Since 2014, April 21 has been designated by the Government as Viet Nam Book and Reading Culture Day. After more than a decade, the event has gradually become a meaningful “cultural festival”, helping to nurture reading habits within the community.

Reading culture is entering a significant phase, with a growing number of activities being held online and attracting large numbers of participants. Major online competitions and creative programmes run by schools and publishing houses are not only reshaping reading habits, but also gradually building a more open, flexible and interactive ecosystem for reading.

Amid the vast mountains of the North-West, the wind-swept central region under the scorching Foehn winds, and even the narrow alleyways on the outskirts of southern cities, vehicles quietly continue their journeys carrying the scent of new books and the light of knowledge.

After eight seasons of organization, the National Book Awards have increasingly affirmed their position as a prestigious prize of the publishing sector in Viet Nam. Innovations in the award structure, evaluation criteria and ways of reaching readers contribute to honoring works of academic value while opening expectations of widely spreading reading culture in social life.

The 2026 Lunar New Year Book Street Festival, held in Ho Chi Minh City from February 15 to 22, drew more than one million visitors over eight days, generating 8.2 billion VND in revenue and selling over 83,700 books. These figures highlight the strong appeal of a cultural space when organised with professionalism and creativity.

To help foster a stronger reading culture and support more effective foreign-language learning among Vietnamese users, Waka, one of Viet Nam’s leading e-book platforms, has officially launched its new feature: Parallel Reading–Translation for English-language books.

The Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports opened the 10th Ha Noi Book Fair 2025 themed “Thang Long – Ha Noi – Aspiring to rise” in the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian area on October 3 to mark the 71st anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital (October 10, 1954 – October 10, 2025)

Viet Nam’s publishing industry is experiencing strong growth in e‑books, which are gradually becoming a new trend with notable appeal and influence on the reading culture.

A reading space for all, a place to pause and admire works of art, or an open-air stage by the riverside for music lovers, all have become an ideal cultural rendezvous, rich with Hue’s distinctive character, leaving lasting impressions on both residents and visitors.