B: Your correspondence and feedback after many years has really surprised us and motivated us a lot. Thank you so much!

VOV's verification card back to the 1970s

A: Many of our staff are young, and receiving copies of the old verification card of VOV during the 1970s and 1980s is something that makes us feel emotional and nostalgic. We have shared your correspondence discussed with our predecessors who worked at VOV during those years and recalled stories about the strong bond and connection between VOV and its listeners around the world.

Mr. Tuan's notes of VOV's listeners feedback and questions

B:  One of our senior staff, Mr. Trinh Huu Tuan,  who worked at VOV English Service during the 1970s and 1980s, shared with us about connections with listeners at that time. "I read all the listeners' letters and picked up and selected all the questions that they asked and decided which topic could be used as the theme for our program. That's a very exciting thing to do because you have a listener there, ready to listen to you. So the job is not impersonal. We are feeling that we're talking to that guy. I even know that oh this is the black guy, 72 years old or that is a Spanish one, 24. So I target my voice and even my writing to that kind of that audience. So that makes the job very exciting."

B: Listening to our coverage about Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day which is celebrated on April 21, Bidhan Chandra Sanyal of India wrote about World Book Day on April 23 and its history, “ April 23 is World Book Day. This day is celebrated every year since 1995 under the initiative of the United Nations. The main objective of Book Day is to increase public awareness about reading books, printing books, and copyright of books.”

ietnam Book and Reading Culture Day is held at the Gia Lai Provincial Museum (photo: VOV)

B: Thank you, Mr. Sanyal, for sharing the celebration of World Book Day and its history. In Vietnam, many events and festivals have been held on this occasion to promote book values and reading culture among the public. These activities have been attracting a large number of young people. 

Some book lovers share their impression on Vietnam Book Day.

"There are many kinds of books, but I prefer Vietnamese history books and books about President Ho Chi Minh. One of the books I like is “You are what you read” by Professor Robert DiYanni. That book was very helpful to me. It is like a handbook that makes reading easier. I love the book festival, too." 

"I have a reading habit and I like literature. I also read history books. I hope more young people will become interested in reading and learning about Vietnamese history." 

A: This week, Lin Wei Zhong of China wrote: “ I use Iphone and found two VOV apps and VOV Media. I can listen to a lot of programs on VOV Media app and it is like the VOVworld website. I can hear VOV’s programs on VOV Media app and the delay is 3 seconds compared to radio broadcast. It is a little bit noisy listening to radio so it’s clearer than on the app.”

B: Thanks for your feedback. Our VOV Media app provides all content produced by all channels of the Voice of Vietnam covering domestic services with stories for domestic listeners in Vietnamese which are VOV1- News and Current Affairs channel, VOV2 - a channel with stories about culture, society, and life, VOV3 – Music and Entertainment channel, VOV4 channel for ethnic affairs, and VOV6 - Art and Literature Programs. VOV5 or VOVworld is our program for foreign listeners inside and outside of Vietnam.

A: On VOV5, you can listen to programs in 13 languages including our VOV English 24/7 on the FM frequency for listeners in Vietnam. The English 24/7 program is broadcast 18 hours a day from 6 am to midnight  with more stories about Vietnam, its land, and people. We look forward to receiving more feedback from you. 

B: Jayanta Chakrabarty of India reported listening to our broadcast from 16:00 to 16:30 UTC on April 26 on the frequency of 7220  and gave SINPO of all 3s. He wrote: “I’m pleased to send you feedback on your April 26, 2023 broadcast which I listened to on shortwave radio. Reception quality was fair to good with occasional atmospheric noise. Presentation of program was of a high standard and friendly.”

A: He continued: “It was interesting to hear about the important May Action Month launched in Hanoi. It is welcoming news that the progressive and pragmatic policies of the Vietnamese Government will be addressing workers' safety, working conditions and hygiene in the work place. The timing of the Action Plan is also vital as Vietnam stands on the threshold of rapid growth and development of its manufacturing sector. It is hoped that this noble endeavor will help reduce stress in the work place and reward deserving workers for their contribution to national development.”

B: Thank you, Jayanta Chakrabarty, for your regular feedback on our programs. 

A: This week, VOVWorld continued to received hundreds of letters, emails and phone calls from listeners around the world who congratulated Vietnamese people on the 48^th anniversary of National Reunification Day.

High-altitude fireworks are set off in HCM city on April 30, 2023, to mark Reunification Day.

B: Thank you all for sending us greetings for this special occasion. April 30, 1975 is a profoundly significant day for Vietnamese people. The victory in 1975 ended not only 21 years of Vietnamese people’s anti-US war but also 117 years of colonialism in Vietnam. It opened a new era of independence and reunification towards socialism in Vietnam.

A: For Vietnamese people, this holiday is of special significance and historical relics are popular destinations. One of them is the Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City, where visitors learn about the fall of the Saigon regime on April 30, 1975.

After the war, Independence Palace, renamed Reunification Palace, has become an emblematic historical site of the city. (Photo: truyenhinhdulich.vn)

B: The Palace has been recognized as a special national relic for its historical and architectural value. The site, formerly known as Independence Palace, or Norodom Palace, is located in Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street in Ho Chi Minh city. This building, constructed by the French between 1868 and 1873 and named for King of Cambodia Norodom I, is surrounded by a large shaded park.

A: The palace was rebuilt in 1962. The building is a perfect blend of modern architecture and traditional oriental architecture. It has the shape of the Chinese character "good luck". Covering an area of 12 hectares, it includes three main floors, two mezzanines, a basement and a terrace.

B: At 11:30 on April 30, 1975, the flag of the South Vietnam National Liberation Front was raised above the roof of the palace. The building stills remains as it was 40 years ago. Tanks 843 and 390 of Vietnam People's Army, the first to enter the courtyard of the palace on April 30, 1975, are still there, intact.

A: In November 1975, the palace hosted the Political Consultative Meeting on the reunification of north and south. After this event, it was renamed Reunification Palace.

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!