B: Thank you very much for tuning in to VOV’s English program and visiting our website. We hope to receive regular feedback from you in the future.

A: VOV stopped broadcasting to Latin America some years ago. It’s pity for us as well as for our listeners in that part of the world.

B: Javier Caleb Hernández Trujillo of Mexico told us he hopes VOV’s shortwave broadcast will return to Latin America some day. The importance of a national radio station is that it presents the national stance in an official and objective way. Javier said he loves radio programs and VOV connects his people with a nation whose national resistance wars were admired around the world.

A: Another listener in Mexico, Javier González Nungaray, told VOV that it’s sad VOV has no plans to resume shortwave broadcasts the Latin America. He still listens to VOV on the Internet.

B: Thank you for your continuing support for VOV. Our radio programs are available on our website at www.vovworld.vn, so you can here us anytime you want.

Argentina-born striker Gaston Merlo has Vietnamese citizenship and plays for different  football teams in Vietnam under the Vietnamese name Do Merlo. (photo: toquoc.vn)

A: Sardar Munir Akhter of Pakistan said VOV is his favorite radio station of the many radio broadcasts from different countries that he has been listening to for a long time. Mr. Akhter told us: “Vietnam is a beautiful country. Your programs give me a lot of useful information about the Vietnamese culture and lifestyle. I hope you will continue to broadcast such programs in the future.”

B: Many thanks, Mr. Akhter. We intend to continue our shortwave broadcasts. You asked: “Is citizenship granted to foreigners in Vietnam? If so, what are the requirements?”

A: Under Vietnamese law, wanting Vietnamese citizenship is a completely legitimate and reasonable desire.

B: Vietnam always acknowledges and affirms the right of foreigners to have the Vietnamese nationality and sets out regulations for registration for Vietnamese citizenship.

The Brazilian-born Vietnamese striker Huynh Kesley, his Vietnamese wife, and their children. (photo: vietnamnet.vn)

A: Foreign nationals and stateless persons permanently residing in Vietnam who file an application for Vietnamese nationality may be accepted for naturalization in Vietnam if they satisfy the following conditions.

B: Having full civil act capacity as prescribed by Vietnamese law; obeying the Constitution and laws of Vietnam; respecting the traditions, customs, and practices of the Vietnamese nation; speaking Vietnamese fluently enough to integrate into the Vietnamese community; having resided in Vietnam for 5 years or more at the time of application for naturalization; and being capable of making a livelihood in Vietnam.

A: Those who apply for Vietnamese nationality may be accepted for naturalization in Vietnam without having to fully meet the conditions prescribed above if they fall into one of the following categories: spouses, natural parents, or natural offspring of Vietnamese citizens; having made meritorious contributions to Vietnam’s national construction; and being helpful to the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Hoang Vu Samson, a Nigerian-Vietnamese footballer is considered one of the best strikers in the history of V.League 1. (photo: vietnamnet.vn)

B: Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality must have Vietnamese names. These names may be selected by the applicants. Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality may not be accepted for naturalization if such naturalization is detrimental to Vietnam’s national interests. The Vietnamese Government specifies all conditions for naturalization in Vietnam.

A: A dossier of application for Vietnamese nationality comprises an application for Vietnamese nationality, a copy of the birth certificate, passport or other substitute papers, a curriculum vitae, a judicial record issued by a competent Vietnamese authority for the period the applicant resides in Vietnam and a judicial record issued by a competent foreign authority for the period the applicant resides in the foreign country. Judicial records must be issued within 90 days before the date of filing the dossier.

B: Other papers prove his/her Vietnamese language skills, place and period of residence in Vietnam, and ability to make livelihood in Vietnam. For more specific information and instruction, please visit the website of the Ministry of Justice moj.gov.vn or Vietnam’s national public service portal dichvucong.gov.vn.

Filip Nguyen is playing for Cong An Ha Noi Football Club. He is applying for a Vietnamese citizenship. (photo: VOV)

B: Last year, there were about 100,000 foreigners living in Vietnam. Expats have come from more than 100 countries and territories. Most of them come from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Taiwan (China) and the US. They live and work mostly in big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, and Nha Trang.

A: Before we continue reading letters from listeners, here’s a song called "Bonjour Vietnam". The original song, was written in French by Marc Lavoine and performed by Pham Quynh Anh, a Belgian of Vietnamese origin. Its Vietnamese title is "Xin chào Việt Nam", and in English, “Welcome to Vietnam”.

B: Ashik Eqbal Tokon of Bangladesh sent us feedback after listening to our daily program. He told us that the "Saturday Report" segment on Ho Chi Minh City's smart city initiative was particularly interesting.

A: He said: “It was enlightening to learn how the city's digital transformation index has improved significantly, showcasing its dedication to building a smart city and enhancing interactions with its residents. I commend the Voice of Vietnam English Service for delivering valuable and insightful content, shedding light on the progress and innovations in Vietnam's cities. The informative broadcast provided me with a deeper understanding of Ho Chi Minh City's efforts to become a smart city and its ongoing digital transformation journey.”

B: Ashik listened to the Letter Box on August 2nd and said he was delighted to learn about Vietnam's history and the sacrifices of its valiant predecessors. He told us the observance of Martyrs Day is a significant event in Bangladesh.

A: Bangladesh's Martyrs Day is observed annually on February 21st. This date holds deep historical significance, as it marks the day when a tragic event unfolded in 1952, resulting in the deaths of several brave souls who sacrificed themselves to recognize our mother tongue, Bangla.

B: To honor the memory of the language martyrs and commemorate their sacrifice, February 21st is now observed as Martyrs Day in Bangladesh. The day is a national holiday, and various events and activities are organized to pay tribute to the heroes of the Language Movement. The Day was recognized by UNESCO as International Mother Language Day, underscoring the importance of preserving linguistic diversity and promoting multilingual education worldwide.

A: Thank you, Ashik, for sharing that story with us. Jayanta Chakrabarty of India tuned in to VOV’s program on August 3rd on 7220 khz. He was particularly interested in the news about the ASEAN Senior Defence Officials meeting in Indonesia, where Vietnam reiterated its commitment to a peaceful solution to territorial disputes in the East Sea. Vietnam has always believed in peace and meaningful negotiations to solve territorial disagreements in the region according to accepted international law.

B: Petteri Kostermaa of Finland tuned in to our English program on 11885 kHz on August 1st. Petteri is a retired man in his 70’s and he just started listening again to shortwave broadcast.

A: He told us: “My location is Helsinki, Finland, and my radio is a Belka mini receiver with its own telescopic antenna. This radio is amazing despite its small size. It really beats the tube receivers I used in the 1960s when I started DXing as a teenager. The quality of reception of your station was very good, in SINPO terms 54444. Very good signal strength, only some minor interference from an adjacent frequency, a little bit of atmospheric noise and fading.”

B: Thank you all for your remarks and feedback on VOV’s program. If You can hear us on the Internet at vovworld.vn, 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!