 Gia Rai ethnic people perform gongs in front of their traditional house at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture. (photo: langvanhoavietnam.vn) |
B: Matt listened to VOV’s broadcast starting 11:30 UTC on June 5th. He tuned in to the frequency of 12020 kHz on the 25-meter shortwave radio band. “Reception on this frequency was very good. The signal was strong and stable, with no interference from other stations. I also heard VOV’s broadcast on the frequency of 9840 kHz but reception was much poorer.”
A: Matt said: “I appreciate your comprehensive coverage of news and current affairs from Vietnam and the region, as well as your cultural programs which provide a great insight into traditional and contemporary Vietnamese life. It has been especially interesting to hear your news coverage of the visit to Vietnam by the Australian Prime Minister.”
A: Thank you Matt Francis for sending us a detailed reception report of the news bulletin, Current Affairs on Vietnam's successful management of COVID-19, “Colorful Vietnam: Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups” about the Tay ethnic group’s worship of the Kitchen God, and “Personality of the Week” featuring a Khmer Buddhist monk in Tra Vinh province, who has launched many movements to help local people have better lives.
B: You detailed report is highly appreciated, Matt. We hope to have regular correspondence with you in the future.
 A long stilt house of the Ede (photo: langvanhoavietnam.vn) |
A: Stories about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups always draw attention of foreign listeners who are interested in the indigenous life and cultures. When we broadcast a story about Dao people protecting primary forests and living in harmony with nature, Rabisankar Bosu of India and Muhammed Saleem Akhtar of Pakistan gave their compliment for the Dao’s lifestyle.
B: Chinese listener Liu Demin said that the Colorful Vietnam segment fully and richly reflects the ethnic culture. “I find it very interesting.”
A: Christos Roussos of Greece commented on a story about the Con ball throwing of the Thai people. Christos said: “I read your article and since I’m planning to visit your country during July I would like to learn if I can somehow watch a Con ball game.”
B: Con ball throwing is a popular folk game among the Tay, Nung, Thai, and Muong ethnic groups in Vietnam’s northwestern region. The Con ball is made of cloth at the size of a tennis ball and decorated with colorful cloths stripes demonstrating the universe’s richness.
 People throw Con ball at a festival of the Tay, Nung, Thai, and Muong. (photo: baophunuthudo.vn) |
A: The game is often held on a spacious yard where they plant a 20-meter high bamboo pole. The top of the pole is tied with a bamboo ring covered with red paper that serves as the target of the game.
B: The players are divided into two teams to throw the Con through the bamboo ring at the top of the pole. Thai people consider the Con as Yang and the bamboo ring as Yin. The spiritual meaning of the game is to pray for bumper crops, all things to flourish, and the harmony of yin and yang and heaven and earth.
A: Con ball throwing is an important game during spring festivals such as Long Tong or Going to the Field, the Lunar New Year festival, and other community events. Tourists, who want to join the games with the local people, should go to the northern mountainous provinces on festive days such as National Independence Day on September 2 and New Year festivals.
 The space of the Muong at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture (photo: langvanhoa.vn) |
B: The Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture on the outskirts of Hanoi in a good option to learn about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups at any time. Besides enjoying the natural landscape, visitors can learn about the culture, lifestyle, traditional houses of 54 ethic groups as well as play their folk games such as throwing Con ball, nhay sap, swinging, and walking on one-bamboo bridge.
A: At the space of the Tay, Nung, and Thai community, visitors love to see the stilt houses, have meal with the house owners, try to weave on a loom, throw the Con ball through a ring planted at the front yard, and swing on very high bamboo swing.
B: It’s worth to take a tour of the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture surely in a day or more to have a general understanding of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.
 An overview of the Cham space at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture (photo: langvanhoa.vn) |
A: Last week we got an email from Karuna Kanta Pal of India. He wrote: “Many new things I came to know through VOV English service and from your website. I like news, Current Affairs and Letter Box program very much. Listening to VOV every day is not possible, but I’m eagerly waiting for the Letter Box.”
B: This time he wants to know something about the life style and education of young Vietnamese generation.
A: Talking about lifestyle and education of young people is time-consuming. We’d like to talk about a hot issue now in Vietnam, graduation examinations. Summer is also called examination season in Vietnam.
B: More than one million pupils have registered for the National High School Graduation Exam on June 28 with literature, mathematics, a foreign language, natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) and social sciences (history, geography, and citizen education).
A: The exam results are mainly used for high school graduation, with most universities and colleges also using the results for admission. The pressure on the high-school graduates is to continue their study at a university since securing a place in a university is considered a major step towards a successful career for young people.
B: In recent years Vietnamese pupils have more options suitable to their ability and financial conditions to study at colleges, state or private universities, tertiary cooperation programs between Vietnamese and foreign universities, or to study abroad.
A: Many universities have added new majors related to the digital era to meet students’ demands and the trend of digital transformation, such as financial technology, digital marketing, digital business, robotics, artificial intelligence, logistics, technology of physics and electronics and informatics.
B: Groups of majors most chosen by candidates last year were computer and information technology, business and management, and technical technology. There had been many new occupations in the labour market. Therefore, universities must adjust and offer digital technology-related majors to well prepare the students for their future.
A: Bidhan Chandra Sanyal of India told us that June 21 is observed worldwide as International Music Day. It’s a special day for music lovers. International observance of this day started in France with a traditional music festival called 'Fête de la Musique'. A variety of musical events are celebrated in France around this special music festival.
B: Since the beginning, many musicians from many countries participated in this festival. In 1982 this special music festival day became known as 'World Music Day'.
A: Music is a thing of the soul. Music touches people in many ways. Let's enjoy the day together.
B: Thank you all for tuning in to VOV and sending us your feedback. We welcome your letters at English Service, VOVWorld, the Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam.
A: 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: We are PK and NQ. Thank you all for listening. Goodbye!