Hello and welcome to VOV’s Letter Box, our weekly feature dedicated to our listeners throughout the world. We are Mai Phuong and Ngoc Diep
A: We are in the very last days of 2015, a memorable year for VOV. We once again organized our contest “What do you know about Vietnam” and received enthusiastic feedback from our listeners around the world. The contest held every 5 years is open to all of VOV’s foreign listeners and to Vietnamese people living abroad.
Award ceremony "What do you know about Vietnam 2015" |
B: Amir Jameel of Pakistan, a listener to the English program, won a special prize, while first prize went to John Rutledge of the US, who won a free one-week visit to Vietnam.
A: This year also marked a milestone in the development of the English Program. We officially launched our 24/7 English channel. First broadcast on October 1st, this is the first 24/7 English channel in Vietnam. It is aimed at English speaking listeners inside and outside Vietnam.
VOV launches 24/7 English Channel |
B: The program covers politics, economics, culture, society, music, and entertainment, and more. Features include News and Current Affairs, Economy, Discovery Vietnam, Doctor at Home, Food Delight, Culture Rendezvous, What’s on, Colorful Vietnam-Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic Groups, Learning English on the Radio, Learning Vietnamese, and more.
A: The 24/7 English channel is part of a project to develop VOV’s National foreign information radio channel. The 24/7 English channel will soon be broadcast in Hue, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh city.
B: Listeners overseas can listen to our English 24/7 program streaming online at www.vovworld.vn.
A: These days, all of us are eager to welcome the New Year 2016. I really love this exciting atmosphere. VOV has already begun receiving New Year’s greetings from our listeners around the world.
B: We’d like to thank Kaishuu Yamashita of Japan for a beautiful New Year’s greeting and a calendar showing Sotetsu train which is now the wall of our office.
A: Rabi Sankar Bosu of the New Horizon Radio Listeners’ Club in India shared with us his resolutions for the New Year and sent us warm greetings. He wrote: “I would like to convey my heartiest New Year Greetings to all of you at VOV’s English Service from a small village in West Bengal, India”.
B: Hari Madugula wrote: “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. Christmas brings family and friends together. It helps us appreciate the love in our lives we can often take for granted. May the true meaning of the holiday season fill your heart and home with many blessings. May the magic and the wonder of the holiday season stay with you throughout the coming year. Young Stars Radio Club, Hyderabad wishes all VOV executives and staff members a Merry Christmas and Happy New year.
E-greeting card from Jayanta Chakrabarty |
A; Sending us an e-greeting card, Mahfuz Rahman of Bangladesh wrote: “My heartfelt greetings to all of you from Bangladesh. Hope you are doing well. Please convey my regards to your colleagues. It’s my pleasures to have the opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2016. Wishing you all the best”
A: Tjang Pak Ning of Indonesia sent us a reception report on our program on December 28 at 9840 khz between 10:00 and 10:27 UTC along with his New Year greetings. He wrote: “Greetings from me in Indonesia. The year 2015 has just a few days left and then we will have the year of the monkey 2016. Let me wish you all a Happy New Year and may the coming new year bring you more joy and happiness”.
A: Thank you Tjang Pak Ning for listening to and commenting on our broadcasts over the years. We’re happy to know that in Indonesia, you also celebrate 2016 as the Year of the Monkey.
2016- Year of the Monkey |
B: In Vietnam we use the lunar calendar which is based on the changing phases of the moon. Each year is "sponsored" by one of the twelve animals of the Vietnamese zodiac: the rat comes first, then the ox or buffalo, followed in order by the tiger, cat, dragon, snake, horse, goat or ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and last, the pig. Of these animals one is mythical (the dragon) and four (rat, tiger, snake and monkey) are wild, shunning contact with humans. Seven are domesticated. Every twelve years, the sponsorship reverts to the same animal.
A: The monkey is an erratic genius. Monkeys are clever and skillful when making financial deals. They are cheerful, skillful, curious and inventive, but they may drive people away by talking too much and being contemptuous of others. Their weakness lies in their tendency to be erratic and inconsistent. The time between 3pm and 5pm is the monkey hour.
B: According to Chinese astrology, monkey people born at different times of day have different personalities and fortunes: Monkey people born in the morning usually treat others kindly and politely. They don’t like to push themselves forward. When dealing with things, they work actively to complete their work. But they regard their personal interests as more important than their work. They might give up a good job to have more time for their hobbies. So, when finding a job, they had better choose one they are interested in. Like monkeys scampering in the trees in nature, Monkey people are not steady. They are fond of social activities and circulate among many friends, but they have few intimate friends.
A: Monkey people born at noon give full play to their intelligence. They have sharp eyes and the power to predict things accurately. Monkey men are outgoing and proactive. They want to try everything and can get good results. Monkey women make great mothers and are independent and good-tempered.
B: Monkey people born in the evening are honest, loyal to friends, conscientious and often give charity to the poor. This allows them to get help from others more easily. They are persons who will finish what they start. In work, they are faithful in the performance of their duties and are appreciated by their supervisor. In fortune, they are late bloomers who often suffer in their early life but become better off in their middle years. If they learn to handle their affairs more steadily when they are young, life can be smooth for them.
A: Sending us a beautiful Christmas greeting card this week, Joseph Mulvihill of Ireland wrote: “Season greetings to all at VOV and a Happy New Year 2016. Keep up the good work”.
Greetings from Mahfuzur Rahman |
B: This week, we also received New Year greetings from Haring Heinz of Austria, Najim Uddin of India. Hermant Kumar of India, Achmad Algazadi of Indonesia, and Debakamal Hazarika of India.
A: Thank you all very much for your greetings. We also wish all of you all the very best for the New Year 2016. We hope you will keep tuning in to our broadcasts and visiting our website at www.vovworld.vn to learn more about Vietnam, its land and people.
B: Please feel free to send us your feedback. Our address is English Section, Overseas Service, Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Our email address is englishsection@vov.org.vn. Good bye until next time.