the Letter Box.
B: Dear Brijesh, a QSL card to confirm your reception report along with frequency list and program guide are on their way to you now.
A: We also received letters and emails from listeners in India, Bangladesh, and many other countries around the world. Thank you so much for keeping in touch with us. We look forward to receiving more comments and suggestions from you. Our contact address is:
The English program
Overseas Service
Radio Voice of Vietnam
45 Ba Trieu street
Hanoi, Vietnam
A: Or you can email us at: englishsection@vov.org.vn.