The Seventh National Children’s Forum opens under the theme of “Children participate in building a safe, friendly and healthy living environment for children” (Photo: VOV)

B: We’re very happy to receive your feedback on our programs which include reception reports, comments on the programs and stories about Vietnam, its land and people, and some suggestions to improve our programs.

A: Many of our listeners also share with us stories about their country’s festivals, tradition, culture, and people, giving us and VOV listeners a better understanding of the world.

B: We highly appreciate listeners’ sharing about their love for Vietnam and VOV in particular.

A: Joan Coba Femenia of Spain wrote: “I regularly listen to your program. The quality of the programs is quite good. VOV has accompanied me and I really enjoy the program.”

B: From Bolivia, Mario Muñoz Mendoza commented on National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s visit to Iran: “The visit marked a new milestone for the two countries to boost their development. Iran can supply oil and derivatives while Vietnam has an important source of medicinal materials, which is very necessary for Iran, and this is beneficial for both peoples.”

A: Juan Diez of Spain shared with us his interest in the story about Vietnam Children Forum 2023. “Children, the future of mankind, must grow in the best material and pedagogical environment. It is to create future generations who are fully educated as following the thought of President Ho Chi Minh.”

B: Thank you, Joan Coba Femenia, Mario Muñoz Mendoza, and Juan Diez for sending feedback to our broadcasts. The seventh National Children’s Forum has recently been held in Hanoi drawing nearly 200 children representing 25 million peers across the country. Highlighting Vietnam’s special attention for children and their development, Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Nga said: “The Vietnamese Party, State, Government and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs have paid special attention to and adopted several policies to ensure a safe and healthy living environment for children, which have been effectively implemented nationwide. Basically, Vietnamese children have been living in an increasingly safer environment, with better learning and playing conditions.”

Vietnam creates conditions for comprehensive growth of children

A: In a related development, at least 50 million children's opinions on the issues of concern to them will be raised through activities of teenager and youth unions by 2027.

B: This is part of a project of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee aiming to promote children’s rights to the participation in child-related matters for 2023-2027.

A: Through the project, children will partake in exchanges, share experience, and learn about their rights and obligations, thus raising their self-awareness and sense of responsibility.

B: Sanil Deep, our long-time listener of India, wrote: “As a longtime listener who has been listening to your English program since 1980, I would like to thank you for providing the latest information through your various programs. I’m still enjoying the program Saturday music section and Sunday show in which so many beautiful songs are played.  Some of my favorite programs are the Village Life segment and Discovery Vietnam where the programs are well presented by the hosts. Your programs covers every aspect of Vietnam and the regular listeners will get up-to-date information about your country, people, culture, history and traditional music. This is only because of the wonderful programs presented by your veteran staff members.”

A:Thank you very much, Sanil Deep, for regularly tuning in to VOV and sending us feedback. Our program is now available on multimedia platforms,  so you can listen to stories from the VOV broadcast on the VOV English Service on Spotify. We hope that you enjoy our program and share it with other listeners.

B: Among multiple correspondence from Ashik Eqban Tokon of Bangladesh this week, we’re particularly impressed with his comment on our Colorful Vietnam-Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic Groups" segment.

“Gau” or spotted-dove or cuckoo cakes of the Cao Lan (Photo: qdnd.vn)

A: He wrote: “I’m writing to express my heartfelt gratitude and immense pleasure for the truly enchanting segment featured in the August 7, 2023, program. Tuning in from Rajshahi, Bangladesh, I was captivated by the "Colorful Vietnam/Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic Groups" segment that introduced me to the remarkable world of the Spotted-Dove-Shaped Cake. The narrative surrounding this unique culinary creation was nothing short of mesmerizing. The vivid description of the cake's origins, lovingly passed down through generations of the Cao Lan ethnic group, resonated deeply with me. The tale of "Slau Slam" and her selfless act of nurturing the baby birds, beautifully interwoven with the symbolism of maternal love, left a profound impact.”

B: He continued: “The meticulous process of crafting the cake using pandan leaves and glutinous rice, expertly explained by the host of this segment, painted a sensory masterpiece in my mind. The image of skilled hands weaving thorny pandan leaves into the shape of little cuckoo birds, and the aromatic fusion of flavors, evoked a sense of cultural richness and tradition. Your program not only educated me about this delightful culinary treasure but also allowed me to vicariously experience the warmth and love that the Cao Lan community has imbued into every aspect of this culinary tradition.”

A: Well, thank you, Mr. Tokon, for your beautiful description of VOV broadcasts which is a source of great encouragement for us to further improve our programs to give you a better insight into Vietnamese culture, tradition and people. Before we continue reading letters and emails from other listeners, let’s listen to a song called…

B:  This week, Hokamura Fumito told us that he wants to learn more about the Vietnamese coconut tree.

A: In Vietnam, coconut is grown widely from North to South. Particularly, Ben Tre province in the Mekong River Delta is known as the land of coconuts or the land of three green coconut islands. 

Ben Tre coconut-based dishes set World Record (Photo: VNA)

B: For locals in Ben Tre, the coconut tree has been closely linked to their lives for years. It has entered Vietnamese literature and poetry and helped the villagers achieve heroic feat of arms during times of national defense.

A: Ben Tre is famous for its coconut industry. Everything that comes from coconut trees, including the trunk, the leaves, hard-shells, the fiber – even coconut worm larvae - can be used in cooking or made into something for export.

B: The province is home to 163,000 households involved in farming more than 72,000 ha of coconut tree, or half of Vietnam’s coconut-growing land. They produce 800 million coconuts and ship about 200 million USD worth of coconut products abroad annually. The province’s coconuts are exported to about 84 countries and territories worldwide.

A: All parts of the coconut are useful. The tree-trunk is used to make fine art pieces. Coconut flesh is for candies while the hard shell is used to make char coal. Coconut juice is for making coconut jelly. When coconuts turn browner and lighter, the flesh is used to make coconut oil or food for fish.

B: Coconut tree trunks are also the main wood used to build houses, make beds, and make household goods, because coconut wood is strong and not inferior to other woods. 

A: Coconut wood can be used for up to several decades.  Today, coconut wood also creates hundreds of handicraft products and household goods sold to tourists and exports. Coconut leaf stalks - if in the past it was only to light a fire or to sweep the house when used as a broom - today fresh coconut leaves are used to knit flower baskets, gift baskets, and all kinds of lanterns for interior decoration.

B: Coconut shells make activated carbon and are raw materials for making many kinds of handicrafts. Currently, coconut trees are exploited very thoroughly, contributing to increasing income, improving people’s lives, and creating jobs for workers in Ben Tre.

A: Last year, Ben Tre province prepared 222 coconut-based dishes as part of the activities to celebrate Vietnamese poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu’s 200th birth anniversary, and gained the recognition of the World Records Union (WorldKings) and the Vietnam Records Organization (Vietkings).

B: The province will organize the fifth coconut festival in November, offering a diverse range of activities including exhibitions on coconut products and trade fairs, along with a variety of southern cuisine starring coconut.

A: Thank you all for your interest in VOV, for sharing your love of our country, and for sending us your feedback. We hope to see you soon in Vietnam.

B: 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. You’re invited to visit us online at vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs.

A: Check out our VOV Media App, available on both the IOS and Android platform, to hear our broadcasts. We look forward to your feedback on the mobile version of vovworld.vn. Once again, thank you all for listening. Goodbye!