International cultural relations between Radio Romania and the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) continue to expand through the launch of VOV’s new classical music channel, VOV Sonata – FM89, dedicated to classical, orchestral, chamber and jazz music.

 As VOV representatives state, VOV Sonata supports Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy and contributes to the country’s soft power. It also gives the public a high-quality musical space for daily life, and positions VOV among broadcasters worldwide through rights-sharing partnerships. A trial broadcast is planned for 2026, ahead of a full launch. Radio Romania’s support, part of VOV’s wider cooperation with the ABU network, has given VOV two things: music for the channel’s early programming, and practical experience with international rights models – valuable for a channel format still new to Vietnam.

The relationship also strengthens ties between the two national broadcasters within ABU. It is reciprocal: once VOV’s own archive is digitized and edited, VOV plans to share recordings from its collection with the international broadcasting community, Radio Romania included. For Vietnamese listeners, the partnership also opens a channel to music they would otherwise rarely encounter on public radio.

The materials provided through these music exchanges included performances by the radio ensembles, recordings of landmark cultural events from the Romanian space, and interpretations by prestigious artists—both established and rising—to bring Romanian social life, culture, and musical traditions closer to Vietnamese audiences.

Beyond providing copyright-cleared recordings, the partnership highlights the international recognition of Radio Romania and opens new perspectives for cooperation in promoting musical diversity on a global scale. This collaboration reaffirms the strategic role of Romanian public radio in international cultural diplomacy.