 Egg coffee, bun cha, banh mi, and chicken pho are the must-eat dishes in Hanoi, Australian travel writer Jane Richards wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald after her food tour in Hanoi in June. (Photo credit: ALAMY STOCK) |
A: It’s always a joy to spend this time with you, reading your letters, sharing your stories, and answering your questions about Vietnam and our broadcasts. Thank you all so much for keeping us connected!
B: Let’s start with a lovely note from Diego Echeverri in Colombia. He wrote: “I want to introduce the culture and cuisine of beautiful Vietnam to my friends. Vietnam is also one of the world’s leading coffee producers, even surpassing Colombia! I hope to visit Vietnam one day and learn more about its culture and traditions.”
A: Thank you, Diego! Vietnam is the second largest coffee exporter in the world after Brazil, famous for its robusta beans and unique coffee culture, from iced condensed milk “cà phê sữa đá” to egg coffee in Hanoi. You can check out our coffee recipes in our Food Delight segment on vovworld.vn. Enjoy.
B: This week, Oscar Ramirez of Spain shared his impression on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island, which is described as “the Pearl of Asia”. He said: “Phu Quoc is becoming an unforgettable destination. I hope to visit one day, to lie on those long white sandy beaches and watch the turquoise waters glisten.”
 The island is considered the most beautiful place in Vietnam to watch the sunset. In autumn, the fiery red trails of clouds and the golden setting sun make for a majestic and surreal landscape. |
A: It’s so nice, we hope to welcome you in Vietnam. Phu Quoc truly is breathtaking, a tropical paradise with coral reefs, pepper farms, and some of Vietnam’s most stunning sunsets.
B: Phu Quoc is voted the most beautiful island in Asia and the world’s top 3 most beautiful islands in a recent Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 poll by American travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler.
A: Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island, covering an area of 590 square kilometers. Known among travel enthusiasts as "Pearl Island,” Phu Quoc, together with 21 surrounding islets, forms what is known today as the Phu Quoc Special Zone.
B: Also sharing interest in visiting Phu Quoc, Khonesi of Laos asks: “When is the best time to visit Phu Quoc Island?”
A: The best season to visit Phu Quoc is from November to April, during the dry season. That’s when the sea is calm, skies are blue, and the beaches are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
B: But if you prefer fewer tourists and lower prices, try the shoulder months May or October when the weather is still nice but expects more rain and high humidity.
A: Seeing is believing. Pack your bags and get off to Vietnam.
B: From Cambodia, Prak Pan in Phnom Penh congratulated Vietnam for successfully hosting the first Cultures of the World Festival in Hanoi two weeks ago, saying it beautifully connected cultural values among countries.
A: Yes, that event brought together artists from nearly 40 nations, a real celebration of harmony through music and dance. The festival was a friendly meeting of cultures from around the world as Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung put it: “We share and learn together to overcome all barriers of language and geographical distance and get closer together. We create a space to introduce and promote the diversity of cultures. We join hands to contribute to international peace and security by strengthening cooperation between countries through culture in accordance with UNESCO's motto ‘culture for peace’.”
B: Via artful and inspiring performances, Vietnam introduced to the world its image as a friendly and hospitable country with a rich cultural life and national identity.
A: This week, we received a touching letter from Azam Ali Soomro in Pakistan, who wrote that he was moved by our “Sea and Islands of Vietnam” series. He said: “I deeply admire the courage and perseverance of the soldiers who guard Vietnam’s islands in such harsh conditions. Your programs help international listeners feel closer to the people of Vietnam.”
B: That’s so beautifully said. The lives of those stationed on Vietnam’s offshore islands truly reflect bravery and patriotism and it means a lot to us that listener like you appreciate their stories.
A: One of our long-time listeners Muhammad Aqeel Bashir from Pakistan asks: “How does Vietnam ensure that artificial intelligence is applied fairly from cities to rural areas?”
B: Vietnam is currently building what it calls “AI for All” promoting digital transformation in every sector, including agriculture and education. For example, Vietnamese farmers now use AI apps to detect pests and predict weather patterns to protect their crops.
A: And schools in mountainous regions use AI-based translation tools to help ethnic minority students learn Vietnamese more easily. That’s how technology is bridging the gap between rural and urban areas.
B: And now, a quick look at reception reports. Thank you to everyone who continues to monitor our shortwave broadcasts!
A: Our friends in Bangladesh have been especially active this week! Adiba Ava from Munshiganj wrote that she has been listening to VOV5 for 12 years and recently enjoyed our “Colorful Vietnam – Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic Groups” episode about Indigo Hue, the Soul of Dao Attire.
A: Thank you, Adiba! The Dao people’s indigo dyeing process is centuries old — and each pattern carries a family’s story.
B: We also heard from Farhin Rahman in Narayanganj, who enjoyed the “Discovery Vietnam” episode “Picking Strawberries – A Fascinating Experience in Da Lat.”
A: From India, Chinmoy Mahato wrote to us from Vadodara, Gujarat. He says he’s a big fan of VOV and listens regularly, even though it’s 1,900 kilometers from his hometown Jamshedpur.
B: He also mentioned his daughter Urvashi, son-in-law Jitendra, and eight-year-old grandson Shivansh. Hello to your whole family, Chinmoy! Thank you for making VOV part of your home.
A: Muhammad Aqeel Bashir in Pakistan shared his interest in our article “Celebrating Art and Culture Through Hanoi’s Lens”, covering the Photo Hanoi ’25 International Biennale.
B: What a heartwarming batch of letters this week with stories of friendship, curiosity, and love for Vietnam from every corner of the world.
A: Keep your letters and reception reports coming! Write to us at: English Service, VOVWORLD, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam, or email us at englishsection@vov.vn.
A: That’s all for today’s Letter Box! Until next week.
(VOVWORLD) - Leading tourism experts and international tourists have named Phu Quoc the most beautiful island in Asia and the world’s top 3 most beautiful islands in 2025, a major leap forward for Vietnam’s tourism sector.
(VOVWORLD) -Vietnam International Digital Week 2025 opened on Monday, becoming one of the most prestigious annual forums on digital transformation in the region.