A week-long festival celebrating the 2nd annual Vietnam Book Day began at Thong Nhat Park in Hanoi on April 17.

As many as 150 stalls from 100 publishers and distributors welcomereaders with a wide-range of books sold at discounted rates.

The festival also features 30 workshops and talk shows, includingpresentations of national anniversary-themed books, the book business inVietnam and national cultural heritages such as ancient Vietnamesewriting, among others.

Books will be thecentre of attention through the end of April, as a string of events areset to be launched in libraries, schools, headquarters of state agenciesand organisations across the country.

April 21 was designated Vietnam Book Day by the Prime Minister in 2014.

Aimed to encourage reading in the community, the annual event looksto raise public awareness of books as not only a source of knowledge butalso a way to develop one’s thinking and personality.

The event also presents a chance to appreciate the efforts of thoseinvolved in book development, such as collectors, writers, publishersand distributors.

The observance of the event will contribute to raising theresponsibility of ministries, sectors and social organisations towardspromoting reading in Vietnam.-VNA