HÀ NỘI — Books are one of humanity’s oldest communications technologies, and this year’s Hà Nội Book Fair seeks to highlight their role in the digital age with the theme “Books and Start-ups”.

The annual fair, which runs from September 22 to 26 at Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, will gather 200 stalls of book companies, publishing houses and distributors nationwide. The book fair will introduce books on start-ups, foreign books and a wide range of books issued by Vietnamese publishers. E-books and reading technology for digital devices will be highlighted as well. Events include seminars, discussions and conversations between readers and authors. These dialogues will focus on start-ups, reading culture, and effective reading skills.

Representatives of international publishing organisations and associations will be invited to the fair and attend talks on development trends in the  publishing industry. They will also share their experiences of organising and attending international book fairs.

Book agencies will exchange copyrights and sign co-operation agreements. The book fair will call on participating enterprises and readers to donate books for mountainous and disadvantaged areas.

The Book Fair contributes to improving reading culture, encouraging book reading among the people and building the elegant, civilised lifestyle of Hanoians, said Nguyễn Minh Khánh, vice director of the capital Department of Information and Communications.

It also contributes to popularizing the revolutionary tradition among the Party, the government and the people, he said.

The fair will open from 8am to 9pm each day.

As Middle Autumn Festival is coming, a children’s book fair will also take place at the Children’s Palace, 36 Lý Thái Tổ Street, Hà Nội.

Entitled Middle Autumn Festival for Children, the book fair will open daily from September 21 to 29. About 50 agencies have registered to present children’s books as well as products and services for children. — VNS