The Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre is holding a virtual exhibition on the 2021 Mid-Autumn Festival

B: This week, our foreign language programs received feedback from nearly 400 listeners in 34 countries around the world, in addition to the many comments posted on vovworld.vn and our Facebook fanpage.

A: In their emails and letters, many listeners shared their knowledge of Vietnam’s Mid-autumn Festival and sent beautiful wishes for Vietnamese children on this occasion. The Mid-autumn Festival, which is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, falls on September 21 this year.

B: Amir Jameel of Pakistan wrote: “The Mid-autumn Moon Festival, called Tết Trung Thu in Vietnamese, is celebrated in the fall during the full moon. It was originally held to give thanks for the harvest and to pray for good luck and prosperity in the coming year.”

The “Mid-Autumn Festival Reunion” exhibition is held online at hoangthanhthanglong.vn and trungbayonline.hoangthanhthanglong.vn. (Photo: The Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre)

A: “The Mid-autumn Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Vietnam and has a very prominent place in Vietnamese society. Voice of Vietnam is presenting informative programs about the Mid-autumn Festival for its worldwide audience in its daily broadcast, on its informative website, and on its social media page. On this occasion, my family and I and our club members extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the great people of Vietnam and its government, and the staff members of Voice of Vietnam and its management. Wishing this festival brings good luck and prosperity and hoping it is joyous and fills your days ahead with happiness, laughter, and fun to cheer your days in this festive season and always.”

B: Thank you, Amir Jameel, for the beautiful greetings cards you sent us on the occasion of the Mid-autumn Festival.

A: The Mid-autumn Festival is a highly-anticipated festival for children. But this year, the celebration was different because of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for children isolated by social distancing or lying in a COVID-19 field hospital.

B: Many of the field hospitals in HCM City organized special events to celebrate the Mid-autumn Festival. Doctors and nurses wearing protective suits sang to their young patients and gave them gifts.

Moon cakes are handed out to child patients, who are receiving treatment at Children's Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh city. (Photo: Quang Chau/VNA)

A: In some hospitals, health workers and volunteers organized lion dances, a lantern procession, and a Mid-autumn Festival feast for the children.

B: In areas under social distancing measures, children were given gifts at home by local authorities and volunteers.

A: Many virtual activities were also held to cheer up children during the Mid-autumn Festival. The Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center hosted a virtual exhibition featuring images and stories related to the Festival. Mid-autumn activities held in Hanoi in the 1900’s were recalled through paintings and memoirs written by French researcher Henri Oger and several well-known Vietnamese writers.

B: Folk toys restored by artisans in Hanoi's Old Quarter and traditional craft villages were also displayed.

A: This year, due to social distancing, many Vietnamese parents made and taught their children how to make lanterns, toys, masks, and mooncakes.

10-year-old To Minh Duc is making his first-ever moon cake. (Photo: Thu Ha/VOV)

B: The pandemic has disrupted our lives, but on the positive side, has created an opportunity to learn new things and experience things we never thought of before.

A: After listening to our English program on the frequency of 11885 khz on September 17, Christer Brunstrom of Sweden wrote: “The signal strength was strong but the audio quality was still poor (although slightly better than the last time I tuned in). I wonder if it is the studio equipment or a faulty transmitter.”

A: Thank you Mr. Brunstrom, for sending us your feedback after a very long hiatus. We will forward your technical comments to our technicians. We hope to hear more from you.

B:  In his email to VOV this week, Shivendu Paul of India sent us reception reports for several VOV programs in September on the frequency of 7220 khz and rated SINPO between 3 and 4.

A: Next, we’d like to thank listeners around the world for sending us congratulations on the recognition by UNESCO this week of two biosphere reserves in Vietnam.

B: On Sept. 15 UNESCO designated Nui Chua National Park in Ninh Thuan province and Kon Ha Nung Plateau in Gia Lai province world biosphere reserves, raising the number of world biosphere reserves in Vietnam to 11. 

Waterfall 50 – a wonder of the Kon Ha Nung Plateau (Photo: VNA)

A: Kon Ha Nung Plateau in Gia Lai covers 413,500 hectares encompassing Kon Ka Kinh National Park and Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve. The reserve, with 16,000 hectares of special-use forests, is a transition ecosystem between the east and west sides of the Truong Son mountain range. It is home to rare and diverse flora and fauna.

B: Kon Ha Nung's flora ecosystem consists mainly of lowland and mountain subtropical evergreen forests. The reserve has 380 animal species, including 80 mammals, 228 birds and 38 reptiles. Many of its species are listed in Vietnam’s Red Book.

Boasting many beautiful waterfalls, the Kon Ha Nung Plateau is an extremely attractive eco-tourism destination of Gia Lai province. (Photo: VNA)

A: Gray-shanked doucs, black-crested gibbons, great hornbills, and masked finfoots are among its protected animals. Inside the reserve there are 12 waterfalls over 15 meters high, surrounded by primeval forest. Due to their seclusion, these waterfalls remain pristine and have yet to be overrun by hordes of tourist.

B: Nui Chua Biosphere Reserve in Ninh Thuan province is a typical ecosystem for Southeast Asia. It covers 30,000 hectares and its core area, of Nui Chua National Park, combines forest, sea, and semi-desert ecosystems.

A: The reserve has 1,500 plant species, including 10 endemic species and 54 rare species, some listed in the Vietnam Red Book and the World Red List. Its rich fauna includes 756 species of land animals, 350 kinds of coral, and hundreds of marine animals.

B: Nui Chua is a rare place where sea turtles come to lay their eggs every year. The turtles and their beach are currently protected.

Nui Chua National Park in Ninh Thuan province

 A: One of the special features of Nui Chua National Park is a dry, hot climate that resembles places in Africa. The annual high temperature is around 42 degrees Celsius, earning this place the name "Phan Rang Dry Forest".

B: The harsh climate and diverse topography of this dry forest ecosystem are unique in Southeast Asia.

A: We really hope the pandemic will be contained soon, so we can welcome you to Vietnam to explore our magnificent natural landscapes and diverse culture, and get to know our friendly people. We also want to learn more about your country. We hope and believe better days will come soon.

B: Thank you all for tuning in to VOV’s English broadcast and leaving your comments on our Facebook fanpage. We always 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. We have more great stories and videos on our website at vovworld.vn. Thank you all. Stay safe and healthy. Goodbye.