HCM CITY — Nearly 160 new books by international and Vietnamese authors will be released this month as part of the “Tháng 3 Sách Trẻ” (Youth Books for March) programme.

The event is being held by the Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House and other 49 publishers and bookstores in Việt Nam.

The publications include novels by young Vietnamese writers, including Chuyến Tàu Nhật Thực (Train in Eclipse) by Đình Phương, Nhân Giang Nằm Nghiêng (Sloping World) by Đinh Hằng, and Bữa Đời Lạc Phấn (Flavourful Life) by Ka Bình Phong.

Trường An is presenting his debut novel Ngoài Bờ Đông Là Mặt Trời (Beyond the East is the Sun), a chronicle of the life of Vietnamese royalty in the 19th century. It won praise from veteran authors and critics.

The picture version for the second book from the Harry Potter series will also be released.

As part of book month, talks with writers and book introductions will be featured at the pedestrian-only Book Street in District 1.

The Trẻ Publishing House will host a play based on best-selling author Nguyễn Nhật Ánh’s Chuyện Xứ Langbiang on the occasion of the release of its reprint.

The play is about two teenagers and their adventure to a witches’ land called Langbiang. It will be staged by the Tuổi Ngọc (Childhood) drama troupe, which has performed plays for children over the last 20 years.

The play will take place on March 11 on Book Street.

Nguyễn Minh Nhựt, director of the publishing house, said it had made an effort to release new books, especially those by young Vietnamese writers.

As many as 330 reprinted editions of famous local and foreign writers have been released for the occasion, he said.

As part of the programme, the publishing house will offer a 20 per cent discount on all of its titles at bookstores nationwide.

Rare and old books

Thousands of rare and old books are now on display at the Day of Old Books Fair at the September 23 Park in District 1.

The three-day fair includes 20 stalls of secondhand books from bookstores.

Vietnamese poetry books and novels, history books and foreign literary works are featured, as well as exhibitions on southern Vietnamese literary works in the 1930-1945 period.

Three talks by booksellers, collectors and writers are also being held.

All books at the event are being sold at a 50 per cent discount. — VNS