Working together to spread the culture of reading.

On the morning of December 10th, Thanh Nien Books officially launched at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first issue of Thanh Nien Newspaper (January 3, 1986 - January 3, 2026), aiming to further promote reading culture in the community.

Báo Thanh niên•09/12/2025

BRAND IDENTITY OF YOUTH BOOKS

Mr. Le Hoang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Publishers Association and Director of Ho Chi Minh City Book Street Company, believes that the current state of reading culture among Vietnamese people, especially young people, is still low, even very low, compared to other countries in the Asian region and developed nations. "It can be said that our reading culture is in a 'low point' that requires swift collective effort," he stated.

In 2024, according to publishing industry data, printed books reached 597.2 million copies per 101.11 million people. Notably, textbooks accounted for 77.35% of the total, meaning only 22.65% were other types of books. Economically , the total revenue of the publishing industry in 2024 reached 4,500 billion VND, equivalent to an average spending of 44,500 VND per person per year on books in Vietnam – roughly the price of one bowl of pho or two cups of inexpensive coffee.

Chung sức lan tỏa văn hóa đọc - Ảnh 1. — Author Nguyen Nhat Anh at the book signing event for " *The Little Girl Next Door and Four Candies"* on December 7, 2025 in Hanoi.

According to Mr. Le Hoang, the reason is: "On an individual level, reading culture is composed of three core elements: First and foremost is the habit of reading. Without this habit, all other elements are very difficult to form. Second, reading with purpose and passion. When people read books to learn, to develop themselves, and recognize the real value and benefits from books, they will gradually develop a love, inspiration, and motivation to read. Third, effective reading means that readers must have reading skills, know how to take notes, systematize, and extract lessons, values, and knowledge from the pages. Only from these three elements can a true reading culture be formed. To achieve this, each individual must have a reading culture."

Regarding the Youth Book Series, Mr. Le Hoang commented: "This is a unique publishing model, bearing the distinct identity of Thanh Nien Newspaper, making a positive contribution to the publishing industry and young readers. Its uniqueness stems primarily from the way works are selected through writing competitions, thematic columns, and writing campaigns. As a result, the works published in the books have undergone rigorous quality screening. The source of works from the newspaper is also topical, reflects the pulse of life, and offers a diverse range of topics and perspectives, vividly reflecting many fields such as economics, culture, history, education , and society."

Chung sức lan tỏa văn hóa đọc - Ảnh 2. — Writer Phuong Huyen *(in the blue shirt)* brings books to Truong Sa.

"Not only serving readers, the Youth Book Collection should also target young people with writing abilities – young writers who are on their journey with literature," Mr. Le Hoang emphasized. He also suggested continuing to maintain thematic books, writing campaigns, long-term columns, and continuing to release books that have been and are being developed in the past, as well as strengthening promotional efforts, both online and through book launches, exchanges, and collaborations with the Youth Union, Student Association, Young Entrepreneurs Association, etc., in order to spread awareness and reach readers.

Reading books helps me understand myself better.

According to Miss Luong Thuy Linh, many young people are increasingly interested in various types of books such as skill development, inspirational books, or career development books. However, the habit of reading deeply and slowly to reflect still needs to be nurtured more. For her, reading is not only about acquiring knowledge, but also a way for each person to have a dialogue with themselves, to understand themselves better in a constantly changing world.

Luong Thuy Linh believes that the launch of the Youth Bookcase has a positive and humane meaning. It's not just a space to display works through writing competitions, thematic sections, and writing campaigns, but also a place to spread the spirit of reading to the community, especially young people. Books are present in open, accessible, and friendly spaces, making reading more natural. Luong Thuy Linh believes that spaces like this will help rekindle the inspiration to read, so that books become familiar companions in daily life.

According to Miss Luong Thuy Linh, the digital age offers opportunities for rapid access to information but also poses significant challenges to current reading culture. Maintaining the habit of reading books, especially printed books, becomes a proactive choice, helping individuals to "slow down" to think more deeply and select sustainable values amidst the vast amount of content on social media.

"I hope that in the future, the Youth Book Shelf can incorporate more activities such as author meet-and-greets, book reading sessions, sharing reading habits, or inspiring stories about books. When books are connected to experiences, emotions, and relationships, I believe that reading culture will not only be preserved but also develop more strongly and sustainably in the hearts of readers," the beauty queen expressed.

Journalist Trung Nghia - Ambassador of Reading Culture in Ho Chi Minh City:

Thanh Nien Books - a new "book touchpoint" for readers.

We live in an age of information explosion, with social media, short videos, online games, and entertainment platforms permeating our lives. However, reading remains a sustainable path to knowledge, helping to shape character, develop individuals, and foster a spirit of "lifelong learning." In my opinion, the Youth Bookcase initiative effectively meets these requirements, becoming a practical solution to help young people maintain and develop their reading habits in the technological age.

The Youth Bookstore brings many good and valuable books closer to readers, becoming a new "book touchpoint" for readers in their daily lives. Besides traditional paper books, I also suggest that the bookstore should apply technology to support reading, because technology is not a rival to books but rather an "extension" that helps readers access publications on platforms such as eBooks and audiobooks, using AI to track reading progress, quickly look up new concepts, etc., while also enhancing interaction between authors and readers through various online forums and sharing experiences on social media.

The Youth Bookstore also fosters a love of reading through actively organizing connecting activities: book review contests, 30-day reading challenges, author talks, and themed workshops. A reader might easily give up, but reading in a community is always more engaging and leads to deeper understanding. Each young person who shares their feelings on social media instantly becomes an ambassador spreading the word about books. Transforming the Youth Bookstore into a center for all book-related activities – a place where young people can come to exchange ideas, learn, and spread the spirit of reading, bringing good and right things into practical life – will create motivation and a genuine need among young people to acquire and benefit from knowledge through books.

The Youth Bookcase was born in the era of digital transformation, where reading is no longer limited to paper pages. But regardless of the form, the core value of books remains unchanged: helping us understand ourselves, others, and the world. The reading culture of young people will therefore flourish thanks to the collective efforts of the community.

Le Cong Son (recorded)

Exchange and launch of the Youth Book Collection.

The Thanh Nien Books launch and exchange event took place at 9:00 AM on December 10th at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, with the participation of the editorial board of Thanh Nien Newspaper, representatives from the Vietnam Publishers Association, the Vietnam Journalists Association, the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, and invited guests including reading culture ambassadors: journalist Le Hoang, writer Nguyen Nhat Anh, Miss World Vietnam 2012 Luong Thuy Linh, and MC Phuong Huyen. Speakers and readers discussed spreading reading culture in the digital age, with performances by artists Hoang Trang and Nguyen Dong.

The Thanh Nien (Youth) Book Collection features a diverse range of topics: economics, culture, history, education, health, science, journalistic reports, and short stories from specialized sections and columns published in Thanh Nien Newspaper, as well as winning entries from writing competitions organized by Thanh Nien . This launch includes five books: "Walking Through Life with Your Child," "Living Beautifully - The Miracle of Compassion," "The City I Love," a collection of excellent short stories from Thanh Nien Newspaper , and "Vietnamese Aspirations" (pictured) .

Thien Anh

Thanh Nien Newspaper would like to express its sincere gratitude to the sponsors and partners of Thanh Nien Books : Phuong Trang Passenger Transport Joint Stock Company, ABC Edu Education System (Dong Nai), and Ho Chi Minh City Book Street Company.