The National Library of Viet Nam organizes Book Festival Day 2017

Welcoming Vietnam Book Day 21^st April, World Book and Copyright Day 23^rd April; and towards the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the National Library of Vietnam (NLV), approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on 20^th April, 2017, the NLV together with central agencies, boards, ministries, libraries, schools, international organizations and enterprises opened the Book Festival 2017 with the theme "Book - Knowledge and Social Development”.

Attending the festival were Mr. Le Doan Hop - former Member of the Party Central Committee, former Minister of Information and Communications; Ms. Hoang Thi Hoa - Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents and Children; Mr. Pham Van Linh - Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Mr. Huynh Vinh Ai - Member of Party Committee, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Luu Tran Tieu - Former Deputy Minister of Culture and Information, Chairman of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association; Mr. Phan Khac Hai - Former Deputy Minister of Culture and Information (now MoCST); Mr. Nguyen Duc Tai - Director General Department - Office Central Party; Mr. Phung Minh Cuong - Deputy Secretary of Party Committee of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ms. Trinh Thi Thuy - Director of Department of Culture; Ms. Mai Thi Thu - Director, National Center for Socio-Economic Information and Forecast, Ministry of Planning and Investment; Ms. Vu Duong Thuy Nga - Director of Library Department; Mr. Pham The Khang - President of Viet Nam Library Association; Ms. Kieu Thuy Nga - Director of NLV, Head of Organization Board; Representatives of the Office, Department, Institute, Association under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of Education and Training; Embassies, international organizations in Hanoi, news agencies, newspapers, radio stations, publishing houses, libraries, universities, high schools, secondary schools, elementary schools, researchers, scholars, historians, writers, organizations, individuals and all ages readers.

After more than 10 years of effective implementation, Book Festival 2017 continues to be held to honor the value of books, affirm the role, position and importance of books in social life; To honor those who work in collecting, compiling, publishing, printing, distributing, preserving and disseminating books; To encourage and develop the reading movement in the community; To raise people's awareness of the great significance and importance of reading for the acquisition of knowledge, skills, development of thinking, education and training of human personality; To raise the responsibility of all levels, branches, functional agencies and social organizations for the building and development of Vietnamese reading culture. Book Festival 2017 brings many meaningful activities such as the "Literature - Knowledge and Social Development” exhibition; Exchange of authors - works; Painting by book contest; Storytelling by book contests (in Vietnamese and English); Identify authors, works contest, etc.

(1) "Books - Knowledge and Social Development" documentary exhibition: More than 500 featured materials would be exhibited from 20^th to 25^th April, 2017 with four contents: Books - Knowledge and Cultural and social development; Books - Knowledge and Economic development; Books - Knowledge and development of science and technology; Books - Knowledge and development of education, health, security and defense. The exhibition provided the public and readers with useful information about the important role of knowledge and also affirmed that knowledge is power, the driving force of social development.

(2) Exchange of authors - works: Many speakers such as Historian Duong Trung Quoc; Associate Professor Dr. Trinh Van Lu; Dr. Education Nguyen Thuy Anh; Author Vu Hung ... have introduced about a number of typical works which won the prize of the Vietnam Publishing Association: The Way of the Destiny, Ceremony of Ritual - The unique cultural heritage of the Muong ethnic group, National Pharmacopoeia of Viet Nam, 12 Children’s Literature Books, etc.. This is not only a meeting for book lovers, but also a venue for spreading cultural values, crystallizing through pages of books to readers.

(3) Painting by book: According to the theme of " Civilized city", with the pure heart of children, the children drew sketches on civilized city: Obeying strictly traffic law, no littering, no destroying environment, etc. brings message to each of us that we need to keep the city more and more beautiful.

(4) Storytelling by book (in Vietnamese and English): The stories of history, culture, literature of Viet Nam and the world have been perceived and re-interpreted by children in form of plays. They conveyed the content by speech, sound and theatrical art in a humorous, witty way but no less deep, emotional rich deposition in the heart of the audience.

(5) Identify authors, works contest: With the suggestion of characters, authors, works, teams quickly identified and answered the questions given about history, landmarks, Vietnamese and world literature.

In addition to organizing activities, the NLV has received and shared donation materials from agencies, organizations and individuals to some libraries in remote areas, border and islands throughout the country. This can be considered as a practical, meaningful social and humanitarian activity of the library. A great effort contributes to raising people's intellectual level and reading culture.

The festival also had the participation of a number of publishers and bookstores introducing thousands of titles with rich content, giving participants the opportunity to select favorite works at preferential prices.

During the day, the participants participated in the lottery and were lucky to receive two return tickets Ha Noi - Europe sponsored by Turkish Airlines.

It can be said that responding to Book and World Copyright Day, Book Festival in our country has gradually become more orderly, deep, widespread and a beauty in Vietnamese spiritual culture and tradition.

Photos of the event: