In order to create favourable conditions for pupils across to access enough textbooks and school supplies before entering the new school year 2021 -2022, the Da Nang administration has allowed a number of businesses in the fieldof printing and publishing to operate under the Directive No. 05/CT-UBND with some strict COVID-19 curbs.

Parents are seen choosing books at the Da Nang Bookstore in June 2021. Photo: NGOC HA

Accordingly, parents can order books and supplies online for their children through the websites of these units during the strict stay-at-home-at-all-times period. Once the order is lifted by the municipal administration, already-booked items will be delivered to customers across the city.

The chain of Fahasa bookstores is on track to implement an online sales programme running from August 12 to September 15, with the provision of many highly attractive discounts. The programme features discounts up to 35%. In addition, when customers pay via e-wallets, there will be many attractive incentives such as 50% refund, up to VND50,000 for orders worth VND50,000 and above for new customers paying via Zalopay, a refund of VND30,000 for orders valuing at least VND400,000  via Momo wallet or 20% off up to VND50,000  for orders from VND100,000 via Moca. Also, a host of other attractive incentives are now available at https://www.fahasa.com.

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Van Can, Director of the Da Nang Book and School Equipment Joint Stock Company, said that the company's bookstores are also temporarily closed down for the ongoing 7-day lockdown period. The home delivery of the already-ordered books and school supplies will be conducted right after the lifting of the stay-at-home-at-all-times mandate.

Previously, the Department of Information and Communications issued an Official Letter in which permit is granted to the printing and publishing activities.

There are 5 operating units are the Fahasa Thanh Khe Bookstore on the first floor of Co.op Mart Supermarket at 478 Dien Bien Phu, Thanh Khe District, Fahasa Da Nang Bookstore at 300-302 Le Duan, Thanh Khe District, Fahasa Hai Chau Bookstore on the second floor of Lotte Mart in Hai Chau District- the trio being the Da Nang branches of Ho Chi Minh City Book Publishing Joint Stock Company Fahasa, along with the Da Nang Book and School Equipment Joint Stock Company at 76-78 Bach Dang, Hai Chau District and the Da Nang branch of the Phuong Nam Retail Company Limited at 153 Phan Chau Trinh, Hai Chau District.

Mr. Mai Tan Linh, the Deputy Director of the city's Department of Education and Training said that his agency will consult with book publishers to properly arrange the home delivery of textbooks to customers, even those living in blockaded neighbourhoods. However, there are still more than 2 weeks left to the start of the new academic year, depending on the developments of COVID-19 in the city, flexible solutions will be taken to ensure that 100% of the local pupils and students have access to textbooks.

Reporting by NGOC HA – Translating by A.T