Bookshelves that preserve the Vietnamese spirit in foreign lands.

In Vietnamese communities abroad, reading culture is becoming an important way to preserve identity and connect generations. From family bookshelves to community libraries, Vietnamese reading spaces are gradually being formed and spreading throughout life in foreign lands.

In many countries, Vietnamese people have established community bookshelves, small libraries, or reading spaces in community centers, serving both educational needs and as places for interaction, organizing book launches, literary discussions, or Vietnamese language classes for the younger generation.

Children's books, folk tales, and literary works not only serve entertainment but also become "soft educational tools," helping the younger generation access the language, culture, and history of the nation in a natural way...

Finding ways to foster a reading culture.

Many Vietnamese expatriate parents say that reading with their children has become a habit, contributing to nurturing a love for the Vietnamese language and their heritage. Responding to this practical need, Thuy Le-Scherello chose to create bilingual Vietnamese-German books, adapting folk tales into modern narratives to make them more accessible to Vietnamese children and simultaneously introduce Vietnamese culture to international readers.

Having moved to Berlin, Germany, at the age of 11, Thuy Le-Scherello nurtured a love for books, painting, and art early on in a family environment rich in reading traditions. After starting her own family and having children, she dedicated time each evening to reading to them. She often translated stories from Vietnamese into German, adjusting details to suit her children's understanding.

Ms. Thuy Le-Scherello and her bilingual book "Why Tigers Have Black Stripes"

When she decided to pursue a career in bilingual book writing in 2017, she began by adapting Vietnamese fairy tales and legends. Her goal was to bring Vietnamese culture, history, and traditions closer to children, especially those of Vietnamese descent, while also helping international readers access and learn about Vietnamese culture.

In each story, Thuy Le-Scherello incorporates messages about compassion, tolerance, and respect, contributing to shaping the character and positive thinking of young children.

To enhance their appeal, the stories are retold with vivid, rich imagery, stimulating the imagination, such as "Why Tigers Have Black Stripes," based on the folk tale "This is My Wisdom," presented in smooth, easy-to-understand language, conveying lessons about wisdom and respect for all living creatures.

Currently, Thuy Le-Scherello's books are available in many bookstores in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and on various global distribution platforms. With a bilingual presentation on each page, readers can choose the language that suits them best, while simultaneously improving their second language skills and contributing to the wider dissemination of Vietnamese culture in the international community.

While Thuy Le-Scherello chose bilingual books, writer Kieu Bich Huong is passionate about building reading spaces on digital platforms.

Writer Kieu Bich Huong

The idea of ​​creating podcasts featuring conversations with Vietnamese Americans and Vietnamese living abroad, with the content being read aloud to each other, was conceived by Ms. Huong during the spring of the second Covid-19 pandemic. This coincided with the time she had just completed a library science course in Belgium, giving her additional skills in searching, filtering, and extracting information, along with her previous experience as a journalist in Vietnam.

Thanks to her determination and that of her colleagues, the Viet Happiness Station project has been on air since 2022, conveying love and a desire to preserve the Vietnamese language within the Vietnamese community abroad.

From the very beginning, the project members have affirmed their commitment to preserving and nurturing the mother tongue through the spoken voices of Vietnamese and people of Vietnamese descent in many countries around the world . They also encourage Vietnamese children, foreign daughters-in-law and sons-in-law, to cultivate a love for the Vietnamese language in the "field" of the Happiness Station.

To engage and attract people's participation, Ms. Huong created various content and sections such as "Stories from Abroad," "Listen and Reflect," etc., with the desire to produce high-quality, interesting products that bring new values ​​to Vietnamese people living abroad.

In addition, she also broadcasts podcasts sharing insightful articles about Vietnamese people abroad, and excellent literary works by writers such as Ho Anh Thai and Da Ngan… Book launches and literary discussions are also organized online, helping to connect communities in many countries.

Bringing Vietnamese books into libraries in other countries.

In the effort to create a reading culture abroad, there is a typical story of Vietnamese women in Austria.

Since December 2023, Vietnamese-language books have been available at the Kinderbücherei der Weltsprachen (multilingual children's library) in the 14th arrondissement of Vienna, Austria. This meaningful initiative was launched by the Vietnamese Women's Association living and working in Austria, with the active support of the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese community there.

With this success, Ms. Ngo Bich Thuy - President of the Vietnamese Women's Association in Austria - said that they aim to further expand the model, bringing Vietnamese books to many other libraries in the area, and even to the Austrian National Library.

Alongside pursuing their Vietnamese book project, they still maintain and organize regular monthly reading sessions for their children and grandchildren, either indoors (during the winter) or outdoors (combined with weekend picnics), along with traditional social activities.

Vietnamese books at Kinderbücherei der Weltsprachen library (Austria)

Recently, the Vietnamese Consulate in Khon Kaen (Thailand) also held a meeting with a delegation from the Royal University of Udon Thani to discuss and finalize plans for organizing the Vietnam-Thailand Cultural Day in August, which will include the inauguration of the first Vietnamese Library in Thailand, located at the Royal University of Udon Thani.

Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh said that the library is expected to be built with a rich system of books and documents on the Vietnamese language, culture, and history, thereby creating opportunities for students, lecturers, and local people to access and learn more about Vietnam and its people.

The project not only has educational significance but also serves as a vivid symbol of the growing friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Mr. Dinh Hoang Linh highly appreciated the school's active cooperation and affirmed that the Consulate General will continue to support the project to ensure its effective implementation.

It is evident that reading culture is not merely a need for learning or entertainment, but is becoming a flexible method for preserving "cultural identity" within the Vietnamese community abroad. From small reading spaces, Vietnamese culture is being preserved and spread sustainably, contributing to community connections and the transmission of values ​​across generations.

Source: baoquocte.vn

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nhung-goc-sach-giu-hon-viet-o-xu-nguoi-238260506173413203.htm