A: First on our show today, we’d like to say hello to Mr. Eddy Prabowo of Indonesia, who has sent regular reports on our broadcasts on the frequency of 7315 khz. In his report on the program from 01:00 to 01:27 on October 20, he rated SINPO 3443 with moderate signal strength and audio relatively noisy and wavy.
 Halloween was first introduced in Vietnam more than10 years ago (Photo: Vietnamnet.vn) |
B: Richard Nowak of the US wrote: “I enjoyed tonight’s show on 7315 khz from 0:00 to 0:27 UTC on October 22. Reception was weaker than usual. I started listening on a Knight R100 tube radio and then switched to an Icom R-75 with outdoor active loop during the Sunday show.”
A: Thank you, Mr. Prabowo and Mr. Nowak, for your reports. We’ll forward them to our technicians to improve the transmission. We’ll send you QSL cards to confirm your reports.
B: This week we received many letters and emails from members of the VOV Listeners Clubs in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. We appreciate your listening and frequent feedback on our program. VOVWORLD broadcasts programs in 13 languages around the world. Other language sections at VOVWORLD have also received a large number of reports from listeners. In some countries, they have set up Associations of Shortwave Listeners, Japan’s Association of Shortwave Listeners has around 8 million members, 10-12% of them listen to VOV.
A: Other language sections at VOVWORLD, particularly the Spanish, French, German, Thai, and Vietnamese sections have a large number of listeners around the world. The number of shortwave fans is growing despite the explosion of digital platforms. Frequent feedback from you, our dear listeners encourages us to maintain our shortwave broadcasts while continuing to expand to other platforms.
B: Dildar Ahmed Laghari of the Naseem Radio Listeners and Online Visitors Club of Pakistan listened to our broadcast from 16:00 to 16:30 UTC on the frequency of 7220 khz and rated SINPO all 4s. He wrote:”The voice is very clear. Recording device is causing noise due to radio near.”
A: Thank you, Mr, Laghari, for tuning in to our broadcast. We’ll confirm your report with a QSL card.
B: Many listeners shared their interest in Vietnamese festivals and asked about foreign festivals in Vietnam.
 Halloween draws young Vietnamese people (Photo: vietnamnet.vn) |
A: Vietnam is integrating extensively in many fields and the penetration of foreign cultures is obvious. Vietnamese people, especially young people, now celebrate a number of popular festivals of other countries like Valentine’s Day and Halloween.
B: This month, young people in Vietnam are excitedly preparing for Halloween which is celebrated on October 31st. Halloween was introduced to Vietnam about 10 years ago and has become a big hit.
A: Carved pumpkins and black-and-orange decorations are increasingly popular in Vietnam, especially in the cities. In Hanoi’s Old Quarters, Hang Ma street is Halloween central for locals and tourists. The week before Halloween, you are overwhelmed by the quantity of Halloween party items in the shops along this street: decorations masks, witch costumes, jack-or-lanterns, and candy.
 Hang Ma street, Hanoi is full of decorative items for Halloween |
B: Walking streets in the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem lake are crowded with Vietnamese shoppers and foreign tourists. If you want to see revelers wearing Halloween costumes, this is the place to be. Local cafes, bars, and restaurants are already preparing to host Halloween parties.
A: In contrast to its usual antique look, on 31 October Hoi An is vibrant with the spooky atmosphere of Halloween. Local young people and visitors from many countries will celebrate Halloween here next week.
B: In Ho Chi Minh City, two famous tourist streets called De Tham and Bui Vien are packed now with locals and foreigners, an amazing intersection of East and West.
A: Another popular place to celebrate Halloween in Ho Chi Minh City 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 are hosting 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 a Halloween costume. Most partyers just wear a mask or paint their face. Not everyone dresses up. But well-costumed characters become stars on the streets and get asked to take pictures. At coffee shops scary movies will be shown until midnight while bars and restaurants will offer special, creepy Halloween fare such as blood soup made with tomato sauce and tombstone biscuits bearing the letters R.I.P.
A: In Vietnam Halloween is strictly for fun. It has no religious meaning. But Vietnam has a event for deceased and wandering souls called Vu Lan or Wandering Souls' Day on the fullmoon day of the 7th lunar month.
B: Vu Lan 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 through the prayers of the living. Wandering Souls' Day is the best time for these prayers. Hell's gates are opened at sunset and the hungry souls fly out, returning to their family altar or wandering without shelter.
 Offerings for wandering souls during Vietnam's Wandering Souls' Day on the fullmoon day of the 7th lunar month. |
A: Families place meals for their ancestors on the altar and a tray of food is placed outdoors for the 'wandering souls' who have no relatives or whose relatives have forgotten them. Incense sticks and votive papers – representing money, clothes, and other items– are burned. After taking their offering, wandering souls continue on their way without entering the house or hanging around to disturb the owner. Wandering Souls' Day is a solemn occasion and fun activities are put on hold. Many people go to pagodas to pray for the salvation of the souls.
B: We’d like to acknowledge emails and letters from Jayanta Chakrabarty, Muralidhar M, Dilipkumar Sarkar, Bhaikan Hazarika and S B Sharma of India, and Hiroyuki Akiba of Japan.
A: Thank you all for tuning in to VOV. 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. 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. Goodbye until next time.