 A message from Hari Madugula, President of Young Stars Radio Club of India:"We thank you for your tireless work in providing a trusted source of news, education, and companionship. We urge you to use the tools of tomorrow to strengthen the voices of today, ensuring that ethics and human judgment remain at the core of your transmissions."
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B: Celebrated on February 13 every year, World Radio Day is an opportunity for radio stations around the world to showcase their diversity, creativity, and ability to contribute to society. This year’s theme “Radio and Artificial Intelligence” opens a whole new field of discussion, creation, and exploration.
A: This special day gives us a chance to celebrate the enduring power of radio and its vital role in connecting people across borders. And that spirit of connection is reflected in the feedback we continue to receive from our listeners worldwide.
B: Malik Allah Bachaya Khokhar of Pakistan wrote a congratulatory message saying: “I am writing this letter as a devoted and regular listener of your English language service, which I greatly appreciate for its high-quality broadcasting and valuable content. Through your station, I remain well informed about world affairs, updated international news, and current events taking place across different regions of the globe. Your news and current affairs segments are presented in a clear, balanced, and professional manner.”
A: Thank you very much for your kind words and for taking the time to write to us. We truly appreciate your support and careful listening.
 A greeting card from Bidhan Chandra Sanyal of India |
B: And it’s always wonderful to hear how World Radio Day is being observed by radio enthusiasts around the globe. From India, listener Kanchan KR Chatterjee told us that to mark World Radio Day 2026, members of his Natuo Radio Listeners Club together are celebrating the timeless spirit of radio and the strong bond among listeners worldwide.
A: They have shared their thoughts on world radio, their DX’ing experiences, community broadcasting, and the role of radio in today’s digital age. Mr. Chatterjee told us, “Stories of rare catches, international broadcasts, and memorable listening moments inspire both senior members and young enthusiasts. The discussions have highlighted how radio continues to educate, entertain, and unite people, even in times of change.”
B: As Mr. Chatterjee summed it up, the Natuo Radio Listeners Club is a symbol of curiosity, unity, and lifelong learning, values that lie at the heart of World Radio Day.
A: From Bangladesh, listener Omar Faruk sent warm greetings to VOVWORLD. He said our New Year 2026 special programs were “very beautiful,” noting that while there was occasional interference, the overall reception was good. Here’s what Faruk wrote “I like your news updates, Digital Life, Discovery Vietnam, Culture, Village Life, Economics, and Letter Box, all of which are very informative. I also like the music playlists. I regularly get news updates on your Facebook page. Thanks for that.”
B: Thank you, Faruk, for staying connected with us across platforms. Along with his greeting, Faruk also sent us a question: “How many FM and shortwave radio stations are there in Vietnam?”
A: That’s an interesting question. In Vietnam, the radio broadcasting system includes one national station which is The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) with multiple channels and 34 local radio and television stations. VOV operates more than 100 FM, shortwave, and mediumwave transmitters, covering the entire country and coastal areas.
B: VOV’s international service, known as VOVWORLD, broadcasts nationwide and around the globe via shortwave and medium wave, and also on FM 105.5 MHz in Hanoi and FM 105.7 MHz in Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Ninh.
A: In addition to the Voice of Vietnam, each province and centrally run city has its own local radio and television stations, which produce local content to supplement the current affairs and political programming relayed from VOV that ensures official information from the central authorities reaches everyone across the country. The relayed broadcasts run in fixed time slots on the local radio channels.
B: In Vietnam, radio remains an important and trusted medium. The rapid growth of social media and other internet-based platforms has made information abundant and diverse but it’s mixed with a lot of misinformation. VOV and local radio stations in Vietnam continue to be a reliable source of accurate news.
A: Dear listeners, thank you for sharing with us your love of radio and your joy of listening across borders and cultures. Let’s listen now to a song about Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, a time for families to reunite, honor their ancestors, and share wishes for peace, good health, and prosperity. After the song, we’ll talk about the 5-fruit tray, an important symbol of Tet.
 Five-fruit tray for Vietnamese Lunar New Year, Tet |
A: You’re listening to the newly-released song “Returning home for Tet” written and produced by Bui Cong Nam and performed by Dong Nhi, Jun Pham, and Bui Cong Nam. Cambodian listener Kim Chanda, who is studying at the Thai Binh University of Medicine, asked us about the meaning of the Tet 5-fruit tray and the fruits popular in each region.
B: The 5-fruit tray is one of the most important offerings to ancestors and a way for families to express their wishes for good fortune, health, and prosperity in the year ahead.
A: In northern Vietnam, the 5-fruit tray usually features green bananas as the base, representing protection and unity. On top of a bunch of green bananas, we place 4 other types of fruit such as a yellow or red pomelo, some apples, oranges, kumquats, or mangos. The emphasis is on balance, harmonious color, and spiritual meaning rather than abundance.
B: In southern Vietnam, the 5-fruit tray is more playful and wish-based. Common fruits include star apple, coconut, papaya, mango, or fig. Southern 5-fruit trays, which are usually more abundant and colorful, emphasize hopes for prosperity and a smooth year.
A: Though the fruits may differ between regions, the spirit is the same. The 5-fruit tray embodies gratitude, respect for the ancestors, and heartfelt wishes for a happy, prosperous new year.
B: Joining the “Tet of people in the southwestern region” in Ho Chi Minh City, foreign tourists try their hand at wrapping banh tet (cylindrical cakes), making coconut jam, writing calligraphy lucky words for the New Year, and arranging a 5-fruit tray.
Polish visitor named Adriana said: “I didn't know about the ancestor offering. It’s kind of new for me. I know that you are supposed to connect with your ancestor. That is also nice to hear, because in Poland actually we have kind of the same culture in our ceremonies. What I like the most is your calligraphy. It's amazing and beautiful. It is definitely the calligraphy, because we don't have something like that in Poland. It's very nice that they can give to people something to have with them at home, right, from Vietnam, so it's a very nice souvenir.”
Another tourist from Poland, Wojtek Pawelec, said: “Now I know how you feel during that celebration. It is an amazing feeling. The preparing of the fruit and cake is very impressive, how it looks during the celebration, how you prepare, how the family join together, everyone coming back home for that celebration. People from Poland, from Europe, they know almost nothing about your country, but I hope in the future they will know much more.”
A: The first day of the Lunar New Year will arrive next Tuesday, and the festive atmosphere of Tet is spreading across Vietnam. On this special occasion, we wish all our listeners a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year, filled with good health, peace, and happiness for you and your family.
B: That’s it for this week’s Letter Box. Keep writing, keep listening and, until next time, goodbye from Hanoi!