B: Like other shortwave clubs, the Pak Listeners Club has interesting activities to promote the Dx’ing hobby, radio stations, and cultures. Mr. Asher told us that his club set up a program to introduce VOV station to new listeners and students. In this program they will devote a week from January 10 to 16 next year to radio activities and an exhibition. At this exhibition the club will show materials received from different radio services and the stamps and currency of many countries.

A: That’s a great idea. We’ll send you some tourism books and souvenirs of Vietnam to display at your exhibition. We hope to hear more about your club and receive regular feedback from your listeners.

A photo of the members of a new section in the International DX Radio Listeners Club in Murshidibad, India, Najim Uddin, President. They are called the Student and Sports Club (photo: facebook The Sound Kitchen)

B: Najim Uddin, President of the International DX Radio Listeners Club, once told me that his club has sponsored many social activities, like the “Healthy hand wash” for school children to reduce the spread of diseases by unclean hands. Other clubs have organized mobile libraries in remote areas, purchased school supplies for children, and cleaned up the environment.

A: We invite you to send us information and photos of your club’s activities and share your accomplishments with other Dx’ers. Last week the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang city drew leaders of the 21 APEC member economies and the CEOs of global groups. They discussed large economic and social issues which directly impact people’s lives in the technological revolution: the future of jobs, people’s fear of robots replacing humans, the role of job creators, trade liberalization, and value chains as a path to prosperity, and more.

VOV staff at the APEC Economic Leaders' Week

B: VOV’s listeners provided feedback about VOV’s stories on the APEC CEO summit, bilateral meetings of state leaders and business representatives, and sideline events. Richard Nowak wrote: “It was a week full of big international events in Vietnam. Chinese President Xi delivered speeches at the APEC Summit and 300 Chinese business leaders attended APEC. Current Affairs discussed the Chinese President’s state visit to Vietnam and his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. They agreed to settle disputes peacefully. Other major news included US President Donald Trump’s speech at the APEC summit offering a commitment to increase ties and work with Vietnam.”

In VOV's mobile radio room

A: Richard commented: “I enjoyed the show on the 2017 APEC Leaders Week in Da Nang. It was a very important week and it’s good for the leaders to meet each other in person and develop relations. Thanks for the show and your support of shortwave!”

B: From Malaysia, Timm Breyel told us that VOV was heard on the frequency of 12.020 khz on November 8 under good conditions in the Kuala Lumpur area. “I particularly enjoyed the Letter Box report on Muslims and mosques in Vietnam. I found it enlightening and informative. I knew the Cham community lived in Vietnam, but was unaware of the mosques and halal restaurants in Vietnam. Thank you for sharing this fascinating aspect of Vietnam’s culture.”

A: Robert Krolikowski of the US sent us a Halloween postcard. It arrived at our office 2 weeks after Halloween. Many of our listeners asked “Do Vietnamese celebrate Halloween?”. The answer is yes. Although it is a typically Western tradition, many Vietnamese enjoy Halloween parties. In the past decade, Halloween has been introduced to Vietnam and become a celebration with its very own unique version that excites many tourists who visit Vietnam in late October.

B: Carved pumpkins and black-and-orange decorations are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam, especially in the cities. Parties are held in tourists areas like Hanoi’s Old Quarters, usually in cafes, bars and restaurants frequented by foreigners. In Ho Chi Minh City, late last month, De Tham and Bui Vien, two famous tourists streets, are packed with locals and foreigners. It’s an amazing cultural intersection of East and West.

A: Another popular place to celebrate Halloween in Saigon is Nguyen Hue walking street. This is a more kid-friendly scene with festive decorations and lights. Dam Sen Park, the Phu My Hung residential area, and many hotels and shopping malls host concerts, trick-or treat activities, and costume contests.

B: Young people are the most enthusiastic. The most popular feature of Halloween, of course, is wearing Halloween costumes. Most partyers will just wear a mask or paint their face. Not everyone dresses up. Well-dressed characters will be the stars on the streets and get asked to take pictures. At coffee shops scary movies are often played until midnight while bars and restaurants offer appealing Halloween deals with uniquely scary, creepy dishes such as blood soup made by tomato and musk sticks or Tombstoned biscuits with the engraved R.I.P letters.

A: Halloween was introduced to Vietnam in a touristy way, it’s merely for fun, not religious purposes. In Vietnam we have a similar ceremony for the deceased and wandering souls called Vu Lan or Wandering Souls' Day on the fullmoon of the 7^th lunar month.

B: It is celebrated by all Vietnamese. When a person dies it is believed their soul goes to hell where it is judged and, depending on the person's behavior on earth, is sent to heaven or kept in hell. Souls in hell can gain release by the prayers of the living. Wandering Souls' Day is the best time for these rituals. Hell's gates are opened at sunset and the hungry souls fly out, returning to the family altars or nowhere to shelter.

A: Families prepare meals for the ancestors on the altar and tray of food placed outdoor for 'wandering souls'. Incense sticks and votive papers – money, clothes, and necessities – are burned. The outdoor food is for the 'wandering souls' who have no relatives, or whose relatives have forgotten them. After taking the offering, they will continue to travel, neither entering the house nor hanging around to disturb the owner. The Wandering Souls' Day is a solemn ritual and there are no entertainment activities. People also go to pagodas to pray for the salvation of the souls.

B: Time is up for today’s program. We welcome your feedback at: English section, Overseas Service, Radio 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. Check out our VOV Media App available on both 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. Good bye until next time.