Hello and welcome to VOV’s Letter Box, our weekly feature dedicated to our listeners throughout the world. We are Kim Chi and Phuong Khanh.
A: First on our show today, we’d like to welcome Nicolo Comin of Italy. Comin first listened to VOV on July 16 on the frequency of 9730 and rated SINPO at 43424 with some inference.
B: In his reception report, he wrote: “Hello everyone at Radio the Voice of Vietnam! I send you my report listening that took place today from Italy! It was the first time that I received Radio the Voice of Vietnam and I was so excited to listen it! After some quick research on my PC, I concluded that it was really Radio Voice of Vietnam and the reception was good, also if there were some interferences (because of my makeshift antenna) but the stability of the signal was optimal. The thing I liked most was the reception of the program in Vietnamese language,though I didn’t understand”.
A: Dear Mr. Nicolo Comin. We are not so sure if you also received VOV’s English Program because you wrote to us in English and the reception was on the frequency that we broadcast and you said you liked the Vietnamese language program most. At VOV, we also broadcast in Vietnamese and other languages as well including German, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Laos, Thai, Cambodian, and Indonesian targeting listeners around the world.
B: Because this was the first time you listened to VOV, we’ll send you our frequency list and program schedule soon. We hope that you will continue tuning in to VOV. We also hope to hear more from you.
Red flamboyant flowers in Hanoi in summer |
A: On today show, we’d like to acknowledge emails and reception reports from Richard Nowak, one of many regular listeners of VOV. In his reception report for the program on Wednesday, July 13, Mr. Nowak wrote: “I enjoyed tonight’s show on 12005 kHz from 1:00 to 1:27 UTC listening with a Worldstar MG-5000A portable with its built in telescopic whip. Reception was great, 5+5+5+4=5 with the exception of many pauses in the audio. News mentioned the Vietnamese Prime Minister in Mongolia and the Romanian Prime Minister visiting Vietnam. World News was very informative touching on the big decision of The Hague to reject China’s claims on the East Sea and Australia’s comments. Great to hear these reports on such a major topic on East Sea disputes”.
B: He continued: “The great Letterbox show gave great information on the weather in Vietnam. It sounds very hot, going from 37 to 40 DC but now it seems as if Vietnam is the same temperature as Florida. Still hot! A nice song “Summer Rains” was played. The audio went silent twice during the song. Thanks for the nice show and your support of shortwave!”
A: Thank you for your detailed report. Mr Nowak. We’ll send you a QSL card to confirm your reports. Abdur Razzak, the founder President of the Sarak International Listeners’ Club of Bangladesh wrote: “I and my club members are your regular listeners. Your programs are very good. Your broadcast web page is nice”.
B: Thank you, Mr. Razzak for regularly listening to our broadcasts. We hope to receive more detailed feedback from you. Gerry Newmann of the UK closely monitors our broadcasts. Reporting on the program on Tuesday on July 12 at 17 UTC, he reported the Moonsbrumm transmitter was not on air for the English or following broadcasts”.
A: Thank you, Mr. Newmann. We’ll forward your reports to our technicians. Ratan Kunar Paul of India sent us a reception reports on VOV broadcasts from July 1 to 7th from 1600 to 1630 on the frequency of 9730. Using a SONY ICF digital, he rates SINPO at between 3 and 4 for all programs.
B: Mr. Baikan Hazarika of the Universal DX Club wrote: “I have listened your broadcast. First of all I want to say thank you to you for your amazing fantastic program. I really appreciate your program and your cooperation. In today's 'Discovery Vietnam' program, you had broadcast about Phu Quoc Island of Vietnam. This is one of major tourist destinations. This island is also famous for fish sauce and pepper. I came to know lots more about Phu Quoc island through this program. The music played in today’s show was so nice. I very much enjoyed the program. It is really very helpful for me. Keep up the great work”.
Beautiful beach in Phu Quoc |
A: Thank you. We hope that you can come to Vietnam and visit Phu Quoc sometimes. Phu Quoc island is a popular tourist destination in summer. It has the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. There you can also sample delicious seafood.
B: Phu Quoc in Kien Giang province is Vietnam’s largest island. It is blessed with beautiful scenery and rich natural resources. Visitors to Phu Quoc love its peaceful sea and long sandy beaches which distinguish it from other seaside resorts like Nha Trang and Da Nang.
A: Most hotels and resorts there are located along Bai Dai, or Long Beach, where the sea is as blue as sapphire and nature is unspoiled. America’s ABC News selected Bai Dai beach in Phu Quoc as one of the world’s 5 most beautiful and cleanest beaches. Its “Hidden beaches” list called Bai Dai a heaven of sun, water, and peaceful nature.
B: Bai Sao, or Star Beach on the island’s southeast coast is another beautiful place to enjoy the sun. Still almost unknown to tourists, this little white sand beach with it’s emerald waters is ideal for sunbathing. Bai Sao is flanked by rocky promontories jutting into the sea.
A: Kien Giang province is hosting the 2016 National Tourism Year- Phu Quoc-Mekong River Delta on the theme “Exploring the southern land”. There are more than 20 flights a day to from Ha Noi, HCM City, and Can Tho, and routes between Phu Quoc and Singapore, Cambodia, China and Russia are being established. Many international airlines have registered to open new routes to Phu Quoc this year.
A: Pure air, unspoiled nature, and improving infrastructure are making Phu Quoc a major attraction for tourists. We hope that our dear listeners can arrange your schedule and visit this beautiful island one day.
B: Next is an email from S.S.BHATTACHARYYA, President of the Chaitak Listeners’ Club in India. Listening to our broadcasts on April 10th from 1600 to 1630 UTC on the frequency 7220khz, he reported a weak SINPO.
A: On this program, we’d like to wish Mr. Bhattacharyya a very happy birthday. We wish all the best for your birthday on July 27th, and hope to receive more feedback from you.
A: Listening to our broadcast on July 15 and the story on Vietnam denouncing the terrorist attack in Nice, P.S.Sekar at the email address, pssekar76@gmail.com wrote: “Dear sir, terrorism should be completely eradicated anywhere in the world. We also condemned the activities of terrorists”.
B: Chimoy Mahato of India wrote: “I always try to listen to your program on our radio but I could not find you. But I have got so much information about VOV through the internet, your website is very attractive. We have a listeners’ club namely GUIDE INTERNATIONAL RADIO LISTENERS CLUB, WITH 65 MEMBERS. We are very interested to know about the social life, cultural life, political life, and economic life of Vietnam”.
A: Thank you, Mr. Mahato. We’ll send you a VOV frequency list and program schedule to make it easier for you to tune in to our broadcast. We welcome your feedback at: English section, Overseas Service, Radio Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. You can email us at: englishsection@vov.org.vn. You’re welcome to visit us online at vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs. Good bye until next time.