Ho Chi Minh City aims to build a comprehensive reading ecosystem.

After five years of implementing the "Developing a Reading Culture" project for the period 2021-2025, reading culture in Ho Chi Minh City has undergone significant changes, with strong dissemination throughout the community. The city is aiming to build a comprehensive reading ecosystem in the next phase.

On December 10th, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports organized a conference to summarize the 5-year implementation of the "Developing Reading Culture" project for the period 2021-2025. The conference was attended by representatives from various departments and agencies, scholars, authors, and a large number of readers, aiming to evaluate the achievements and set directions for the next phase.

Over the past five years, reading culture in Ho Chi Minh City has gradually become a habit within the community, going beyond mere propaganda. Many reading promotion activities have become annual events such as: Book Reading Day, Book Fair, Lifelong Learning Week, etc., attracting tens of thousands of participants.

Reading culture has flourished in Ho Chi Minh City in recent times.

In particular, competitions such as "Children Promoting and Introducing Books" and "Reading Culture Ambassador" have created widespread impact among young people, with hundreds of thousands of students participating each year.

In addition, the public library system is constantly innovating and expanding its friendly reading spaces, exemplified by models like S.Hub and S.Hub Kids, attracting thousands of readers daily. Mobile library services have also been strengthened, with 42 library bus trips to remote areas, industrial zones, and specialized schools in 2024, serving over 26,000 people.

More and more soldiers are participating in reading activities.

Digital transformation has been identified as a prominent highlight in the development of reading culture in Ho Chi Minh City. To date, the city has recorded over 21 million electronic library searches, with an average consumption of 6.4 books per person per year. Online access has increased sharply, from 3.02 million in 2021 to 13.8 million in just the first six months of 2025.

Approximately 6 million pages of documents have been digitized and integrated into the Emiclib interconnected system. Utilities such as shared library cards, QR code lookup, and e-wallet payments have been implemented synchronously, helping Ho Chi Minh City proudly receive the Digital Transformation Award in 2023.

At the conference, delegates analyzed practical lessons and proposed solutions to overcome limitations such as unsustainable reading habits, deteriorating infrastructure, and disparities in access among different population groups.

For the period 2026–2030, Ho Chi Minh City aims to build a comprehensive reading ecosystem with five key tasks: improving the network of reading points; promoting digitalization and data interoperability; strengthening reading promotion among young people; expanding social participation and international cooperation; and fostering coordination between libraries, schools, and social organizations.

Commending individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to promoting a reading culture in the city.

On this occasion, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee awarded Certificates of Commendation to 5 collectives and 10 individuals for their outstanding contributions to spreading reading culture in the city.

TRUC GIANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tphcm-huong-den-xay-dung-he-sinh-thai-doc-toan-dien-post827889.html