A new year has knocked on all our doors. To open the mailbag this week, we would like to extend our best wishes to all readers and listeners near and far. We would also like to send our sincere thanks to all of you for your invaluable opinions and recommendations during the past year, which served as a source of encouragement to help us fulfill our tasks.

2005 was another successful year for VOVNews. The launching of four of VOV’s major radio channels on VOVNews brought joy for VOV listeners who cannot tune into the station. After the launch, we received thousands of emails from listeners giving opinions and recommendations, which helped us further improve our programmes.

From late December 2005, VOVNews began to experiment with a new layout to help provide visitors with easier and convenient access. A mini poll conducted by VOVNews showed that the new layout has received favourable responses from listeners and readers.

Cong Minh, who is currently residing in the Philippines, wrote that the presentation is in good order and convenient for users.” Others said that the new layout looks more professional than the old one. However, they also said that it takes time to log into the website and download audio files for listening.

As we mentioned earlier, errors are unavoidable during our experimental period. Therefore, we would like to receive your opinions to help us improve the layout. 

Last week, we received a lot of Xmas and New Year greetings from readers and listeners. From the US, Minh Khang wrote, “I feel very homesick during the transitional period from the old to the new year and wish to return to the homeland for a family reunion. Despite living far from the homeland I logged onto domestic websites to hunt for news from the homeland. VOVNews is one of my favourite sites that I often visit, because in addition to news, I have a chance to listen to VOV broadcasts, particularly the four channels VOV1, VOV2, VOV3 and VOV6. I am very happy to hear familiar voices from the homeland. Above all, VOVNews helps shorten the distance between the US and Vietnam.”

Another listener Nguyen Dang Truong from Hue Agro-Forestry University wrote an email of thanks to VOVNews and asked for instructions to hear the audio programme Dialogue for Famous Figures webcast on VOVNews.

Well, every week we record and post this programme on VOVNews and to hear this programme, you need to download and install RealPlayer software for free from www.real.com onto your computer. We wish you success and if you have any queries, please tell us know.

In another email, Nguyen Thi Viet Nga wrote that her 18-month-old daughter likes children’s songs on VOVNews. She asked VOVNews to post the song Bo la tat ca (Dad is everything to me) as it is her daughter’s favourite song.

Thank you for visiting VOVNews and we will include this song in the Music on Request programme next week. We hope your daughter will be satisfied with this gift next week.

From the US, Le Tien Dat asked VOVNews to introduce him to the addresses of several places he would like to visit during his upcoming return for the traditional Lunar New Year Festival (Tet). Among the places, Dat said he wants to visit pagodas owned by female nuns either in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, which care for homeless people. He also wants to visit the Thai Ha Ca Tru (Ceremonial chamber music) club established by artist Nguyen Van Mui.

To our understanding, artist Mui used his house on lane 27, Thuy Khue street, Hanoi, as permanent residence for the club’s regular activities. We will send you the addresses you requested as soon as we find them.

During the week, we also received emails, articles and photos from Tran Tai, Ngoc Tram, Tran Van, Quang Huy, Manh Hung, Khue Viet Truong, Cong Luan, MyHanh, Hoa Binh and Tran Ngoc.

Thank you very much for your co-operation. If you have any queries about Vietnam, please write to us at the VOVNews Office, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam.

You can send your questions to vovnews@hn.vnn.vn or english@vovnews.vn or telephone us on (84-4) 8255319.

Thanks for joining us and goodbye.