A bicycle parade to include hundreds of students will kick off Reading Day 2012 in the capital tomorrow morning.

The event, one activity of the two-day event, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, aims to promote the importance of reading among Vietnamese people, especially the youth, while honouring the role of librarians and publishers.

An opening ceremony will be held at the Temple of Literature , a symbol of Vietnam 's culture as the first university in the country, following a "reading show" where several local writers and poets will present their latest works as well as engage with their readers.

A contest of art installations created from books gathering representatives from bookstores and publishing houses in the city will be held in a separate area within the temple.

Some activities targeting children will also be held, including a painting contest, where children depict their favourite books and a Q&A contest.

On Sunday morning, a discussion about reading culture will be held with the participation of cultural authorities, researchers and culturists, following the lecture Books –The Key of Success by lecturer Nguyen Manh Hung.

A contest of eloquence on the theme of children books will be organised for junior competitors aged from 10-15.

To highlight the role of people working in libraries and publishing houses, a music performance dedicated to them will be held on the same day.

Exhibitions displaying modern literature and valuable cultural documents, which have been preserved in different libraries nation-wide, are expected to welcome a large number of visitors.

Hanoi Library will offer a mobile library for children, where they can enjoy children publications and access the internet to read e-books.

All visitors will be called on to donate books for the project Buid up a Modern Countryside launched by the event's organisation board.

Reading Day will also be organised at all public libraries, universities and schools nation-wide. -VNA