Hello and welcome to VOV’s Letter Box, our weekly feature dedicated to our listeners throughout the world. We are Mai Phuong and Phuong Khanh.
A: First on our show today, let’s check out the weather in Vietnam these days. April sees significantly more rain than previous months, especially towards the end of the month in the northern and southern regions. The coastal area remains ideal for swimming and other aquatic activities. The temperature has risen slightly in the north and in the central and southern parts of Vietnam stays consistently between 25 and 33 degree Celsius.
B: April is the last spring month before it starts getting hot and humid all over the country. Except for the last few days when everyone is preparing to take off for the long holiday, the month is calm and tourist attractions are less crowded than in later months.
Red cotton flowers in full bloom in April |
A: These days Hanoi still has warm weather and occasional strong winds. The weather is getting warmer but we can still enjoy some beautiful spring days. Festival season hasn’t ended yet and you may find some festivals of interest in the suburbs of Hanoi.
B: The minor increase in Hanoi's average temperature to 22-27 degrees C only makes the days more pleasant. On the other hand, Hanoi is entering its rainy season which could mean a doubling of humidity and frequency of rainy days. Hurry up and enjoy this beautiful spring before May brings weather that is much hotter and more humid.
A: These days, HCM City is already warmer and more humid than previous months because April marks the beginning of the wet season in Ho Chi Minh City. Rainfall is increasing steadily and the temperature varies between 25 and 30 DC with 72% humidity.
B: We hope this answers the weather question we received from Tjang Pak Ning of Indonesia and Fumito Hokamura of Japan.
A: This week we also received several letters and postcards from our listeners around the world.
B: We’d like to thank Robert Krolikowski of the US for sending us late Easter greetings with a beautiful Easter Card and a greeting card marking St Patrick’s Day. Thank you for all the nice wishes.
A: Using a portable Panasonic RX RS 410 radio with a three meter wire antenna, Reijo Haanpaa of Finland listened to a VOV broadcast on March 18 from 18:00 to 18:28 UTC on a frequency of 5955 with SINPO at all 5s.
B: Thanks for your report and your beautiful greeting cards. We’ll send you a QSL card to confirm your report.
A: Listeners around the world continue to report on the quality of our frequency changes. Grant Skinner of the UK listened to our broadcast on March 22 at 18:17 on a frequency of 5955 using a 49 meter band Grundig YB 400 and an antenna with an extendable rod. Despite rating SINPO at 54544, he wrote: “Your broadcast would have been nice to listen to if there wasn’t any noise to interfere with my listening”.
B: Peter Ng of Malaysia reported on a VOV broadcast on March 10 at 10UTC on a frequency of 9840 and noted some slight interference from Malaysia-RTM on 9835 Mhz in the local Malay language.
A: Paul Hayes of Ireland sent us his reception reports on VOV broadcasts on January 5th, 10th, 11th, and 27th on a frequency of 5955. He rated SINPO at all 5s and reported good reception.
B: We have also received regular reports from Richard Nowak of the US, who reported that the reception on 12005 khz was sometimes good and sometimes noisy.
A: Toshiya Nishimura of Japan sent us a detailed report on a VOV broadcast on March 23 on 12020 from the 13:00 to 13:57 UTC with SINPO at 45333.
B: We’d like to welcome Jason Hartsock of the US to VOV. Jason listened to VOV Spanish broadcast on April 17 on a frequency of 6175. He wrote: “I don’t speak Spanish so I couldn’t understand the program. However, this is my first time hearing Voice of Vietnam programming and if there is an English broadcast, I will tune in to it as soon as possible”.
A: Thank you, Jason, for your report. We’ll send you our program schedule and frequency list to make it easier to tune in to VOV’s English broadcast. Our programs are also available on the internet at www.vovworld.vn. We look forward to hearing more from you.
A: We’d like to thank you all for your feedback on our broadcasts. We’ll send you QSL cards to confirm your reports. In a letter to VOV, Fumito Hokamura of Japan asked about mountain climbing in Vietnam.
Fansipan peak |
B: Vietnam offers excellent trekking and some less strenuous walks. Generally northern Vietnam is the best hiking bet because of its dramatic mountain paths and fascinating minority culture. The scenery is often remarkable – think steep-sided highland valleys, tiers of rice paddies and soaring limestone mountains. Anything is possible, from half-day hikes to assaults on the lofty Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest mountain, which rises 3,143 meters.
A: The conquest of Vietnam’s highest mountain- Fansipan- is an aspiration of many young people and adventurers in Vietnam despite its slippery cliffs, steep slopes, and muddy roads.
B: The conquest of Fansipan starts from the entrance to Hoang Lien Son National Park, 1,800 meters above sea level. In two days and one night, climbers have to cover 16 km on a trail somewhat challenging for amateurs and tourists. The first few kilometers are relatively easy, with gentle slopes and small meandering streams. The higher you go, the more spectacular the landscape becomes, with old trees, a thick carpet of dead leaves, birdsongs, and murmuring streams. But the weather turns colder and colder, making it more and more difficult to move forward.
A: After a difficult climb, you are rewarded with the magnificent wild nature of Hoang Lien mountain and centuries-old trees. The landscape constantly changes. Here, the climbers find themselves in the middle of a vast sea of clouds.
B: The next to last stop of the ascent is at 2,800 meters above sea level, where night temperatures drop below 5 degrees. But the cold stimulates climbers, who now feel they are close to their goal. They only have 300 meters more to climb. But the final stretch is the worst difficult. It is even colder and the air is thinner. The slope is steeper and more slippery.
A: At the top of Mount Fansipan, between heaven and earth, climbers feel tiny but proud to have conquered the highest peak of Vietnam. Fatigue melts away. Anyone who reaches the summit feel ecstatic at finally touching the marker indicating an altitude of 3143 meters.
A: Though a cable car system has been set up to make it easier for tourists to reach the top of Fansipan mountain, we encourage you to climb the mountain- for the adventure and sense a personal achievement.
B: That’s all for today’s Letter Box. We welcome your feedback at: English section, Overseas Service, Radio Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. You can email us at: englishsection@vov.org.vn. You’re invited to visit us online at www.vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs. Good bye until next time.