An exhibition "Aspirations to Reach Great Heights", one of a series of the National Library-hosted activities to promote reading culture, is introducing 1,000 books to visitors.

The activities aim to celebrate Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2023 (April 21) and the World Book and Copyright Day (April 23).

The book titles are divided into four themes: The Outline on Vietnamese Culture 1943 and guiding viewpoints of the Party and State on building and developing Vietnamese culture, Vietnamese cultural journeys, the National Book Awards and positive contributions to the development of reading culture, Books and reading culture-perception, innovation, creativity.

Book release of Kim Dong Publishing House at the National Library. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

With the theme "Books for me, for you", the book festival drew a large number of readers of all ages.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on April 19, Acting Director of the National Library of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Dung affirmed that Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2023 is an important cultural event that is awaited by book lovers and the whole social community.

He said this event contributes to building an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity; honoring the value of books, affirming the position, role and importance of books in social life; encouraging and developing the reading movement in the community; honoring readers and participants who work in the publishing industry and enhancing the responsibility of people for building and developing reading culture in Vietnam.

Through his speech, Dung sent a message: "The more you read, the more you know, the more you learn, the more you go! Pick up a book and read it, and the whole world will open up before your eyes."

An activity for little children at the National Library. Photo: Yen Nga/The Hanoi Times

The book festival will include fan meetings and book releases, hence readers will have a chance to interact  with Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, former Deputy Minister of National Defense, author of Nguoi thay (Teacher); poet Le Tuan Loc, author of Cam on nguoi, song Mekong (Thank You, Mekong River) and authors of Kim Dong Publishing House’s book Nhung mien luu dau-Canh Viet trong van chuong (Regions Saving the Mark-Vietnam Landscape in Literature).

Other side activities include: Story-telling contest in English; explore the digital library; book painting competition; mind games: Pieces of knowledge; display of  winning works of the Reading Culture Ambassador contest; exhibition of the winning works of the book-inspired painting contest.

The book fair will run until May 5 at the National Library of Vietnam, 31 Trang Thi Street, Hanoi.

Nhung mien luu dau-Canh Viet trong van chuong is an artbook collecting the best excerpts from high school textbooks about the beautiful scenery of Vietnam combined with paintings created by modern artists. Photo: Kim Dong Publishing House