Revenue of Ho Chi Minh City Book Street reached over 31.3 billion VND but the number of books sold decreased.

In the first 6 months of the year, Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is facing many challenges such as: a slowdown in the number of books sold; a worrying decline in the children's book segment; increasing pressure from the explosion of online channels on physical space...

Readers visit book stalls at the book fair at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street - Photo: HO LAM

On the morning of July 18, the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City Book Street held a meeting to report on the results of activities in the first 6 months of 2025; prepare for the development of the Book Street in the last 6 months of the year and provide information for the program to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Book Street's operation.

Children's book sales plummet

In the first six months of 2025, total revenue at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street reached more than 31.3 billion VND, an increase of 8.63% compared to the previous year. Despite the increase in revenue, the number of books sold in the first six months of the year only reached about 339,000 copies, a decrease of 945 copies compared to last year.

More worryingly, the number of newly released titles was only 1,108, down 42% - or more than 800 titles. Meanwhile, revenue from children's books continued to decline, reaching just over VND3.98 billion, down sharply by 12.75% compared to 2024.

Although the number of children's books sold has increased slightly, most of them may come from old books, promotional books, and deeply discounted goods - instead of new titles with valuable content and form.

"Children's book sales have started to decline since 2023. In just two years, the number of children's books sold has dropped sharply by nearly 36.5%, and revenue has also dropped by more than VND628 million.

Children’s books are facing fierce competition from digital entertainment. The market seems to lack quality, creative, interactive, and engaging books. Economic pressure is causing many families to tighten their spending on books. These are probably the difficulties that bookmakers have to face.

Director of Ho Chi Minh City Book Street Le Hoang analyzes the challenges that the Book Street is facing in the first 6 months of 2025 - Photo: HO LAM

"Without changes in product development, experience innovation and improved connection with young readers, the children's book segment will continue to decline," said Le Hoang, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Book Street.

In the first 6 months of the year, the number of tourists to Ho Chi Minh City increased sharply thanks to tourism stimulus events and major holiday celebrations. The book street also organized many cultural and artistic programs, and the stalls promoted souvenirs, contributing to revenue growth. The proportion of souvenirs increased compared to 2024 with revenue of more than 1.6 billion VND.

Young people and tourists enjoy checking in at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street - TTD

There is a golden discount time to attract readers to Book Street.

At the meeting, book publishers also proposed many solutions to increase book sales in the coming time; how to attract readers to the Book Street in the evening; how to coordinate the program of Happy Learning with Books to attract more and more groups of students from schools to the Book Street?

Mr. Le Hoang said that book publishers need to be more active and invest more in promoting new books and best-selling books of the month in an eye-catching area; displaying 100 books by topic and best-selling books by quarter.

In addition, it is necessary to create a different experience when buying directly at the Book Street with limited services; alternately organize mini Book Fairs co-organized by units at the Book Street; organize book introduction exchanges and workshops.

"Book lovers expect Book Street to become a holy place for them to immerse themselves in.

"A series of large events, each booth is a small island for visitors to experience. People coming to Book Street may not initially intend to buy books, so booths need to create more miniature landscapes and interactive playgrounds to keep readers in the store," said Mr. Le Hoang.

Many book publishers such as Tre Publishing House and Phuong Nam Company also agree with organizing programs that have strong influence in the evening or on weekends.

Such as creating a golden hour, about 1 hour in the evening every day for book publishers to participate in promotional activities, discounts, and book giveaways.

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Lam Lake

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/doanh-thu-duong-sach-tp-hcm-dat-hon-31-3-ti-dong-nhung-luong-sach-ban-ra-giam-20250718141711945.htm