Milky flowers in autumn in Hanoi

B: In a letter to VOV, he wrote: “Reception conditions at 11:30 UTC are good and the signal is strong but the sound quality is not so good actually. It sounds muffled, not very clear. I often listen to your Japanese broadcast but this time I listened to your English program for the first time just for fun and enjoyed it a lot. I’m fully vaccinated but still staying at home for safety. Tokyo reported its highest number of new COVID-19 cases over the past few days. I’m really worried about the spread of the virus. Stay safe.”

A: Thank you, Mr. Fujiwara, for tuning in to VOV and our English program. We appreciate your comments and will send you our frequency list and program schedule. We hope to receive more feedback from you.

B: Like Mr. Fujiwara, Mr. Motofumi Kai listened to VOV’s English broadcast for the first time on August 14 on the frequency of 12020 khz. He wrote: “This is my first reception report in 2021. I always listen to your program in Japanese, my mother tongue. Today, the reception condition of your Japanese program at 11:00 UTC was so good that I continued to listen on the same frequency and enjoyed your program in English at 11:30. I really enjoyed your music program focusing on songs to encourage people in Vietnam suffering from COVID-19. Japan is in a serious situation because of COVID. I believe that music helps in this critical time.”

A: Thank you, Mr. Kai, for listening to VOV’s English broadcast. We look forward to receiving your support for our programs which are also available on our website at vovworld.vn.

B: This week, we continued to receive a lot of letters and emails from listeners around the world. Many of you shared with us stories about the pandemic situation in your country and how people are responding to it.

A: In Vietnam, we have adopted a new strategy of flexibly adapting to the pandemic situation while resuming our economic activities.

B: The number of new infections in Vietnam is on the downtrend but still the pandemic is not completely contained. People are still asked to strictly follow recommended disease prevention measures and vaccination is being accelerated to try to reach herd immunity.

A: With this new strategy, we feel that we can see light at the end of the tunnel as some of our normal activities can now be resumed. We all hope the pandemic is contained and we can completely resume our normal life soon.

Hanoi resumes some of its normal activities after easing social distancing rules (Photo:thannien.vn)

B: Due to Covid-19, mental health problems have been on the rise around the world - depression, stress, anxiety and even suicidal homicidal tendencies.

A: The mental health issue is among the questions that our listeners have been raising in their emails.

B: In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s current pandemic epicenter, a new mental health care program has been launched.

A: The "vaccine for the mind" program will run until the end of 2022, or longer depending on how long the pandemic lasts. The program aims to improve overall mental health, and provide mental health counseling and therapy and post-Covid rehabilitation.

B: The program provides counseling to people who are experiencing anxiety, stress, or other psychological distress, but do not yet show any pathological symptoms. Help is provided through online conferences, radio sessions, and hotlines.

A: The program hopes to help 15-20 percent of people experiencing anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts. It will collaborate with the municipal Department of Health and local hospitals.

B: To rehabilitate people post-Covid, the program steers them to information about jobs, self-development and learning, and other governmental assistance programs.

A: A report by the Psychology Department of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in HCM City said people have been experiencing anxiety, stress, boredom, mood swings, insomnia, and other symptom during the social distancing period.

Vietnamese singers perform to console COVID-19 patients in field hospitals

B: This week Christer Brunström of Sweden sent us a reception report for the program on October 4 at 16:00 UTC on the frequency of 11885 khz. He said the audio quality was somewhat better but certainly not perfect.

A: Thank you, Mr. Brunström, for sending us your feedback. We’ll forward your report to our technicians and see if they can improve the broadcast quality.

B: Shivendu Paul of India, a regular listener to the Voice of Vietnam, listened to our broadcasts on September 27 and 29 and October 1 and 3 on the frequency of 7220 khz using a Grundig YB 80 receiver.

A: In his emails, he expressed his love for VOV and his interest in our program. He also asked about the Vietnamese marriage tradition.

B: Marriage traditions in Vietnam vary among its 54 ethnic groups. In today’s program, we’ll talk a little about the marriage tradition of the Raglai matriarchal ethnic minority group in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

A: When a Raglai couple decides to get married, the girl’s family decides everything. As in other matriarchal groups, women have a big role in the Raglai family and community. A bride’s family organizes all the details of her wedding and the wedding ceremony is held at her house.

While dating, a Raglai boy and girl are allowed to sleep together but not to have sex. (Photo: baotintuc.vn)

B: The girl’s family prepares a big meal and enough wine for all the villagers. The husband will live with his wife’s family, and their children will take their mother’s family name.”

A: Raglai boys and girls are free to date. Parents don’t choose their child’s marriage partner. When a boy and girl begin to date, they are allowed to sleep together but not to have sex. If they violate this rule, they are severely punished. When a boy and girl decide to marry, they inform their parents and ask for their approval. The boy’s family sends a matchmaker to the girl’s house to make a marriage proposal. 

B: The matchmaker chooses the date to visit the girl’s family. The matchmaker and the people who go with him should be well-spoken and have a thorough knowledge of the group’s customs. 

A: The boy goes with the matchmaker, bringing betel leaves, areca nuts, and a bottle of wine. If a proposal is accepted, the two families discuss their family situations and make preparations for the wedding ceremony.

B: The bride’s family declares the betrothal gifts they want. They also discuss what money the parents should give the young couple to start their own life.

A: According to Raglai custom, the bridegroom lives with his wife’s family. Their parents give them cows or buffalos and land on which to develop their own production.

B: The main wedding ceremony is held at the bride’s house, attended by their relatives and all the villagers.

A: We’re now in the first week of October, and usually, this time of the year is the beginning of the wedding season. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many wedding ceremonies are being held virtually.

(Photo: thanhnien.vn)

B: The couples hold a ceremony at home watched by their families and friends via computer.

A: Despite having a virtual ceremony, couples retain traditional marriage procedures like preparing betel leaves, areca nuts, wines, fruits, cakes, and tea for their ancestors and for the wedding ceremony. A master of ceremonies conducts the ceremony with the couple wearing their wedding costumes. At the moment the couple exchange wedding rings, everyone raises a glass to toast them via the computer screen.

B: That’s so touching. Despite the epidemic, love still triumphs over all. It doesn't matter how the wedding is organized. What matters is the love the couple feel for each other.

A: Thank you all for your feedback. We’ll forward your remarks to our technicians to see if they can improve our transmission.

B: We always 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.vn. You can also leave your comments on our website at www.vovworld.vn or on our Facebook fanpage at VOV5 English Service.  Thank you all. Stay safe and healthy. Goodbye!