 Listeners' letters send to VOV. |
A: We’re very glad to have received an email from Misayo Tanaka in East Sussex, the UK, who has not contacted VOV for a long time. Tanaka wrote: “It’s been three years since I last sent you a reception report. I’m so sorry I haven't listened to your broadcast for quite a while. I used to listen to the Voice of Vietnam on the frequency of 7280 khz, but recently I’ve found that I have pretty good reception at 11885 khz. I hope to have good reception and enjoy the Voice of Vietnam again. Listening to other listeners’ comments in the program on March 22nd, I found myself missing your broadcast.”
B: Thank you for coming back to VOV. We hope you’ll listen to us more regularly and send us your feedback.
A: I’m reading a letter from 17-year-old Johannes Lammi of Finland. He tuned in to VOV’s English program on March 5th on the frequency of 9730 khz. He noted an overall signal strength of 3 with much noise and a beeping sound which could have been from another transmission.
B: Johannes said that even though the reception was not good, he enjoyed the program. Some of the songs played in the program were very entertaining.
A: Thank you for your detailed report. It was great to receive your letter, as we rarely have students getting into the hobby of listening to shortwave. Every week we receive correspondence from new listeners, so maybe shortwave is attracting new hobbyists. We’ll look for more feedback from you soon.
B: Sanil Deep of India emailed us several reception reports on the frequency of 12020 khz, which he says has been coming in well, and at 7220 khz, which seems to be the easiest frequency to pick up in Kerala state, where Sanil lives.
A: He said: “The Sunday Show is one of my favorite programs, where I can hear songs. The increasing number of letters you receive each week shows that your programs are enjoyed by listeners. Letter Box is maintaining its superior quality of presentation and content. It’s nice to hear regular listeners giving their comments. Colorful Vietnam and Discovery Vietnam are well presented. I listen to the beautiful songs in between your programs every day and keep up with the music scene in your country.”
B: Thank you very much for your interest in Vietnamese culture and your compliments for VOV. Our programs on Saturday and Sunday full of cultural news and music are more entertainment-oriented than our weekday programs. While many of our listeners love hearing traditional Vietnamese music, others prefer to listen to Vietnam’s contemporary pop music.
A: Vietnamese pop star Hoàng Thùy Linh’s song See Tình (See Love) has become hugely popular and has been covered by many other Asian artists. The song has been viewed 43 million times on YouTube and millions more times on other music platforms.
B: The song is trending in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan (China). A video in which Jolin Tsai, the most successful singer in Taiwan, dances to See Love with friends has been shared widely on social media. Japanese singer Shayne Orok’s cover of the song has gotten more than a million views on YouTube. A January 31 video of South Korean volleyball players Lee Da-heyon and Kim Yeon-koung dancing to the song during a game has been seen 37 million times on TikTok.
B: The holy month of Ramadan has been ongoing for nearly a week for Muslims all over the world. Happy Ramadan to our Muslim listeners and their family and friends!
A: Amir Jameel of Pakistan asked: “How big is the Vietnamese Muslim population in Vietnam? In what parts of Vietnam do they live? How many mosques are there in Vietnam? How much freedom of religion do they have? How many Muslim tourists come to Vietnam?”
B: Like Muslims around the world, the Vietnamese Muslim community is celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. Ms. Saly Kho, a representative of the Cham Muslims in Phong Phu commune, Binh Chanh district, said: “The Cham Muslims consider the month of Ramadan to be the holiest. We are very happy that every year city leaders come to visit us. The city leaders and the local Fatherland Front are interested in the fasting month of the Cham community in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s heartwarming.”
A: Last Wednesday, thousands of Ba Ni Cham Muslims in Binh Thuan province gathered at their cemeteries to perform the ritual of grave rearranging. Mr. Imum Sot, a member of the Ba Ni Muslim and Monk Council of Binh Thuan province, said: “Rearranging the grave for three or four days is to invite grandparents home, and at the same time, invite grandparents to the mosque to celebrate Ramadan New Year for a month. On this occasion, the commune, district and provincial authorities pay great attention to the Cham ethnic people. Every year they give us gifts.”
B: The Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs says there are approximately 78,000 Muslims in Vietnam, including adherents of Cham Bani and Cham Islam. They live in 13 provinces and cities, mostly in the southern provinces, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi.
A: There are 40 mosques, 22 minor places of worship, and 17 Cham Bani temples. The Mubarak mosque, built in 1750, is the oldest one in An Giang province. It has a carpeted entrance for women to enter the mosque. Here are the five biggest mosques in Ho Chi Minh City.
B: Saigon Central Mosque has a colorful exterior, the best halal food, and a solemn atmosphere. Muslims come from around the world to worship at Saigon Central Mosque.
A: Ai Rahim Mosque serves Indonesian and the Malaysian Muslims. Its walls are beautifully decorated with Muslim symbols.
B: Jamiul Islamiyah Mosque serves the large Muslim community in District 1. It is surrounded by a variety of delicious halal restaurants.
A: Cho Lon Mosque is located near Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown. It originally served the city’s South India Muslim community, but now also attracts Indonesian and Malaysian Muslims. It’s noted for its simple, clean décor and color scheme.
B: Masjid Jamiul Anwar Mosque attracts large numbers of Muslims who come for Salah and Friday-night prayers.
A: Most mosques welcome visitors of other faiths, but remember to dress modestly, which means no shorts or other revealing clothing. If you’re not sure what is appropriate, be sure to ask for guidance.
B: Thank you all for your interest in VOV and for sending us your feedback. We welcome your feedback at: English Service, VOVWorld, the Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Or 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.
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!