Bringing Vietnamese books to the Beijing Book Fair.

Believing that Vietnam possesses stories profound enough to resonate with humanity, Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung and other individuals in the publishing industry are introducing Vietnamese books to international book fairs.

When talking about the world 's major book awards, many people immediately think of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Booker Prize, the International Booker Prize, the National Book Award, children's book awards, book design awards, publishing awards, and many other prestigious awards.

Every time an author from an Asian country wins a major award, I'm happy. But that joy is always accompanied by a question: When will it be Vietnam's turn?

In 2016, Korean writer Han Kang received the International Booker Prize for her novel * The Vegetarian *, translated into English by Deborah Smith. In 2024, she went on to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. This is not just a victory for Han Kang alone. It is a victory for Korean literature, for Korean translation, for Korean publishing, and for the strategy of bringing Korean culture to the world.

In 2026, Taiwanese (Chinese) author Yang Shuang-zi received the International Booker Prize for *Taiwan Travelogue* , translated into English by Lin King. Once again, we see clearly that for a work to reach a wider audience, it needs a good writer, a skilled translator, a good publisher, and an entire ecosystem that knows how to bring the book to the international market.

Previously, the world has also honored many authors from countries that are not the largest publishing centers on the planet. Ismail Kadare of Albania once received the International Booker Prize. László Krasznahorkai of Hungary also gained widespread recognition through major awards. These countries do not have the large populations of China, the enormous book markets of the United States, or the global linguistic advantages of the United Kingdom. But they have literary works, translators, perseverance, and strategies to introduce their national literature to the world.

So what about Vietnam?

Vietnam is not lacking in stories. We have a history spanning thousands of years. We have wars, peace, innovation, and integration. We have villages, cities, islands, mountains, forests, family culture, spiritual culture, village culture, entrepreneurial culture, and educational culture.

We have authors with inner strength. We have books that can truly touch the hearts of readers worldwide.

But there's a very practical question: Have we brought those books to the world enough, consistently, and professionally enough?

In my opinion, no.

The Beijing Book Fair 2025 attracted a large number of international readers, publishers, and book companies. Photo: Xinhua.

To win international awards, Vietnamese books must first be on the desks of international editors. To attract international readers, Vietnamese books must first be translated into international languages. To gain the attention of international publishers, one must first have someone to introduce, connect with, persuade, and pursue the opportunity.

There are no shortcuts. There are no miracles. Only perseverance.

I have attended many major book fairs around the world. I attend the Frankfurt Book Fair almost every year. For more than a decade, I have attended international publishing conferences, seminars, and events, and met many publishers, copyright agents, authors, and translators.

I've realized something: Countries with authors who have won major awards have already gone ahead of us in introducing their books to the world.

They attend book fairs regularly. They create copyright catalogs in English. They have sample translations. They have author profiles. They have copyright representatives. They have a translation support fund. They have an international communication strategy. They don't wait until they win an award to take their books. It is precisely because they have been taking their books to book fairs for many years that they finally received an award.

This is something we need to face directly.

If Vietnam wants to win Booker Prizes, Nobel Prizes, or other major book awards, it cannot simply remain within its borders and expect the world to discover it on its own.

We must go. We must introduce. We must knock on doors. We must bring Vietnamese books to Frankfurt, London, Bologna, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, New York, Taipei, and many other publishing centers.

And this June, a very specific opportunity is coming. From June 17th to 21st, 2026, the 32nd Beijing International Book Fair will be held at the China National Convention Center, Beijing.

This is one of the largest international book fairs in Asia, covering approximately 60,000 square meters and featuring over 1,700 exhibitors from numerous countries around the world.

Four members of Thai Ha Publishing Company are ready to set off. We're not going just to visit. Not just to learn. Not just to meet international publishing friends. We're going with a very specific purpose: to introduce Vietnamese books. To introduce Vietnamese authors. To introduce Vietnamese copyrights. To introduce Vietnamese culture.

I sincerely hope that Vietnamese authors understand that a book that wants to go far needs to start with very small steps.

An English book introduction. A sample translation. An author profile. A meeting with a foreign publisher. An email after the book fair.

Repeat it once more.

A small opportunity today could become a copyright contract tomorrow. A copyright contract tomorrow could become a good translation. A good translation could bring Vietnamese books to international readers.

And who knows, one day that very work might be nominated for a major award.

Han Kang didn't appear on the Booker and Nobel stages by chance. Yang Shuang-zi didn't appear on the international Booker stage by chance. Hungarian, Albanian, Polish, Japanese, and Korean writers didn't become known to the world by chance.

Behind them are translators. Behind them are publishers. Behind them is the ecosystem. Behind them are years of silently bringing books to the world.

Then Vietnam should do the same.

No complaining. No self-doubt. No impatience. Not just empty words. Action is key.

Work on each book individually. Work on each translation individually. Work on each catalog individually. Work on each meeting individually. Work on each book fair individually. Work on it year by year.

I believe that Vietnam has authors who deserve to be read by the world.

I believe that Vietnam has stories profound enough to resonate with humanity.

I believe that Vietnamese books can be found on international bookshelves.

But that belief must be translated into action. This June, the Vietnamese delegation to the Beijing Book Fair was very large and brought many books!

We need Vietnamese books. We need Vietnamese authors. We need good manuscripts, books with depth, identity, and the ability to engage in dialogue with the world. If authors have suitable works, please connect. If translators can translate well, please collaborate. If publishers, researchers, and cultural figures have works worth introducing, please join hands. We are not going to Beijing just for a trip. We are going to sow seeds. Sow seeds for Vietnamese copyright. Sow seeds for Vietnamese literature. Sow seeds for Vietnamese knowledge. Sow seeds for a day when Vietnamese books are honored by the world.

Other countries have won major awards because they have persistently brought their books to the world. If Vietnam wants to win major awards, Vietnam must also persistently bring Vietnamese books to the world.

There's no other way.

And we begin now. From the Beijing Book Fair this June. From the four members of Thai Ha Books who are ready to set off. From each Vietnamese author carrying a remarkable story within them. From each Vietnamese book waiting for its chance to reach the world.

Keep going and you'll get there. Keep doing and you'll get results. With perseverance and dedication, Vietnam will surely win major international book awards.

Source: https://znews.vn/mang-sach-viet-di-hoi-sach-bac-kinh-post1655988.html