B: We acknowledge a reception report from John Zachary Alvarez of the Philippines. He received VOV’s English program on 12020 kHz at 11H30 UTC. He wrote: “I'm very happy to listening to VOV5 English Section since 2020, because it is the best informed about Vietnam, and music. My signal reception on this frequency of English Section was excellent condition but slightly adjacent or nearby frequencies interference.”
A: M Saleem Akhtar Chadhar of Pakistan told us that he and his club members are listening to VOV’s programs daily. Reception quality on 7220khz is always good and excellent.
B: Shivendu Paul of West Bengal, India, is a regular listener of Voice of Vietnam. He tuned in to our program on November 26th and 30th and December 3rd and 5th. He reported moderate reception on 7220KHz on his Grundig YB 80 receiver.
A: We’d like to acknowledge letters and comments from Fumito Hokamura of Japan, Sanil Deep, Rasheed Naz of India, and Chinmoy Mahato of India, Saleem Akhtar Chadhar of Pakistan, and other listeners who sent us emails or posted comments on our Facebook fanpage, VOV5 English Service.
B: Fumito Hokamura of Japan sent us reception reports for October 13th and 26th. He said he is very interested in Vietnamese food, culture, and folk songs. At the end of the year, it seems, there is an increase in art programs in Vietnam featuring traditional cuisine, culture, and folk arts.
A: Festivals, exhibitions, concerts, and fashion shows are booming in the last months of 2022 after two years of COVID-19 pandemic when all public entertainment activities were shut down.
 Diplomats and their families join a contest of making Banh Xeo at the International Food Festival. (photo: baoquocte.vn) |
B: Last Sunday the 10th International Food Festival, an annual event held by the Service Department of the Diplomatic Corps since 2014, took place in Hanoi, showing off dishes from many different cultures.
A: There were over 100 stalls operated by 35 foreign embassies, agencies, and units and representatives of localities across Vietnam. The annual cultural exchange program promotes mutual understanding between nations and introduces Vietnam’s culinary culture to international friends. It also raises money to support orphans, people with disabilities, and disadvantaged women.
 Pakistani chefs make their traditional cakes. (photo: VNA) |
B: The 2nd Ho Zo International Music Festival, themed “Bringing the world and Vietnam closer together”, was held in Ho Chi Minh City last week, featuring 250 artists from the Republic of Korea, the UK, France, Spain, India, the US, and Vietnam.
A: Held on the popular Nguyen Hue pedestrian mall in Ho Chi Minh City, the show is a follow-up to the 1st Ho Zo Festival held in 2019. It was this year’s biggest music festival in Ho Chi Minh City, which has been working hard to develop the local music and tourism industries.
 A booth introduces varieties of Vietnamese tea. |
B: On December 31, New Year’s Eve, Ho Chi Minh City will have a music countdown party on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, featuring a lineup of famous Vietnamese singers and rappers.
A: There will be a 15-minute fireworks display, and 19 flower fairs, flower streets, and other events will be held across the city to celebrate Ho Chi Minh City as a dynamic city full of love and kindness.
B: Lass week some of our listeners commented on a piece of news news about a Tet charity program for the poor in Vietnam. They want to know who carries out these charity programs.
B: Tet is the most important annual event in Vietnam. It’s a time for people to temporarily set aside their worries and reunite with their families, relatives, and friends.
A: But Tet is not just about family reunions. It’s also an occasion for the more fortunate in society to share the difficulties of the less fortunate and help them enjoy a happy and sufficient Tet holiday. Charity activities are organized by government agencies, businesses, social organizations, and individuals.
B: The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor provides a support package of 21.3 million USD to help approximately 1 million union members who are in difficult circumstances.
Phan Van Anh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, said: “The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor is committed to carrying out a Tet support program, whose recipients are employees who are in difficult circumstances. Workers who display hard work and initiative and who could use a little financial help also receive Tet gifts.”
A: A program called "Together to make Tet" will distribute 8,000 Tet gifts to workers across Vietnam in early January, two weeks before the Lunar New Year Festival. The program is sponsored by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (SABECO), and the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union. Gifts of cash and kind worth about 240,000 USD will be given to workers in 11 provinces and cities.
B: Months before Tet, businesses in Ho Chi Minh City announced free bus rides for workers going home to celebrate Tet. The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Commercial Cooperatives will launch a program called "Happy car ride - Going home with Saigon Co.op to celebrate Tet".
A: Workers in difficult circumstances will receive Tet gifts, a free bus ticket, and free meals during the journey home. The eligible workers are those from a poor family (with a certificate) who have not returned to their hometown to celebrate Tet for at least 2 years. The program will operate buses from Ho Chi Minh City to 22 other provinces and cities.
B: A charity program called “Warm winter in Son La" brought health and joy to ethnic people in Van Ho district, Son La province, last month. During the three-day event, doctors from Dong Do Hospital and volunteers provided free medical examinations, treatment, and medicine to 300 villagers.
A: The program donated TV sets to five schools and provided 100 gifts, including blankets, warm clothes, boots, socks, and dental care to ethnic and minority students.
B: At the end of the year many more social programs will be carried out in a spirit of “the haves helping the haves-not”.
A: That concludes today’s program. We welcome your feedback at: English Service, VOVWorld, the Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Or you can email us at: englishsection@vov.vn. You’re invited to visit us online at vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs.
B: Check out our VOV Media App, available on both the 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 all for listening. Goodbye.