Another Xmas has come and this year the festival seemed more joyful than last year, thanks to improvements to people’s living conditions. The festive atmosphere prevailed across the country, not only in Christian churches but on all big streets, entertainment centres and hotels. Streets lined with pine trees were decorated with colourful lights and white snow, and Santa Clauses in red suits were out in force. In recent years, when Xmas comes, Santa Clauses can be seen riding on motorbikes along the streets to addresses to present good kids with nice toys.

Despite being busy preparing special editions for New Year and the Traditional Lunar New Year Festival (Tet), VOVNews organised a joyful Xmas celebration for its staff and their children. A big man dressed in Santa Claus suit presented gifts and sweeties, told funny stories and advised the children to learn harder and become good children and pupils.  

Last week, VOVNews received Xmas and New Year greetings from listeners and readers near and far. In his email from San Diego, California, Jerry Pham Viet Hung expressed his homesickness when thinking of Xmas and the upcoming Traditional Lunar New Year Festival.

“During this year’s Xmas, my family did not go out,” wrote Hung. “We missed the homeland very much and wished we could return to Vietnam now…. From my past experience, Vietnamese people celebrate Xmas as jubilantly as westerners do. One week later, they celebrate New Year and then the Traditional Lunar New Year Festival. I was impressed by the song Happy New Year before and after Xmas and then till Tet. Nowhere in the world the song is sung so many times like in Vietnam. I often log on to the Internet to search for information from the homeland. Tet is drawing near and I promise to have regular contact with you and hope to drop in your office when I return again to Hanoi. I send my best wishes to VOV and VOVNews staff.” 

Also from the US, VOVNews regular reader Phan Lac Dong Quan phoned VOVNews and read a poem he has just composed as a gift to all VOV staff on the occasion of Xmas and New Year. 

When New Year comes, everybody seems to leave behind worries and sadness to return to their homes and enjoy the special meal of the last day of the old year with their family members. We would like to express our sympathy and share your homesickness and wish you good health, happiness and success in your life.   

These days, VOVNews has been testing a new layout, which is designed to create convenience for readers and listeners. In his email to VOVNews, reader Nguyen Duc Hieu wrote that VOVNews looks nicer and is more convenient for readers.

“VOVNews has kept up its appearance with several modern online newspapers, however, there should be more links to related stories to help readers find them easier,” Hieu wrote. 

Well, VOVNews has been testing the new layout for about two weeks and technical failures are inevitable. We hope to receive your recommendations and opinions to cater for your tastes.  

During the week, we received an email by Hoang Van Yen from Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, who wrote:” VOVNews has become one of my close friends since I found it by chance. Previously, I loved to listen to VOV through my radio, but the hobby died away due to busy work far away and I could not bring my radio with me from home. When I found VOVNews, I often log on to it to hear familiar voices. I like your audio webpage with its diverse range of songs and short stories, which can be downloaded for listening at any time. I would like to express my sincere thanks to VOVNews for what you have done to serve listeners and readers. By the way, I would like VOVNews to post the song Gan lam Truong Sa on the web so that my family and I can hear it.”  

We were happy to read through your email and appreciate your feelings towards VOV and VOVNews in particular. Despite being busy, you log onto VOVNews and listening to our webcast programmes. To meet the increasing demand of listeners and readers, VOV and VOVNews have continuously renewed its production to bring quality prorammes to you.

Regarding the song you requested, we will post it to the web as soon as we find it in the VOV audio centre. We hope you will listen to it in the latest Music on Request programme.

A VOV listener named Dat wrote in his email that he likes listening to the Night Story Narration broadcasts, but he does not have enough time to follow the broadcast via the radio. He asked VOVNews if he can re-listen to previous broadcasts. 

The Night Story Narration programme is on air from 22.00 to 22.30 on the Cultural and Social Affairs channel (VOV2). Every week, VOVNews selects interesting stories and posts them on the net. You can download your favourite broadcasts and play them at any time you like.   

Another listener Pham Dinh Sy Quoc said in his email that he does not know how to listen to songs on VOVNews.

To listen to audio programmes on VOVNews, your computer should be installed with the RealPlayer software which can be downloaded for free from www.real.com. With this software, you can listen to any audio programmes on VOVNews. We wish you success.

During the week, we also received emails, articles and photos from Luong Thanh Tan, Phuong Hong, Hung Le Duy, Anna Ha, Thach Le, Tien Do, Khue Viet Truong, Thu Ha, Ngoc Tram, Thanh Tung, Minh Ngoc, Hong Diep and Minh Anh.

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.