A: First on our show today, we’d like to welcome Mr. Ram Babu Kumar of India to VOV English broadcasts. In a letter to VOV this week, he wrote: “All the services of the Voice of Vietnam are very good and I like your programs very much. Please add my name and address to your mailing list.”

B: Thank you very much, Mr. Kumar, for tuning in to VOV. We’ll send you a frequency list and program schedule. Our program is now available at at www.vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded shows. Check out our VOV Media App, available on both IOS and Android platforms, to hear our live broadcasts. We hope to receive more feedback from you.

A: In his email to VOV this week, President of the Metali Listeners’ Club of India Mr. Shivendu Paul, told us about India’s major celebrations this month. These include Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, the 77^th anniversary of the death of India’s great noble poet Singer Rabindranath Tegore, and Indian Independence Day on August 15.

B: Congratulations on India’s 70^th Independence Day. This year, Vietnam and India celebrate the 45th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations which were established on January 7, 1972. Bilateral ties have been steadily growing in a multitude of fields. During the Vietnam visit by Indian PM Narendra Modi last September, the two countries elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

A: The close cultural connections, the sincere friendship and the common values in independence, liberty, equality and fraternity have created a solid and long-term foundation for relations between the two nations. That is a valuable common asset that generations of Vietnamese and Indian people must treasure and promote. This year, many activities including a logo-designing contest, seminars, and visit exchanges have been held to mark the occasion.

B: Next is an email from Debakamal Hazarika of India. Listening to our broadcast on August 13, he wrote: “I have listened to your Sunday show program. I always feel pleasure to enjoy your nice program you had broadcast about mother goddess worship or Dao Mau, a very popular belief in Vietnam. I enjoyed it a lot.”

A: Writing on our website, Douglas Pepelko wrote that he is interested in a boat tour of the Red River from Hanoi.

One day tour along the Red River is popular with visitors to Hanoi

B: The one-day tour along the Red River has become popular with people eager to escape the noisy city and experience nature. The tour takes you to villages on the banks of the river, to ancient temples and to vast maize fields.

A: The tours on the Red River offer tourists several choices. They can go by boat, motorbike or even bicycle. The boat trip is the most popular,.
B: That’s right. Tourists visit 3 temples - two which are dedicated to the Mother of Goddess, and Chu Dong Tu temple. The trip also includes Bat Trang, a famous ceramic village. This relaxing tour explores cultural relics along the Red River.

A: The tour begins at 9am. After half an hour, tourists reach the first destination, Dam and Dai Lo temple. A beautiful road leads to the temples charming tourists with the peaceful beauty of a Red River delta village, amazing close to the city. After visiting the temples, tourists often have a cup of tea and enjoy local specialties like sticky rice cakes.

B: After a half - hour walk around the village, tourists are taken to Khoai Chau district to visit the Tien Dung- Chu Dong Tu temple, which sits on the Red River bank. The legendary love story of Tien Dung and Chu Dong Tu inspires many tourists.

A: Chu Dong Tu temple is associated with the Chu Dong Tu-Tien Dung legend. This place is called the temple of love because of the love story between poor Chu Dong Tu and princess Tien Dung. This is a big part of Vietnamese culture. The temple sits on in a beautiful open space.

B: Tours along the Red River have been expanded to include new destinations on the Duong river like Phat Tich pagoda and Do temple in Bac Ninh province. Tour prices range from 15 to 30 USD.

A: Next, we’d like to welcome back to VOV Mr. Jens Adolph of Germany. It has been such a long time since we last heard from you. Mr. Adolph listened to our broadcasts on July 16^th and 22^nd on the frequency of 7220 khz. He wrote: “With a relay station nearby, the reception is often more stable, but also with the direct frequencies a fair and good reception is possible. I’m a historian and freelance writer and have been using worldwide radio bands as a listener for more than 30 years.”

B: It’s great to hear from you again, Mr. Adolph. We’ll confirm your report with QSL cards.

A: Writing to VOV this week, Ms Karobi Hazarika of India expressed her delight at the Colorful Vietnam, Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic Groups segment. She wrote: “As a regular listener of your wonderful broadcasts, I would like to tell you that I’m very much enjoying listening to your programs. I heard the Colorful Vietnam, Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic Groups today and very much enjoyed listening to the story about the Paco ethnic group’s marriage ceremony. I was very pleased with today’s program and found it both informative and interesting.”

B: Thank you, Ms Hazarika. We’ll send you a QSL card to confirm your reports. We’d also like to acknowledge feedback from Masaru Sekimoto of Japan, Peter Ng of Malaysia, Jayanta Chakrabarty of India, Richard Nowak of the US, Shahinur Alam of Bangladesh, and Roy Anderson of the UK. We greatly appreciate your feedback and comments on the technical aspects of our programming. We’ll confirm your reports with QSL cards soon.

A: We welcome your feedback at: English section, Overseas Service, Radio the Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Or you can email us at: englishsection@vov.org.vn. You’re invited to visit us online at www.vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs. Check out our VOV Media App available on both IOS and Android platforms to hear our live broadcasts. We look forward to your feedback on the mobile version of vovworld.vn. Once again, thank you. Good bye until next time.