PRIZE-WINNING BOOKS: Representatives of the HCM City's Department of Information and Communications and the Việt Nam Publishers’ Association view books that won National Book Awards in 2022 on display at HCM City Book Pedestrian Street in District 1. VNA/VNS Photo by Thu Hoài

HCM CITY — HCM City is launching a series of cultural activities at the Book Pedestrian Street to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the traditional day of Việt Nam’s publishing, printing and distribution industry (October 10, 1952-2022).

The celebration is organised by the the city's Department of Information and Communications, the Việt Nam Publishers’ Association, and their partners, including city-based publishing houses and book companies.

With a theme of “Book and Digital Transformation", the event also aims to mark National Digital Transformation Day on October 10.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Friday evening, the department’s deputy director Từ Lương highlighted the strong development of the publishing, printing and distribution industry in Việt Nam and HCM City in particular over the last 70 years, and its contribution to raising reading habits.

He added that despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the publishers, printing companies and book distributors in the city have overcome challenges to serve readers and accelerate digital transformation.

The event features an exhibition of 26 award-winning books from the National Book Awards 2022 announced in Hà Nội on October 3.

The books feature topics on politics-economics, natural sciences and technology, social sciences, humanities, culture, and literature.

On display are Hoàng Việt Nhất Thống Dư Địa Chí (The Geography Book of United Imperial Viêt Nam), a book on national geography during the Nguyễn dynasty (1820-1884) written in Chinese Han script by Lê Quang Định (1759-1813) and translated and annotated by Phan Đăng, and the novel Cô Bé Nhìn Mưa (A Girl Watching the Rain) by female author Đặng Thị Hạnh.

More than 20 children’s books, which won National Book Awards from 2018-2022, are also on display, such as Cà Nóng Chu Du Trường Sa (Cà Nóng Travels to Spratly Islands) by Bùi Tiểu Quyên.

CELEBRATING BOOKS: A visitor listens to audio books at the book street. Photo courtesy of the HCM City Book Street Company

The event also introduces a library of audio books and e-books via the applications Voiz FM and Komo.

In addition, the organisers are showcasing a special collection of photos and documents on the development of Việt Nam’s publishing, printing and distribution industry over 70 years, as well as the city’s digital transformation programme.

During the event, all publishing houses and book companies on the book street are offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on many titles, especially books for children.

The event takes place at Nguyễn Văn Bình Street in District 1 until October 16 . — VNS