 Thank you Anand Mohan Bain, the President of Pariwar Bandhu SWL Club in India |
B: To all the women who have made a difference in our lives: Happy Women's Day!
A: Bidhan Chandra Sanyal of India reminded us that International Women's Day is a global event that celebrates women's achievements, struggles, and ongoing fight for gender equality.
B: He wrote: “This year the International Women's Day celebration will focus on the theme ‘Count her in. Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress’. According to UN Women, "The world is facing many crises, from geopolitical conflicts to rising poverty levels and the growing effects of climate change. These challenges can only be addressed through solutions that empower women. By investing in women, we can initiate change and can accelerate the transition to a healthier, safer and more equal world for all."
A: We’d like to share his wish for all women: “May this beautiful world become more beautiful on the basis of equal rights and dignity for women and men! Happy International Women's Day!”
B: Sanyal also said: “I would be very happy if you could shed some light on the current position of women in your country.”
 People wear ao dai at office during Ao Dai Week to celebrate International Women's Day |
A: Vietnam is one of the world’s leading countries for women in politics, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. According to the Ministry’s report on Vietnam’s achievements in gender equality in 2022, 30 per cent of the current National Assembly’s deputies are female, 3.5 percentage points more than in the previous term.
B: A recent survey by the Ministry of Planning and Investment shows that Vietnam is one of the most favorable markets for female entrepreneurs, with one of the most effective networks of women-owned enterprises in ASEAN.
A: A study of women-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam released in January showed that, during the 2012-2022 period, the number of women-owned SMEs grew at an average annual rate of 2%, faster than the average growth rate of the business sector.
B: The report, titled "Facilitating Entrepreneurship Growth by Lifting Barriers: a White Book on Women-owned Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises in Vietnam", was developed by the Asian Development Bank in partnership with the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
A: SMEs account for 98% of Vietnamese businesses, of which 20% are owned by women. This has enhanced the status of women and increased the investment in health and education for children, especially girls. Most women-owned businesses are small.
 People wear ao dai to match along streets during Ao Dai Week 2024 |
B: There are 1,000 businesses in Da Nang city that were started by women. They have generated jobs for many thousands of women.
A: Cao Thi Lua started a business called Honey House to make sweetened turmeric and ginger products in Da Nang city in 2017. She has contracted with farmers in Quang Nam, Quang Binh, and several Central Highlands provinces to buy their fresh turmeric and ginger for turmeric jam, turmeric powder, turmeric starch, honey turmeric pellets, ginger jam, and many more products.
B: Lua's products now have stable outlets, including retail and wholesale dealers. She earns about 500,000 USD a year selling a ton of turmeric starch (equivalent to 20 tons of fresh turmeric root) and 3 tons of ginger jam (about 6 tons of fresh ginger).
“We combine machine and manual work. We contract with female farmers and buy their products wholesale. Thanks to help from the Women's Union at all levels, our products have become known in the market. We plan to diversify our products and generate more jobs for women,” said Lua.
A: Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhung of Cam Le ward borrowed 4,000 USD from the Bank for Social Policy to build a factory and buy equipment to produce green bean cakes. Her business hires many local women, who earn an average of 400 USD per month.
B: Le Thi Minh Tu, who works at Nhung’s factory, says she was a freelance trader with an unstable income. Now her life has improved.
“The work here gives me a stable income, enough to afford a family. We receive bonuses and gifts on the New Year holiday and other occasions. We feel secure in our jobs here," said Tu.
A: You’re listening to the Letter Box on VOV. We’re talking about International Women’s Day and some micro- and small businesses run by women, which provide jobs for thousands of other women.
 Women in Dien Bien province celebrate Dien Bien Phu victory on May 7, 2024. |
B: We received a lot of emails from our listeners this week. Najimuddin, a member of the International DX Listeners Club in West Bengal, India, submitted a reception report for our program on March 3 on the frequency of 7220 kHz. He used a Grundig YB 80 receiver with a telescopic rod antenna. He said the signal was good, with SINPO at 44343.
A: Thank you, Najimuddin, for the attached recording file, which shows us how the signal was received at your place. Najimuddin commented: “The world news and commentary, especially on the Middle East, is always my favorite, with reliable information.”
B: Ding Lu, a listener in Jiangsu province, China, received VOV’s English program on the frequency of 9840 kHz. The signal was very strong and the listening was very clear, he said.
A: Richard Lemke is a member of the Canadian International DX Club in Alberta province, Canada. The ‘60-year-young’ man said he has been a shortwave hobbyist since 1982 and has been on his shortwave journey for more than 40 years. He listens to VOV’s English program regularly and this week he sent a reception report for February 28 on 11885 kHz.
B: Donny Darryl Ramsoondar of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,
West Indies, introduced himself as an Attorney-at-Law-to-be/Technologist who is very keen to learn about Vietnam and its customs and many ethnicities.
A: He said he tried to stream VOV online but it was not streaming at all. He asked if VOV still broadcasts on the shortwave band to the Americas? Also does VOV still issue QSL cards and stickers and memorabilia?
B: Thank you very much for your questions, which were also asked by other listeners. On vovworld.vn, we stream two channels. As you see on our website, the banner “Radio Listen Live” streams a local channel on 105.5 MHz which has programs in Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Japanese, and many other languages from 7:00 to 21:00 local time.
A: The other banner, “VOV24/7”, streams our English program on 104 MHz from 6:00 to midnight local time. So maybe you streamed our channel without hearing anything because it was outside the regular broadcast time.
B: VOV has stopped broadcasting to the north and central America. But you can listen to us daily online on “Programs of the Week”. You can also download our VOV Media app to listen to our programs broadcast overseas and in Vietnam for foreigners in Vietnam. We hope you’ll continue to follow Voice of Vietnam to get up-to-date information about VN and the world.
A: Muhammad Aqeel Bashir of Pakistan tuned in to VOV’s English program on February 29th on the frequency of 9840 kHz. The signal was good, with SIO rated 545.
A: Mr. Bashir told us: “February 29 is very special because this day will only come again after four years. Please verify the reception report I’m sending you today and issue a QSL card for it. Thank you so much.”
B: You surely will receive a QSL card verifying your listening on Leap Day, February 29, 2024. We’ll also send QSL cards for all other reception reports.
A: 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.vn. Once again, thank you all for listening to VOV and visiting our website. Goodbye!