B: The only thing I can say for now is please keep calm and don’t be disappointed if you haven’t yet received a gift. It may have gotten stuck somewhere on the way to your home. It’s been three weeks since we sent the gifts so people in other countries should receive them soon.

A: There were no complaints from listeners in the US or Europe. Some listeners in India, China, or Africa advised us to send them materials only by Registered Post. An Indian Dx’er wrote: “As I informed you earlier, now I repeat again, if VOV promotional materials are sent by Ordinary Post, they will be grabbed by dishonest postal employees in the name of customs checking.”

Milky flower blooming signals the autumn in Hanoi

B: It’s a pity to know that. We’ll remember your warning whenever we send letters or packages to problematic places. Now let’s check the reports we receive this week. Juan Carlos Gil of Spain emailed us saying he can hear VOV’s program to Europe quite well. He sent us reports on several programs in March and April and said the overall signal on 9625 khz was good.

A: Although the reports were sent to us long after the reception dates, we appreciate your enthusiasm and will verify them soon. Mr. Gil said he enjoyed the programs on Vietnam’s history, tradition, and culture. Our reports on Vietnam’s celebration of International Women’s Day, our weekend music show in praise of women, and activities to promote Vietnamese literature abroad were interesting, he said.

Milky flowers and its fragrance have an endless inspiration for creative minds

B: Most of our foreign listeners have told us they want to hear about Vietnam’s history, society, and culture, which are rarely discussed on their local media. Ratan Kumar Paul of India said members of his Dx’ing Club enjoy VOV’s program every day. “On October 1 we enjoyed the world news and a Current Affairs report on the Vietnam-Singapore industrial zone VSIP. We enjoyed very much the Discovery Vietnam about the Sing village in Thua Thien-Hue province and its 400-year-old folk painting craft. The song about Hue city was very charming.”

A: Thank you Ratan Kumar Paul and other Dx’ers in your Club, for listening and sending feedback to VOV. You’ll receive our QSL soon. VOV has just launched a new English program on 104FM from 6am to midnight, 7 days a week. It targets foreign listeners, overseas Vietnamese, English-speaking Vietnamese, and the foreign community in Vietnam. People abroad can listen to this program on our website at vovworld.vn.

VOV 24/7 on radio channel 104 FM is available on vovworld.vn

A: 24/7 is a fresh new information channel about Vietnam’s politics, economics, culture, society, music, and entertainment. We’ll present an in-depth look at the activities of Vietnamese and foreigners living in Vietnam. Our “That’s life” feature spotlights social life in Vietnam, particularly of young people and foreigners. “What’s on” is our daily tip on what to do and where to go in Vietnam for entertainment. Culture Rendezvous covers activities promoting foreign cultures in Vietnam. Every day we will have two commentaries on hot issues in Vietnam or the world. We will also begin two radio series on learning Vietnamese and English.

B: We invite you to share social and cultural stories about your country with other listeners. Please visit our website to listen to VOV24/7 and give us your feedback. We received letters this week from Nguyen Van Hao of Ho Chi Minh City and Nguyen Van Ka, who said they’re very interested in our website and regularly listen to VOV’s audio programs. Hao said “This is a helpful website for improving my English listening skill”.

A: We’re glad to hear from Hao and Ka. All news items and stories are posted on our website. If you want the scripts of news or feature stories in both English and Vietnamese, please search our website at vovworld.vn. Now you can enjoy the English-learning series “Obla-air” with native English speakers on VOV24/7. We’re looking to receiving your feedback soon.

B: From Japan, Toshiya Nishimura emailed us saying that he listened to our program on September 23 on 12020khz. He used a Sony ICF-SW7600GR and received our radio signal on the 11^th floor of his apartment building in Hiroshima-ken. He rated SINPO at 44333 and noted increasing noise lately. Maybe it’s because of the seasonal change.

A: You maybe right. We’re going to change our frequency for winter broadcast. We’ll inform you as soon as we receive further information. Future broadcasts will, we hope, be better. Thank you, Toshiya. We’ll verify your report.

Happy Vietnamese Women's Day October 10

B: Vietnamese women will celebrate National Women’s Day on October 20^th. So in addition to International Women’s Day on March 8^th, Vietnamese women will have a second day that honors their merits in the family and their contribution to society.

A: Vietnam Women’s Day is one of several occasions on which society shows their love and respect for Vietnamese women. This is not a public holiday but Vietnam Women’s Day is celebrated grandly throughout the country. On this day, women receive roses, greeting cards, gifts, and best wishes from their lovers, husbands, male colleagues, friends, and relatives. Organizations throw parties to honor their female employees and promote unity.

B: Isn’t it unfair to men, who have no celebration day just for them?

A: Oh no. They have all the other days of the year. I’m joking, of course. But the celebration is not about gifts. Its aim is to raise social awareness of gender equality and acknowledge women’s role in family and society.

B: I agree. It’s a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic, or political. The first Vietnam Women's Day was on the anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s Union on October 20, 1930. Since then, Vietnam Women's Day and International Women’s Day have become rallying points in building support for women's rights and participation in the political and economic arena.

A: Time is up on VOV. Remember that you can listen to this program again on our website at www.vovworld.vn. Please send your feedback to: English section, Overseas Service, Radio Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Our email address is englishsection@vov.org.vn. Good bye until next time.