A: As of Wednesday, Vietnam had confirmed that 10 people were infected with the new coronavirus. Since then, a person in Vinh Phuc province has tested positive for nCoV. The 42-year-old female patient is receiving treatment at the quarantine area of Binh Xuyen district’s medical centre and is in stable condition.
B: Three of the patients were released after doctors confirmed they were free of the virus. Vietnam has so far reported 304 suspected cases. 214 tested negative for the virus and 90 are in quarantine while samples undergo testing.
 Quarantine area |
A: Schools across Vietnam have allowed students to stay at home for a week. Localities can decide how long local schools should remain closed.
B: Field hospitals have been set up to quarantine and treat coronavirus infected people. Hanoi will build two field hospitals on the outskirts to quarantine some 950 Vietnamese people returning from China. The quarantine will last 14 days. Individuals who have a fever or other symptoms of nCoV infection will be transferred to specialized hospitals for treatment.
A: Two field hospitals with 500 beds are being built in Cu Chi and Nha Be district to stand by in case nCov in affected people in HCMC exceed the capacity of the isolation wards of local hospitals. The field hospitals will be completed before February 15.
B: Vietnamese provinces, particularly localities bordering China, have imposed measures to prevent the spread of virus. Companies, industrial parks, and economic zones in Vietnam have been asked to stop receiving Chinese workers returning from infected areas in China following the Lunar New Year holiday and anyone else arriving from nCov infected areas. Individuals who have already entered in Vietnam must be quarantined and monitored for 14 days. Industrial parks, processing zones, and economic zones across Vietnam have stopped issuing work permits to foreigners from infected areas.
A: We hope the precautions of administrative agencies and people’s awareness of self-protection will keep us safe and healthy. Meanwhile, radio broadcasters are gearing up for the coming World Radio Day celebration.
B: Many of our listeners have told us that their DX’ing Clubs will celebrate the event with workshops, exhibitions, and introductions of shortwave radio to pupils. Saleem Akhtar Chadhar, President of VOV Seven Stars Radio of Pakistan, told us that he is a teacher by profession. He enthusiastically promotes VOV’s English Service to his students and colleagues as well as to the people in his village.
A: Saleem said: “Every year on World Radio Day, my club arranges a meeting and a radio exhibition to promote the radio stations and programs of many countries. We give gifts to the most active listeners and to new listeners. These gifts are radio materials and souvenirs. Last year our club ranked third among radio listeners’ clubs in online radio exhibitions.”
B: Mahesh Jain of India told us: ‘We will celebrate World Radio Day on the 13th of February. We cherish every moment of the past years with VOV’s programs and broadcasts. But I don't know how to react on this day...it is a kind of a mixed bag... happiness and agony. Because many radio stations are now gradually leaving radio particularly shortwave. I think radio belongs to the masses and not to classes who can afford the price of data and internet services. There are lots of places on earth where internet access is still a dream. And where it is available, it is still very expensive, while the quality is very poor. So radio stations who claim to be leaving shortwave because it is all available on the internet are taking nonsense.”
A: Mahesh also wrote: “Another challenge is posed by tyrannical rulers around the world who can block the internet or shut down any website. This can be seen here in India. So how can it be claimed that the internet is the best way to disseminate news, current affairs, and information?”
B: He added: “I’m happy that VOV is still with us and hope it will remain with us always.”
A: VOV will continue to broadcast as long as we have shortwave enthusiasts like you. This week we acknowledge a letter from Hayato Furukawa of Japan, who turned in to our program on January 15 on 12020khz.
B: Carlo Prazzoli of Italy tuned in to our program on January 7th on the frequency of 7285khz. He rated SINPO 3444, saying the frequency had no interference. He said 9730khz also had a strong signal.”
A: Sandro Blatter of Switzerland said radio listening has been his favorite hobby for more than 45 years. He sent us a reception report for a program on December 31. He wrote: “It’s hard to catch the English program direct from Vietnam. So I prefer the night program via a transmitter in the US. The frequency of 7315khz has interference, but it is stronger. The interference is from a transmitter in China on the same frequency.”
B: I’m reading a letter from Peter Ng of Malaysia. He heard our program on January 5th on 12020khz. The reception was excellent and strong at his listening post in Johor Bahru in southern Malaysia, Peter said. He used a Sony ICF SW40 with a rod antenna to log this broadcast from Hanoi.
A: Larry Grabow of Walnut Creek, California, in the US listened to VOV’s English program on January 11 on 9840khz. He rated SINPO at all 3s. Larry told us: “I enjoy listening to your program whenever I have the chance. I volunteer for a group of parents who have lost children. My co-facilitator is leaving for Vietnam with his wife. I’ll be eager to hear from him when he returns. He is taking a trip on the Mekong River amongst other travel adventures. I’m glad that relations have improved over the years between our two countries, especially among ordinary citizens.”
 Vietnam welcomes about 18 million foreign tourists in 2019. |
B: Yes, things have totally changed from the past. If you’re an American looking to travel in Vietnam, don’t worry about getting a frosty reception because of the legacy of the war. You’ll receive a warm reception that will soon make you feel right at home.
A: Last year Vietnam welcomed over 18 million foreign tourists, the highest number ever, exceeding the previous year by 16 percent. Tourists from Asia made up nearly 80% of the total. The rest were from European countries, the US, and African countries.
B: According to the Vietnam General Administration of Tourism, from 2014 to 2018 the number of Americans coming to Vietnam increased nearly 12% annually. 83% of them came as tourists, 10% came on business trips, and 7% were visiting family or friends.
A: The US Tour Operators Association (USTOA) says Vietnam was one of the hottest destinations for US travelers last year. Vietnam country ranks fourth in the list of trending destinations for Americans to visit based on a survey of tour bookings for 2019 conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, a global assurance, tax and advisory services company, and tour operator members of USTOA.
B: Thank you all for your reports and feedback. We’ll send you QSL cards to confirm. 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.org.vn. You’re invited to visit us online at vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs.
A: Check out our VOV Media App, available on both the IOS and Android platform 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.