Visitors are seeking books at the FAHASA Festival 2019, opening at the HCM City Youth Cultural House until December 22. Photo mtv.vn

HCM CITY More than 60,000 copies of books from local and international publishers and distributors are being offered at FAHASA Festival 2019 at the HCM City Youth Cultural House until December 22.

Books on literature, history, culture, economics and comics from Việt Nam’s leading publishing houses, including Trẻ, Kim Đồng and Nhã Nam, are on sale at the book fair.

Best-selling titles by Vietnamese authors Nguyễn Nhật Ánh, Tony Buổi Sáng and Trác Nhã are included.

English-language dictionaries, reference books, and children’s books from international publishers are showcased as well.

The fair also offers 150,000 stationery from local and international manufactures, Christmas-themed ornamental items, and toys.

Most products are discounted from 10 to 30 per cent. Some of them are discounted up to 50 per cent.

Nguyễn Thị Phụng, general director of the HCM City Book Distribution Corporation (FAHASA), the fair’s organiser, said: “The FAHASA Festival will become annual events to provide an entertaining venue for residents, particularly young people and families during the Christmas and New Year season.”

Phụng said the fair also included the Day of Japan and the Day of South Korea to introduce cuisine and culture of the two countries.

The fair features talk shows with Lê Thẩm Dương from the HCM City University of Banking, and Hồ Trung Dũng, who teaches German at the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, about learning a foreign language. 

The highlight of the event will be a meeting with director Victor Vũ and the cast from of the movie Mắt Biếc (Blue Eyes) on December 21.

Mắt Biếc, an adaptation from a novel of the same name by best-selling author Nguyễn Nhật Ánh, will be released on December 20.

Art performances to welcome Christmas will be organised on December 22.

Nguyễn Thị Đức Minh, a mother of a 6-year-old girl and four-year-old son, said the fair was nicely decorated with small stalls and lights.

“They have beautiful pictures and pretty gifts at bargain prices,” Minh said.

The FAHASA Festival is open from 8am-10pm until December 22. The venue is at 4 Phạm Ngọc Thạch Street in District 1.  VNS