HCM City expects to become World Book Capital in 2025
Ho Chi Minh City is planning to apply for the title of UNESCO World Book Capital (WBC) in 2025, according to Lam Dinh Thang, Director of the municipal Department of Information and Communications.
Chilren enjoy reading books on a book street in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA)🏅 – Ho Chi Minh City is planning to apply for the title of UNESCO World Book Capital (WBC) in 2025, according to Lam Dinh Thang, Director ofthe municipal Department of Information and Communications.
He said that thecity has advantages and potential to develop the publishing industry andreading culture in the community. There are 39domestic and foreign publishers, more than 140 distribution units, and nearly1,000 private bookstores in the city. It also has 1,500 local libraries andmore than 1,100 school libraries, creating a favourable environment to meet thereading needs of all people. For years, thepublishing industry and reading culture in the city have been thrivingstrongly. From 2015-2020, the city published about 2 million copiesof books on average each year with an annual growth rate of 10%. Facing the strongdevelopment trend of digital technology, the electronic publishing market inthe city has grown tremendously. In 2022, the number of electronic publicationsin the city increased more than three times compared to 2021, with more than 4million users, equivalent to 3.4 million copies of books being read. Moreover, witheffective models implemented in recent years, for example, the book streets, thecity is considered the "bright spot" of the whole country in thedevelopment of reading culture.
The title of WBC has been held each year since 2001 by atown or city committed to acting to create a culture of reading. It can providean important impetus to experiment and innovate in the ways that literacy andreading are promoted, as well as to invest in key infrastructure, not least libraries.
🌄 Madrid in Spain was named the first WBC in 2001, Accraof Ghana in 2023, Strasbourg in France in 2024. UNESCO has launched the callfor cities interested in holding the title in 2025, with applications due to besubmitted no later than April 16./.
Thousands of books are set to go on show at the annual book street festival which will take place in downtown Ho Chi Minh City from February 9 to February 15 in celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.
Ho Chi Minh City Book Street has become known among book lovers as an ideal reading space and a venue for activities spreading the love and habit of reading.
Several recent surveys on the reading habits of children have shown that children's books by Vietnamese authors have been favoured by both young readers and their parents, in comparison with foreign books.
The third HCM City Book Fair for Children to promote the habit of reading among children and teenagers opened on July 15 at the HCM City Book Pedestrian Street.
While technology moves forward, with some 70 percent of the population having access to the internet, Vietnamese readers are being left behind. Although the digital transformation plays an important role in promoting reading culture in the country, overall readership is still lacking, according to Director of the Authority of Publication, Printing and Distribution Nguyen Nguyen.
The World Police Band Concert - Vietnam 2025 is an important opportunity to enhance cultural and artistic exchanges and mutual understanding between Vietnam’s public security force and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
Young people are no longer seeing heritage as something distant. They are actively engaging with it, for example, photographing it, performing it, and making it part of their everyday creative expression.
Demonstrating their superior form, the Thai women’s team cruised to a straight-sets victory, winning 25–16, 25–16, and 25–21. With this result, Thailand remains unbeaten across both legs of the tournament so far.
According to the latest FIFA women’s rankings, Vietnam ranked sixth in Asia, behind Japan (8th globally), the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (10th), Australia (15th), China (16th) and the Republic of Korea (21st).
Accessible via //a80.hanoi.gov.vn and a mobile app, the platform serves as the official information hub for parades, cultural events, exhibitions, and public services. It offers real-time updates on schedules, traffic, security, healthcare, and live broadcasts, as well as behind-the-scenes stories and community-shared moments from across the country.
Vietnamese language is now officially taught at four high schools and is one of eight optional second foreign languages in the national university entrance exam of the RoK.
Coach Masahiko Okiyama asked his Vietnamese side to step up a gear after the break, and it took only three minutes to double their lead thanks to an individual effort from Y Za Luong, who finished crisply into the bottom corner.
More than 150 images on display highlight the National Assembly’s 80-year development and the performance of the HCM City delegation of NA deputies during the 2021–2026 term.
The festival aims to foster artistic and cultural exchange, while deepening international appreciation for national identity, societal values and the missions of law enforcement agencies, especially those of the Vietnamese People's Police and their counterparts around the globe.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to display up to 150 posters at Ho Chi Minh Square in Vinh for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution on August 19 and National Day on September 2.
The competition offers a meaningful cultural and educational platform, serving not only as a creative space for Vietnamese and international children living in Hanoi but also as a forum to inspire patriotism, a love for peace, environmental awareness, and the aspiration to build a humane and sustainable world.
Taking a journey to the Cham Museum — the modest building in Phan Rang –Thap Cham, Indian writer Ankita Mahabir said that the museum might not boast size but it brims with pride for the local community, featuring carefully preserved sandstone sculptures, portraits, and rare artifacts.
For years, the Vietnamese community in many countries rarely had the chance to experience Vietnam’s traditional arts and culture actitivies organized by the Vietnam government, except the annual event “Vietnam Day Abroad” that has been organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2010. But the year 2024 marked a turning point.
In the context of international integration and globalisation, culture and art education plays a vital role in promoting the all-round development of Vietnam's young generation.
Vietnam shared the top podium with the Philippines in the medal tally with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the last SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The “Vietnam – Colours from the Tropics” Cultural Festival in Moscow, Russia, has wrapped up after drawing 968,000 local residents and visitors, surpassing expectations and surprising organisers with the vibrant interest it sparked in the Russian capital.
Numerous commemorative activities highlighting the national remarkable achievements will be held nationwide in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945 – 2025) and National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2025).
Chilren enjoy reading books on a book street in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA) 
