HCM City Book Street attracts 2.4m visitors

Lovers of letters: The HCM City Book Street’s cultural activities have attracted 2.4 million local and foreign visitors this year. — Photo by Phuong Mai

“The street has organised 167 cultural and book signing events, attracting dozens of leading domestic and foreign publishers, distributors and agencies,” said the association’s deputy chairman Le Hoang.

“Book weeks and festivals at the street, such as the Book Exhibition Celebrates 42nd Anniversary of the Country’s Reunification Day (April 30), European Literature Week and Book Week Celebrates 100 Years of Russian Revolution, often attract around 6,000 readers per day and a double at weekend,” he added.

“We are working with local authorities to open book streets in big cities and provinces around the country,” he said. 

Next month, the Vung Tau City Book Street will open on Ba Cu Street. It will have 17 book stalls, two cafe shops, an entertainment area and a stage offering theatre and art performances.

“We have worked with the VNPA, publishers, distributors and companies in the industry to make the street become one of the city’s tourist sites,” Nguyen Dang Minh, standing deputy secretary of the Vung Tau City Party Committee, said.

Another event, Spring Book Fair 2018, will also be organised at Quang Trung Park, Ba Cu Street, during the Lunar New Year, which begins on February 14, according to Minh.

The 13 day-event will include cultural activities, talk shows by famous authors and painting contests for children and teenagers.

Dozens of book shops, publishers and distributors, such as Tre Publishing House and HCM City Book Distribution Corporation (FAHASA), have signed to join the fair.