Vehicles are stranded as roads are submerged in water and blocked by soil and rock slid down from the mountain in Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province.

B: Listener Tanabe Tsumeyoshi of Japan told us: “I have been listening to shortwave radio since I was a high school student. I listen to the world news with great interest. I hope you will always stay healthy so that you will continue to deliver informative radio programs to listeners around the world.”

A: Listener Rubén Walter Suarez Bonilla of Uruguay said: “I have listened to shortwave radio again after some years of suspension. I used to listen to shortwave stations regularly from 1982 to 2015. VOV is my favorite station because I want to hear about Asian news.”

B: Sok Heng of Cambodia shared his sympathy for the devastation of super typhoon Yagi: “I was shocked by the human and property losses caused by typhoon Yagi in 26 provinces and cities in northern Vietnam. Please extend my condolences to the families of the victims and I wish the Vietnamese people to soon overcome this difficult period.”

A: Labanna Lata, a member of VOV5 Listeners’ Club in Bangladesh, said she tuned in to VOV’s English program on September 28on the frequency of 7220 kHz. She was interested in a report on the rebuilding of hamlets hit by typhoon Yagi in Cao Bang province.  

B: The Ministry of Planning and Investment’s updates on Monday placed the total economic damage caused by the super typhoon at nearly 3.3 billion USD, twice  the estimate reported two weeks ago.

Rescuers search for vicitms of flash flood in Nam Tong hamlet. (photo: baodantoc.vn)

A: Affected localities are rebuilding houses and infrastructure to help people stabilize their lives. Nam Tong hamlet in Lao Cai province is an example.

B: The hamlet was leveled by a flashflood and landslide on September 10, in which 18 people were killed or reported missing.

B: Sam Phuong Long, Chairman of Nam Luc communal People’s Committee, said the authorities have continued to search for the missing, treat injured people, and take care of the lives of displaced people.

“We help local people resolve the consequences of heavy rain and flood, resume production, recover affected plants, and grow more cinnamon trees as the commune’s main cash crop,” said Long.

A: A new Nam Tong village is being built on a higher hill for 70 households. A school for nursery children and primary pupils, a community house, and other facilities are scheduled to be put into operation in December.

B: With the support of countries and organizations worldwide and people across Vietnam and abroad, recovery efforts are gearing up in the affected regions.

A: Together, they are not just aiming to rebuild what was lost but to build back better—stronger homes, more resilient livelihoods, and a brighter future for these communities as Patrick Haverman, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP in Vietnam said during a visit to Yen Bai province, one of the localities hardest hit by the typhoon.

“We continue to support their recovery, I am confident that Yen Bai will not only overcome these challenges but emerge stronger, united, and prepared for whatever comes next,” Haverman noted.

B: Indonesian listener Liana Safitri wants to hear about the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, one of the most famous attractions in Hanoi.

A: Well, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, built in the 11th century by the Ly Dynasty, is one of the ten special national heritage sites proclaimed by the Prime Minister in 2009 and was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in 2010. Its outstanding universal values are reflected in its historical longevity, its continuous role as a seat of power, and its multiple cultural layers.

B: The Thang Long Imperial Citadel opens to visitors the whole week. Since last year, it has organized a night tour to offer tourists a different experience of exploring archaeological vestiges in a mysterious dim light.

A: In 1428, King Le Thai To built Kinh Thien, the most important palace in the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. This was where the court held its most solemn rituals, welcomed foreign emissaries, and discussed state affairs. Unfortunately, the palace was destroyed in 1886, with only the foundations and a staircase remaining today.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel

B: The Imperial Citadel was the most important sector of Thang Long Citadel, the capital of Vietnam under the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties from the 11th to the 18th centuries. It was also the headquarters of the North Vietnamese government and army during the Resistance War against the Americans between 1954 and 1975.

A: Regarding its cultural value, the artifacts found at the heart of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long are remarkable proof of enduring cultural exchange. This site has absorbed cultural influences from China, Champa, and France. The creation of landscaping, the layout of palace areas, architectural art, and court decoration showcase diverse cultural developments across different historical eras.

B: The standing monuments and subterranean vestiges of palaces, together with numerous other unique artifacts unearthed in the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long-Hanoi, are honored on the World Heritage List by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee as invaluable assets not only of Vietnam but also mankind.

A: This week, we acknowledge a reception report from Bidhan Chandra Sanyal of India, who tuned in to our program on September 30 on the frequenqcy of 9730 kHz. He rated SINPO at 43434.

B: Sahadot Hossain of Bangladesh reported listening to VOV from September 11-20 on the frequency of 7220 Khz using a GRUNDIG Yacht Boy 80.

A: M Saleem Akhtar Chadhar of Pakistan told us: “Vietnam is my favourite country. I like it very much. I listened your program daily and enjoyed it. The news give me a lot of knowledge about Vietnam and the world.”

B: Hayato Furukawa of Japan sent us a letter with a reception report for the program on September 9 on the frequency of 9840khz. He rated SINPO condition at all 4s.

A: Within the limited time of the program, we cannot mention all reception reports by many other listeners. We hope you understand. We’ll send QSL cards to verify your reports.

B: We welcome your feedback at English Service, VOVWORLD, the Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam.

A: 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!