The Christmas season always seems to fill the streets of Hanoi with a festive atmosphere, especially in Hang Ma Street in Hanoi Old Quarte (Photo: VOV5)

A: Dear listeners, thank you so much for your warm letters and heartfelt wishes as we prepare to bid farewell to 2024 and welcome the new year. Your interactions have truly made this year special for us, and we are excited to connect with so many listeners around the world. Now, let’s dive into some of your questions and requests!

B: First, I’d like to read out some of the seasonal greetings we received over the last week. In an email to VOV this week, Richard Lemke of Canada wrote: “Merry Christmas and Happy New year 2025. Thanks for the features in the English service which are very entertaining and informative.”

A: Siddhartha Bhattacharjee of India, one of our regular listeners, wrote: “Merry Christmas with lots of love! I hope you receive one blessing after another this coming year. Wishing you peace, joy, and unconditional love at Christmas and always. Merry Christmas, and may your Christmas be white!”

This year’s Christmas decorations have been a step up from previous years, as they are now primarily made with environmentally friendly materials. (Photo: Ha Phuong/VOV5)

B: Also from India, Bidhan Chandra Sanyal wrote us a long letter discussing the meaning of Christmas here and there, shared sorrows with those who are living in conflict-hit countries, and sent beautiful seasonal greetings. “May the joy of Christmas be with you always. Forget all the sorrows. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. May Santa bring warmth and happiness to your family. Live a healthy and prosperous life.”

A: To listener Ding Lu of China, thank you for your kind words and for keeping in touch with the Voice of Vietnam throughout the year. We’re delighted that you like our QSL cards and especially the new keychain with our logo. Your continued support means a lot, and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with joy and good health.

B: We’d like to congratulate José Luis Corcuera of Spain on your retirement! We hope this new chapter brings you peace and fulfillment. May your Christmas be as serene and joyful as you’ve described, surrounded by your family and those cherished moments you now have the time to enjoy. Wishing you a wonderful New Year as well!

(Photo: VOV5)

A: This week, more than 370 letters, emails and phone calls have been sent to VOVWorld and several comments were posted on our Facebook fanpage. Many listeners including Shikha Sawhney Lambda, Khamphan, and Uongchay, shared their interest in the festive atmosphere in Vietnam and asked about churches here.

B: In Vietnam, Christmas is celebrated in a festive and vibrant way, especially in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In Hanoi for example, churches have been splendidly decorated as Christmas approaches. From Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi, visitors can easily find St Joseph’s Cathedral in Nha Chung street. The Church was designed in gothic style featuring two large towers, similar to the architecture of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. It is 65 meters long and 21 meters wide with a bell tower on either side, each nearly 32 meters in height. In front of the church stands a metal statue of mother Maria.

St. Joseph Cathedral in Hanoi during the festive season

A: Inside, the church’s decorations look as fresh and vivid as ever. Sunlight passing through the colored glass creates a magnificent atmosphere inside the church. The church floor, made of terra cotta tiles, contributes to the solemn atmosphere.

B: The cathedral is divided into three major spaces: narthex or entry vestibule, the nave where parishioners sit, and the chancel, where the altars stand.

A: The cathedral’s architecture has stood the test of time. The Church is decorated beautifully every Christmas and New Year. The Christmas tree in front of the church has already been lit up, delighting the many visitors at this time of the year.

B: Cua Bac church is located at No. 56 Phan Dinh Phung street in Hanoi. The church was built between 1925 and 1930 by a French priest and architect, who combined Asian and European styles. It does not follow the rules of symmetry. A high bell tower on the right balances the central dome. The roof tile is in the traditional style of Vietnam.  The harmony of the church with the surrounding green area is another element of Vietnamese style.  The Cua Bac Cathedral is an architectural work with many unique features.

A: The church has a very spacious campus and beautiful interior design and arrangement. The structure is decorated differently every Christmas with lights, flowers, and lanterns arranged throughout the church.

B: Ham Long is another Roman Catholic church in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district. Designed by a Vietnamese architect, the 17m high church was completed in December, 1934.

A: It looks very ancient from the outside with its walls covered in green moss. Once you step inside, you feel the spaciousness. The rows of benches date back to the French colonial period.

B: Most churches in Hanoi have completed their preparations for Christmas and New Year with hope for another year of peace and happiness. Once again, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2025.

A: In his email to VOVWorld this week, Harada Ryosuke of Japan shared his interest in Vietnam, its land and people and asked about winter and winter specialties in Vietnam.

B: As we step into the final days of the year, winter has cast its cool embrace over Vietnam, bringing a variety of temperatures across the country. In northern Vietnam, particularly in cities like Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Ha Long, winter temperatures can drop significantly. During the coldest days, the mercury hovers between 10°C and 15°C, and in mountainous areas such as Sapa, Ha Giang, and Mau Son mountain in Lang Son province, temperatures can drop as low as 3-5°C or even reach freezing at higher altitudes. These areas often see frost-covered hills and, on rare occasions, even snow, transforming the landscape into a winter wonderland that surprises both locals and visitors. 

A: Central Vietnam, including cities like Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An, enjoys more moderate winter weather compared to the north. Daytime temperatures typically range from 18°C to 22°C. However, this region occasionally experiences cold spells brought by northern winds, especially in the early mornings and late evenings. Rainfall can also increase during this season, particularly in December, making the air cooler and the roads slick. 

B: In stark contrast to the north and center, southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, remains warm and sunny even during the winter months. Average temperatures there stay between 24°C and 30°C.

A: Harada Ryosuke from Japan, if you were in Hanoi these days, Hanoi’s winter specialties are a treat!

B: Hanoi’s winter mornings are foggy and cool, with light winds making it feel even chillier. Residents bundle up in warm clothing, sipping hot bowls of pho (Vietnamese rice noodle soup) and bánh đúc nóng (steamed rice cake) to fight off the cold.  These dishes warm both the stomach and the soul!

A: In this email to VOV this week, Johnny Antonio Ramírez López from Peru has a poetic description of Hanoi’s Long Bien Bridge in which he also shares his interests in the garden under the bridge. The historic bridge has witnessed countless stories of the city, and you are absolutely right—the Red River flows timelessly, carrying its charm through the heart of Hanoi. Thank you for sharing such a lovely reflection.

B: Sun Phol from Phnom Penh, Cambodia shared his interest in the recent collaboration between Vietnam and NVIDIA which he said captured attention across the region. This partnership marks a promising step in Vietnam’s goal to become a center for AI and technological advancements. Vietnam’s universities and research institutes are also expanding programs to train young minds in AI—an important foundation for future growth.

A: We truly appreciate the love and curiosity from all our listeners. Your questions bring us closer together, and we look forward to hearing from you again as we step into 2025. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to each and every one of you!