HCMC’s book street festival to welcome Lunar New Year

Ho Chi Minh City’s annual book festival along Nguyen Hue Street is scheduled to open on February 16, part of numerous events to welcome the Lunar New Year.

The book festival along Nguyen Hue street in 2014
The book festival along Nguyen Hue street in 2014

Head of the department of information and communications, Le Thai Hy said the festival will run until February 22, the fourth day of the first lunar month, under the theme ‘Vietnamese identity – Vietnamese spirit’.

He added that the book street will consist of four sections featuring titles on the history and people of Ho Chi Minh City, its image in modern times, as well as the sea and islands of Vietnam.

The section on Vietnamese sea and islands will present to visitors a wide range of pictures, maps and other materials of historical evidence concerning Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

The 2015 book festival will also have special areas dedicated to e-books, books for children and people with disabilities, and old books published since the late 19th century.

The event is expected to create a festive atmosphere during the early days of the Lunar New Year and promote reading culture among HCMC residents.