 World Radio Day celebration (From Shivendu Paul and Metali Listeners' Club in India) |
B: Bidhan Chandra Sanyal of India wrote: “World Radio Day is celebrated with due dignity in various parts of India. On February 5, a Jham Kalo ceremony was held in Shiliodi. Along with discussing various issues, Voice of Vietnam was also discussed. On February 15, a special event was held at the Kolkata Press Club for the audiences of India and Bangladesh. I was honored at the India Bangladesh Audience Conference organized by the South Asia Radio Club at Kolkata Press Club.”
A: In more than 390 letters, emails and phone calls sent to VOVWorld by listeners of 38 countries and territories this week, many expressed their love for radio and VOV in particular on World Radio Day.
B: Phichest Thongphom of Thailand wrote: “On World Radio Day, we’d like to send love and best wishes to VOV’s staff and VOV fans. The world still needs radio broadcasts and we will continue to listen to radio.”
A: Many listeners also shared with us their history of listening to radio. Kasem Thangthong of Thailand wrote that he has been listening to VOV for a long time: “It was interesting that 44 years ago, I found VOV’s shortwave frequency on a Sony radio.”
B: Also from Thailand, Surachai wrote: “55 years ago in Thailand, VOV’s news stories were heard on shortwave. My grandfather and father listened to VOV at 3 in the morning. At that time, radio broadcast was very popular.”
A: Luis Valderas of Chile told us that he has been listening to VOV for several years and liked the programs a lot because they covered the news in Vietnam.
B: Many other listeners shared their interest in stories about spring festivals in Vietnam and asked about folk games popular at the festivals.
 Sitting tug of war game in Tran Vu temple festival |
A: Usually, Vietnamese festivals have two parts: ritual ceremonies and recreational activities with art performances and folk games which vary between regions.
B: The popular folk game called kéo co (tug of war) is part of cultural festivals nationwide. In Vietnam, tug-of-war is played differently in different localities, reflecting local history, lifestyle, and culture.
A: In many variants of the game, players pull a strong bamboo pole, or knotted bamboo cords, while either standing or sitting. The game honors the spirit of sportsmanship and prays for a new year with favorable weather, but each locality has its own version.
B: Kéo co ngồi (sitting tug of war) takes place at Trấn Vũ Temple every year to show people’s respect for deities and express their wishes for a peaceful future with good health and bumper crops.
A: The folk game and rituals at Trấn Vũ Temple in 2019 were certified by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
B: Played in a clay yard, usually in the morning, the game involves a team of competitors sitting at either end of a 50-metre rattan rope who try to tug it from the other. The rope passes through a wood pillar planted in the ground between the two teams.
 Each team consists of 15 strong men. |
A: Every year, the number of players on each team may change depending how many men are available between the ages of 18 and 35, and the decision of the organisers.
A: All of the competitors should be strong and in good moral standing in the community. They have to sit during the game with one leg outstretched and one leg bent holding the rope firmly under their armpit. If a competitor stands up, his team loses immediately.
B: According to the players, sitting tug of war is different from the normal tug of war in which the stronger team can quickly defeat the weaker team. In sitting tug of war, the weaker team can win if they know how to grip the rattan rope and use the wood pole.
 Con ball throwing is a popular game among ethnic minority groups in Vietnam |
A: Another folk game popular at spring festivals, particularly in Vietnam’s mountain region and among ethnic minority people is Con ball throwing. Girls and boys of the Thai ethnic minority people in Vietnam’s northwestern region, find romantic partners and express their love while playing the game.
B: Many Thai believe that playing the game will bring them happiness, trust, and prosperity. During their major festivals including Long Tong or Going to the Field, Genie Worshipping, and the Lunar New Year festival, Con throwing is an important game.
 Many Thai believe that playing the game will bring them happiness, trust, and prosperity |
A: A Con ball is the size of an orange, is decorated with colorful patterns representing the richness of the universe, and is stuffed with rice grains, cotton, sesame, mustard seeds, and beans, which represent the hopes for growth, longevity, and prosperity.
B: Using a square cloth 20 cm on each side, Thai girls stitch the three corners of the cloth and leave the other corner open to stuff seeds in. The string of the ball is about 50 cm long. A beautiful con ball depends on the quality and colors of the cloth. Four corners of the ball are decorated with colorful fringes representing the four directions. The fringes at the end of the string and under the ball represent heaven and earth. A ball with more colorful fringes is more beautiful.
A: The game is held in a large village yard or on a harvested rice field where a large crowd can gather. People set up a bamboo pole 9 -15 meters high on the flat ground. At the top of the pole, there is a ring about 50cm in diameter.
B: If a player throws the ball through the ring at on the top of the bamboo pole, they win and will have good luck throughout the year. The players can also be divided into two teams and throw the ball to each other. The winners are the most skilled at catching the ball. The losers must give the winners scarves, hats, shirts, and bracelets as a reward.
A: Because of our time constrains, we could only give you a brief description of two folk games popular during spring festivals in Vietnam. We’ll continue in later segments and we hope to hear from you stories about folk games popular at festivals in your country.
B: Next, we’d like say hello to Manfred Korn of Germany who told us that he’s coming to Vietnam next month and will visit the German section of VOV. He said he was impressed with our nice presentation of World Radio Day on our Facebook homepage and he wants to visit the English section here in Ba Trieu street.
A: Welcome to Vietnam, Manfred, and we hope to see you next month.
B: We received multiple letters from Fumito Hokamura of Japan this week with reception reports for our broadcast on the frequency of 12020 khz with SINPO between 3 and 5. In his correspondence this week, Fumito expressed an interest in our Sunday show and music programs.
A: Thank you, Fumito, for sending feedback and tuning in to our broadcast for many many years.
B: Next, we’d like to acknowledge letters and emails from Hayato Furukawa of Japan and other listeners who follow us on our Facebook fanpage VOV5 English Service and or visit our website at vovworld.vn.
AL Thank you all for your interest in VOV and for sending us your feedback. We welcome more feedback at: English Service, VOVWorld, the Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Or you can email us at: englishsection@vov.vn.
A: Check out our VOV Media App, available on both the IOS and Android platforms, to hear our live broadcasts. We look forward to your feedback on the mobile version of vovworld.vn. Once again, thank you all for listening. Goodbye!