Hundreds of books are displayed at Thư Viện Cafe Thứ Bảy Trẻ (Youth Library-Saturday Cafe), a reading room cafe in HCM City launched by veteran musician and music teacher Dương Thụ. — Photo courtesy of Thư Viện Cafe Thứ Bảy Trẻ

HCM CITY — Veteran musician and music teacher Dương Thụ has launched a "reading room" cafe to attract young people in HCM City.

The venue, called Thư Viện Cafe Thứ Bảy Trẻ (Youth Library-Saturday Cafe), has hundreds of titles of rare and best-selling books about literature, culture, history, science and politics.    

Highlighted books include those by famous Vietnamese authors and scholars in the 1930s such as Phạm Quỳnh, Phan Khôi, Đào Duy Anh and Vũ Bằng.

Most of the books were donated by cultural researchers, historians, scientists and mathematicians, including maths professor Ngô Bảo Châu and Dr. Nguyễn Xuân Sanh, a maths expert.   

Thư Viện Cafe Thứ Bảy Trẻ has computers to help readers access the internet.

According to Thụ, the venue is free to people of any age or background. “Reading good books helps young people improve their knowledge and discover the world,” said the 77-year-old Thụ

Thụ, who began his music career in 1982, has composed more than 100 songs in pop and contemporary folk music. Many of his works were top hits and performed by music stars. 

He has worked as a music lecturer at several universities and colleges in Hà Nội and HCM City.   

Thư Viện Cafe Thứ Bảy Trẻ is part of a cultural programme titled Cà Phê Thứ Bảy (Café Saturday) launched by Thụ and his partners in 2009. The programme introduces Vietnamese culture and music to young people.

It offers seminars and forums in fine art, literature, painting, photography, film and theatre. The events are hosted by well-known cultural researchers, musicians, writers and artists. 

Screenings of Vietnamese and famous foreign films are also included.   

Thụ received the Culture and Education prize presented by Phan Châu Trinh Culture Foundation in 2018.

The annual Phan Châu Trinh Awards, launched in 2008 by Phan Châu Trinh Culture Foundation, honours individuals and groups for their contributions to Vietnamese culture, translation, research and Vietnamese studies.

The awards also honour the national hero, poet and cultural expert Phan Châu Trinh of Quảng Nam Province, who fought in the resistance movement against the French.

Thư Viện Cafe Thứ Bảy Trẻ is open from 7am to 10pm every day at 38 Võ Văn Tần Street in District 3. — VNS