B: A greeting from Ashik Eqbal Tokon of Bangladesh said: “I wish you a joyous and Merry Christmas filled with laughter, love, and all the warmth this festive season brings! May your days be merry and bright, and may the spirit of Christmas fill your heart with happiness. As we celebrate this wonderful time of the year, may you create lasting memories with your audience and find peace and joy in every moment.”
B: Joandric Ávila Fernández of Costa Rica emailed us today to say that for the second time he clearly heard the signal coming from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. He said: “When the VOV broadcast begins, it’s 5:30 p.m. in Siquirres, Limón, so dusk brings with it the English-language broadcast of the Voice of Vietnam. I was happy to hear the Voice of Vietnam again, and to hear clearly the excellent news and programs.”
A: Joandric tuned in to the frequency of 9840 kHz and rated SINPO at 42342. He attached an audio file in which VOV’s station identification can be clearly heard. Joandric, we’ll send you a QSL card and we thank you for your Christmas wishes: “I wish the entire editorial team a very Merry Christmas, and that you have a wonderful Christmas Eve, in the company of your loved ones.”
B: Javier González Nungaray of Mexico said: “I wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year 2024 full of health and success. Rest assured that if God gives me life, I will continue to listen to the Voice of Vietnam, since it is my favorite station. Without further ado, I remain at your disposal.”
A: Rodrigo Bortoloti of São Paulo, Brazil, said: “I wish all your dreams come true. A giant hug to each of the members of the Voice of Vietnam. Merry Christmas and best year 2024!”
B: Thank you very much for your heartwarming wishes. We wish you love, peace, and happiness. May all these be yours at Christmas.
A: Christmas is celebrated in different ways around the world, inspired by local cultures and beliefs. Some of our listeners ask: “What is Christmas like in Vietnam?”
 People celebrate Christmas in front of St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi. (photo: Cam Thi) |
B: Christmas has become a popular occasion in Vietnam, even for non-Christians. It’s not a national holiday, but it is one of the four main religious festivals celebrated in Vietnam. The 2023 Vietnam White Book on religions and religious policies says Vietnam has about 7 million Catholics, 7% of the population, plus 1.12 million Protestants.
A: Since early December, hotels and shopping malls in major cities have put up festive decorations. Churches set out nativity scenes, often with life-sized statues of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. Trees lit with twinkling lights spread the Christmas spirit around many neighborhoods.
B: On Christmas Eve, Vietnamese Christians enjoy a family meal at home and exchange gifts, just like Western families. Many then go to church to attend a midnight mass.
A: Non-religious people, particularly young people, just want to have holiday fun with their friends.
B: Gift giving at Christmas has become common in Vietnam. Unlike the Western Santa Claus, who arrives in a flying sleigh and climbs down chimneys with gifts for children, the Vietnamese Santa Claus (called Old Man Noel) delivers gifts to children on a motorbike, provided he has been hired in advance by their parents.
A: Restaurants offer special Christmas meals of turkey and dressing, but on Christmas day many revellers seek out Christmas delights on the street, where some vendors serve grilled meats, roasted chestnuts, candied fruits, and frosted cookies.
A: There are many cathedrals and churches throughout Vietnam. St. Joseph’s Cathedral is the oldest church in Hanoi, and Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City is honored as one of the world's 19 most majestic cathedrals, the only representative from Southeast Asia.
 St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi (photo: Internet) |
B: St. Joseph's Cathedralis a famous historical site that is always included in any Hanoi travel itinerary. It was one of the first architectural works built by the French in Indochina.
A: The cathedral, whose facade is made up of two square bell towers with a height of 31.5 meters and a big clock, resembles the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. In front of the cathedral’s iron gate stands a copper statue of Mother Mary, surrounded by flowers and trees.
B: The cathedral’s Gothic architecture has some features of the Vietnamese style. The building is constructed of baked clay bricks, with a red tile roof and pasteboard walls. The altars are decorated with red gilded wood, a common element of traditional Vietnamese temples.
 Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City. (photo: Internet) |
A: Notre Dame Cathedral is an architectural symbol of Ho Chi Minh City. It attracts hordes of tourists every day.
B: It stands in the busiest part of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. In front of the church is a statue known as Our Lady of Peace, which was carved from granite in Rome.
A: The magnificent 159-year-old cathedral has twin bell towers, ornate stained-glass windows, and a red brick facade.
B: The twin towers hold six bronze bells weighing a total of 30 metric tons. These bells were made in France and shipped to Saigon in 1879. The priests only ring all six bells together on special occasions, such as Christmas Eve, when you can hear them from 10 km away.
A: Between the bell towers is a big 1-ton clock that is regarded as the oldest clock in Ho Chi Minh City. It was manufactured in Switzerland in 1887 and after 135 years it still works perfectly.
B: Unlike most local churches, Notre Dame Cathedral does not have a surrounding fence, which makes it easy to admire its beautiful exterior from the street. It can accommodate 1,200 people.
A: There are a lot of things to do in Vietnam around Christmas and New Year. US News & World Report ranks Hanoi 6th on its list of the 21 most ideal destinations for a winter escape. We hope you’ll add Vietnam to your holiday travel list.
B: Now let’s continue reading messages we received during the week. Massimiliano Santini, a 51-year-old Italian man who lives in Perugia, Italy, told us that the first time he heard a Voice of Vietnam broadcast was in 1987, when he was 15.
A: He wrote: “For many years I had left short wave DX'ing, but a few days ago I turned on an SDR radio board connected to a Mini-Whip antenna. I tuned in to the 7220 kHz frequency on December 1st and listened to your English broadcast. SINPO was 44344.”
B: César Pérez Dioses is a 62-year-old retired high school teacher, living in Chimbote, Peru. He told us: “In my spare time I like to listen to radio stations from abroad. I’ve tuned to your signal on 12020 kHz at 11.35 UTC.”
A: He said he heard our Sunday Show which talked about pottery villages and craftsmen who use Facebook and WhatsApp to introduce their products to customers.
B: We started sending new QSL cards to listeners about 3 weeks ago. Some have already received theirs. Jayanta Chakrabarty of India said he got a QSL card depicting the picturesque Hang Khoai-Hang Luoc intersection in Hanoi's Old Quarter for his report dated November 14, 2023.
A: We hope other listeners will receive their QSL cards soon. Thank you all for your interest in VOV. We welcome your feedback at English Service, VOVWORLD, the Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam.
B: 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. Once again, thank you all for listening. Goodbye!