Within the context of a project pf UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) for enhancing access to information in rural Vietnam, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed 21 September last by Hoang Minh Nguyet, Deputy Director General, The Voice of Vietnam and Chu Shiu Kee, Chief Representative of UNESCO, Hanoi to launch this community radio initiative. IPDC assistance will ensure the upgrade of basic equipment for a communal radio in Hai Duong province and VOV will provide training for the communal media cadres.

Radio programme production will now be participatory with an emphasis on local content materials, and reinforced by equipment for digital formats and access to the Internet for knowledge sharing and development.

It is foreseen that on successful implementation of this project as a model, the techniques may then be applied to other local radios to enhance access to information in rural Vietnam.