B: We had some interesting talks with the winners about their passion for shortwave radio and what they think about VOV. During their stay in Hanoi, the three listeners visited historical and cultural sites in Hanoi, Ha Long bay, a UNESCO recognized world natural heritage site in Quang Ninh province, and Trang An landscape complex, a UNESCO recognized world cultural and natural heritage site in Ninh Binh province.

The award ceremony at VOV headquarters, 58 Quan Su, Hanoi

A: John Rutledge told us that what he saw was more fantastic than what he read about. They spent an afternoon on the boat traveling on the bay to visit cast islands and caves. It was very nice and interesting. John said actually he liked Trang An more than Ha Long Bay. They were on flat river boats going around the lakes, the mountains, and under caves. He liked Trang An a little bit because it’s a little bit closer to visitors. It seems he can touch the fields, the water, the mountains, and the roof of the caves.

John Rutledge and some of VOV-English section's staff at the reward ceremony

B: John shared his experience of joining VOV’s contest with other fellow listeners and here’s his advice: “don’t give up hope.  Maybe some of you didn’t get any thing. 5 years from now, if you learn lessons and apply them, you could be in my position and good luck.”

A: Thank you John for your frank advice. I hope you and other listeners will continue supporting VOV by listening to our programs, sending us your feedback, and participating in other contests.

John visits VOV's office at 45 Ba Trieu, Hanoi

B: Alex Torbeni of Indonesia told us that he has just received VOV’s souvenir for participating in the contest. He said “I know I am not the lucky one and I am glad to receive your special souvenir.”

A: We greatly appreciate all the participants for putting so much effort and time into their entries. We hope to organize more contests for our listeners as a way to improve our relationship with the VOV audience. Alex has an interesting suggestion: “I just want to inform you that radio Havana Cuba has a philatelic stamp collecting program and each year there is a knowledge contest with a prize of Cuban stamps, mini sheet, souvenir sheet, etc. May I suggest that you plan a philatelic contest with a prize of Vietnamese philatelic items. I believe there will be many listeners interested in such a contest.”

B: It’s a good idea, Alex. We’ll take your idea into consideration when we organize our next listener contest. Now let’s read some listeners’ letters and their comments on our programs this week. From Pakistan, Amir Jameel said he was interested in Voice of Vietnam’s special reports and timely, excellent coverage regarding Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to the UN General Assembly summit and sideline meetings with leaders of other countries.

B: Amir wants to know when did Vietnam become a member of the United Nations? And does Vietnam contribute troops to UN peacekeeping missions?

Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh assigned two officials to take mission at the UN peacekeeping forces

A: Vietnam joined the United Nations in September, 1977. Over the past 38 years, the relationship between Vietnam and the UN has developed steadily and effectively. Vietnam has participated in UN policymaking mechanism as a member of the Economic and Social Council, the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Executive Board of the UN Development Program and Population Fund, the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Administration Council of the Universal Postal Union, and the International Telecommunication Union, and as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

B: Vietnam has also significantly contributed to the UN’s three pillars of peace-security, development, and human rights protection. Vietnam is a signatory of almost every international disarmament treaty including the Treaty on Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty.

A: In 2014 Vietnam officially participated in a UN peacekeeping force, sending two officers to the UN mission in South Sudan. The Vietnam Peacekeeping Center has sent more than 70 Vietnamese officials to training courses and conferences on peacekeeping operations abroad. Vietnam will contribute military medical and engineering officers to the UN missions. By now the centre has sent two officers to the South Sudan mission and three officers to the Central Africa mission. Vietnam doesn’t contribute troops to the UN peacekeeping forces.

B: From the US, Richard Novak emailed us saying that he enjoyed the show on September 28 from 2:30 to 2:57 UTC on 12005 kHz. He listened with a National NC-77X tube radio hooked up to 2.4 meters of wire going from his radio to the window. SINPO rating was 55434. Besides the news highlighting the Vietnamese President’s participation at the UN summit and sideline events, he was interested in a story entitled "Living Encyclopedia of Hanoi" and an exhibit on ethic minority groups in a northern province.

A: Rabi Sankar Bosu of India has listened and written to VOV a lot recently. He extended his warmest greetings to everyone at VOV’s English Service on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival which fell on September 27 this year. Rabi said “I have visited your website and seen all the photos celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Undoubtedly the colourful photos depict the cheerful atmosphere of Mid-Autumn festival in your country.”

B: Besides cultural news, Rabi is interested in political news and he shared his views on the relations between China and the US during the Chinese President’s US visit. “I think the first state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping comes at a very important juncture in the relations between those countries. With a population of 1.3 billion, China recently became the world’s second largest economy and is increasingly playing an important and influential role in the global economy. It is an encouraging sign that Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama are taking steps to tackle some of the hot issues that have recently strained their ties, such as cyber security and the East Sea. The leaders of the two great powers have promised to work together to preserve regional and global peace, stability, and prosperity.”

A: Thank you, Rabi, for sharing your views with VOV’s other listeners. We’re looking to receive more feedback from you soon. This week we got some complaints from listeners who said they had not received QSL cards for their reports. We are aware that a prompt receipt of verification cards inspires our listeners to tune in to our program. We apologize to those listeners who did not receive a reply for any reason. We’ve asked the people in charge of replies to resend the QSLs as soon as possible.

B: Time is up. 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.