A photo by Gerry Neumann showcasing his collection of gifts received from VOV

B: From the UK, Gerry Neumann told us: “I shall be celebrating my birthday this week, but next week even bigger celebrations will be taking place in Vietnam. I send you my warmest greetings and congratulations on both of these events.”

A: First of all, we would like to send best wishes to our longtime listener Gerry Neumann. Happy birthday! Wishing you a new age of good health and happiness! Mr. Neumann has been a loyal listener to VOV’s English section for many years and has visited us at 45 Ba Trieu Street several times. He kindly shared with us a photo of his small collection of gifts received from VOV, which he said he treasures and displays around his home.

B: From India, Shivendu Paul, Secretary of the Murshidabad Radio Listeners’ Family and President of the Metali Listeners’ Club, sent us his greetings and best wishes on the occasion of Vietnam’s National Day and VOV’s founding anniversary. He congratulated the winners, participants, and organizers of this year’s “What do you know about Vietnam?” contest.

A: Shivendu said the Murshidabad Radio Listeners’ Family carries out a number of radio-related activities every year to promote the love of radio, including activities for World Radio Day on February 13, listeners’ meetings, stalls at book fairs, a magazine called “Betar Bhuban”, and celebrations of the founding anniversaries of world radio stations like the Voice of Vietnam.

B: Club members also take part in blood donation drives, tree planting campaigns, and the Rakhi Bandhan festival, an Indian festival celebrating the bond of protection and love between siblings. They record popular radio programs every day and share them with other members via WhatsApp groups. Shivendu said the club has two mottos: “Plant trees, save the environment” and “Listen to the radio, love the radio”.

A: Sahadot Hossain of Bangladesh sent his warm regards and cordial love to the Vietnamese people on their 80th National Day. He said: “Vietnam is a nice country. We love this country and its people. We hope Bangladesh and Vietnam will maintain a tight friendship in future.”   

We thank Amir Jameel for sending us this e-card.

B: A long-time listener to VOV in Spain, Juan Franco Crespo, sent multiple letters and reception reports for VOV programs he listened to in August, along with an article from La Vanguardia, the Catalonia region’s largest daily paper, that presents a very positive view of Vietnam.

A: Crespo congratulated us on the inauguration of our FM transmission station on the summit of Phia Oắc mountain. He said he shared the news with several shortwave radio listener clubs that collect information related to global broadcasting.

B: Listener Héctor Eduardo Villarreal of Argentina said our program on August 18 was excellent, highlighting preparations for the grand celebration of Vietnam’s National Day and Vietnam’s impressive development journey.

A: We’d like to sincerely thank all our listeners for their warm congratulations and valuable feedback on our programming. Your messages are a great source of encouragement for us at VOV.

B: Before we answer a question about Hanoi’s double-decker train, let’s enjoy the song “My home hangs a national flag” by DTAP and Ha Anh Tuan.

A: That song celebrates Vietnam’s national flag as a symbol of pride and unity that evokes love and patriotism in the hearts of Vietnamese people.

VOV’s pavilion as part of the grand national exhibition themed “80-Year Journey of Independence–Freedom–Happiness” scheduled from August 28 to September 5 at the Vietnam Exposition Center in Hanoi (Photo: VOV)

B: Laotian listener Phetmani asked about Hanoi’s new double-decker train.

A: Last week the Vietnam Railways Corporation launched the “Hanoi – Five City Gates” tourist train. Inspired by the history of the ancient Thang Long Citadel, the coaches are named after five city gates: Cau Den, Quan Chuong, Cau Giay, Cho Dua, and Dong Mac.

B: The coach’s interiors combine wood accents, soft lighting, and motifs, recalling the capital’s past, while wide windows offer uninterrupted views. Tran Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Railway Corporation, said: “We refurbished double-decker coaches with new, comfortable, luxurious interiors. Each coach is themed around the cultural heritage of the capital. The windows have been maximized in size, to give passengers a better view of the scenery along the route. Each coach also has a thematic corner for visitors to take photos in.”

A: Along the journey, each station is not merely a stop for boarding, but also a window into the culture, history, and everyday life of Hanoi, with folk arts, traditional crafts, cuisine, and historical relics.

Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, said: “The ‘Hanoi – Five City Gates’ train is a unique tourism model that blends traditional arts and heritages with rail travel from downtown Hanoi to Bac Ninh province. It combines green transportation, cultural tourism, and urban development.”

A car of the Hanoi – Five City Gates train (Photo: hanoimoi.vn)

The passengers of this special train could not hide their surprise and satisfaction: “Stepping onto the train, I was amazed to find myself in such a fantastic space. It’s a blend of modern comfort and ancient charm, with traditional decorative details alongside modern amenities. This journey isn’t so much about traveling as it is about experiencing and connecting with the past.”

“This train’s unique decoration and the stories it tells gave me a deeper understanding of Hanoi. On this trip, I enjoyed the ancient space, design, and cultural values, and admired the panoramic views of the capital city.”

A: During the trip, passengers watch performances of quan họ (folk singing), ca trù (ceremonial singing), chèo (traditional opera), xẩm (singing of buskers), and chầu văn (ritual singing).

B: The train will run three round trips daily from Hanoi Station and stop at Long Bien, Gia Lam, Yen Vien, and Tu Son (Bac Ninh) Stations, with departures at 8:00, 14:00, and 20:30, giving passengers both daytime and nighttime options. If you’re in Hanoi, don’t miss the “Hanoi - Five City Gates” tourist train.

A: Thank you for listening to this’s week’s “Letter Box”. Keep writing, keep listening, and, until next time, goodbye from Hanoi!