More than 50,000 book titles published in 2024 but few books leave an impression on readers

Director of the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distribution Nguyen Nguyen said that it is necessary to look back at the quantity and quality of books published last year - Photo: HO LAM

On the afternoon of April 22, the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distribution held a conference to deploy key tasks of publishing, printing and distribution in 2025.

At the conference, units operating in the publishing industry reviewed the situation of publishing, printing and distribution activities in 2024 and proposed directions to be taken in 2025.

The number of books has increased but the quality is still limited.

According to statistics from the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distribution, there will be 51,443 book titles published in 2024 nationwide with 597,182,861 copies.

Total revenue of the entire publishing industry reached over VND4,500 billion (up 10.3%); after-tax profit reached nearly VND508 billion (up 11.41%). Revenue and after-tax profit of publishers increased relatively high and the highest in the past 3 years reached 10.3%.

According to Mr. Nguyen Nguyen, this figure once again affirms the dynamism and determination of both the publisher and its affiliates in the context of publishing activities facing difficulties and many challenges.

However, publishing activities also have many limitations that need to be frankly acknowledged.

"Looking at the numbers, we can see that the number of published books has increased, but the quality is still limited. It's not that we lack top values, but that we have created too many useless things," said Mr. Nguyen Nguyen.

For example, books with ideological value have not spread much; academic and scientific books are still lacking; the decrease in science and technology books reflects the skewed development of the industry.

Digital transformation permeates all publishing activities

Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Ngoc Hoi said that digital transformation is taking place step by step in all stages of publishing activities, most clearly in marketing and sales activities on online websites.

Some publishers and distribution companies have gradually shifted their approach to readers from traditional printed books to e-books.

In Ho Chi Minh City, at the Book and Digital Transformation Week 2024, readers experienced more than 3,000 e-books and audiobooks to better understand the application of digital technology in the publishing and cultural industries.

Or at the 2025 Tet Book Street Festival, the application of digital transformation in publishing and distribution activities is also of interest and focus when the books in the festival are widely distributed and equipped with QR codes so that people can read and look up online for free...

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Ngoc Hoi read a speech at the conference - Photo: HO LAM

Besides the advantages, according to Mr. Hoi, the implementation of digital transformation also has many limitations. The problem of copyright infringement of content on digital platforms is currently manifested in many different forms.

Such as copying, reformatting content, then posting it on websites and mobile applications, both for business and under the guise of serving readers for free, some platforms even blatantly change the translator's name to avoid detection;

Or the situation of selling pirated and fake books through social networks and e-commerce platforms; live streaming of book reading on social networks to increase interaction...

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hon-50-000-tua-sach-xuat-ban-trong-nam-2024-nhung-it-cuon-ghi-dau-an-voi-doc-gia-20250422193930108.htm