A shocking statistic in 2013 showed that each Vietnamese person read only 0.8 book per year on average. Since then, concerted efforts have been exerted to revive reading culture.

The Department of Library under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism submitted a project to develop reading culture in 2011-2020 to the Government in August 2016.

Book festivals have been organised on both national and local scales, including the Annual Book Fest and the biennial Viet Nam International Book Fair.

Book streets are also amongst initiatives to promote reading amongst Vietnamese people.

There are also individuals who want to revive book reading culture. Mr Nguyen QuangThach, founder of 'Books for rural areas of Viet Nam' project, is amongst such passionate people. His project was awarded the 2016 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize.

Though it remains a challenge to raise the habit among youngsters, such movements lay a foundation for the development of reading culture.

(Source: VNA)