The Hoan Kiem district People’s Committee and the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications jointly held the book street festival with the theme 'Spring gives knowledge - A reunion for the Tet holiday'. The activity aims at maintaining and promoting the reading culture of the city’s people and among the whole community. In the photo: The 2021 Spring Book Street takes place in the capital city of Hanoi from February 14 to 21 (from the 3rd day to the 10th day of the first lunar month). It introduces books of different genres to visitors in celebration of the Lunar New Year. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
On early days of the Lunar New Year, besides going to pagoda and asking for words, many Hanoians visits the book street festival to buy their favorite books and enjoy diverse cultural activities. With this year’s theme 'Spring gives knowledge - A reunion for the Tet holiday', the people of the capital city will have the opportunity to admire a new look full of Tet atmosphere at the book street. The book festival is not only a place for book lovers to buy their favorite literary works, but also an appropriate space for young people to share their passion for reading with their parents. With diverse types of books, readers can easily choose their favorite ones with discounts. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
This year, there is no opening ceremony for the street book festival because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the festival is still open from the 3rd of the Lunar New Year to the 10th of January (ie from February 14-21, 2021). Like other cultural industries, the publishing industry last year suffered from negative impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has caused many major book and publishing events to be canceled or postponed, significantly affecting the revenue of publishers, book companies, bookstores, and other agencies. In addition to the negative impacts, the pandemic also became a driving force for each organisation and individual to innovate their activities and individual behaviour. This year, the industry targets to develop the online market. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Given the complicated development of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country, the Ministry of Health recommends people to adhere to 5K (in Vietnamese) rules: Khau trang (facemask), Khu khuan (disinfection), Khoang cach (distance), Khong tu tap (no gathering) and Khai bao y te (health declaration) to safely coexist with the COVID-19 pandemic in ‘new normal’ state. The Department of Culture and Sports of Hanoi will review and consult the municipal People’s Committee about the organisations of festivals and events. In the photo: The festival organising board seriously implements pandemic prevention and control measures and recommends that people always wear face masks, regularly spray disinfectant, keep the distance according to regulations. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Whether in ancient times or today, Lunar New Year (Tet) is still the biggest traditional holiday in Vietnam. Not only is it a sacred moment marking the transition between the old year and the new, Tet also reflects Vietnamese people’s outlook on life as well as the profound and unique customs and beliefs bearing the national culture. While Western countries regard January 1 as the beginning of the new year, Eastern countries follow the lunar calendar, with a new year starting later, in January or February. In celebration of Tet, Vietnamese people also visit book streets and festival to buy new books. In the photo: Spring Book Street is decorated with bold traditional Tet atmosphere. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Vietnamese people believe that Tet marks the beginning of a new year, a day of hope and belief in new and good things and a farewell to the old. In the first days of the new year, people visit family and friends. Adults give 'lucky money' to children and the elderly, and wish for a prosperous and lucky year. People also practice the custom of visiting pagodas to pray for good fortune. Students often begin a new year writing in the early spring, for a new year of study and successful exams. In the photo: Scenes of old Hanoi, including Bo Ho tram have been set up so that visitors can pose for photos. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Hanoi’s Book Street made its debut on May 1, 2017 at 19/12 Street of Hoan Kiem district, aiming to promote reading culture and develop a learning society for the country’s sustainable development. The street has 16 booths with easy access for children and people with disabilities, along with public computers for readers to search for book information, free wifi and water. Along the entire street, there are rows of chairs arranged for readers to sit. Additionally, there is also a café nearby for visitors to rest after searching for good books. In the photo: This year, the Spring Book Street also creates unique highlights for visitors to explore. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
The Hanoi Book Street was established with the purpose of not only selling books but also providing a cultural space. It aims to introduce new books to readers and also let them explore the variety of books. In addition, visitors also have the opportunity to meet and discuss about books with local and international authors. The street is only 200 meters long but it is well designed and built to look extremely spacious with greenery providing a peaceful atmosphere. In the photo: Publishers and book companies design their booths beautifully, organise many promotional activities and donate books to serve the public. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
The book stalls are brightly decorated with bold Spring colours. Vietnamese people believe that Tet marks the beginning of a new year, a day of hope and belief in new and good things and a farewell to the old. In the first days of the new year, people visit family and friends. People also practice the custom of visiting pagodas to pray for good fortune. Students often begin a new year writing in the early spring, for a new year of study and successful exams. Therefore, they often visit the book streets during the first days of the year to buy new book. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Given the complicated development of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country and in Hanoi in particular, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh has requested a halt to festive activities and mass gathering events in public places and stadiums in the face of a COVID-19 resurgence. The chairman asked for stronger communications to persuade locals not to leave their home if unnecessary, wear face masks when not at home, and not gather into a mass in public places. In the photo: This year, the organizing board of the book street does not held opening ceremony as well as talks about reading culture and Tet culture. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
During the week-long holiday, Hanoians have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of entertainment programs and meaningful activities to celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year, or Tet for short. Asking for calligraphic words at the beginning of the Lunar New Year is a cultural beauty that has been around for a long time. Reading and buying books are also a habit of many people during these days. In the photo: Over the last six years, since early on the third day of the Lunar New Year, people of the capital city and tourists have had the habit of going to Book Street to find themselves a new book, blending into the knowledge-filled space. (Photo: Minh Sơn/Vietnam+) 
Tet books used to be popular in 1920s yet had been seemingly fallen into oblivion until three recent years. According to culture researcher Trinh Bach, buying, reading and keeping Tet books used to be a trend among Vietnamese people in the 1920s. Exhibiting a Tet book besides peach blossoms, parallels and fruit trays was a symbol for Lunar New Year holiday then. However, the habit had started fading since 1960s due to several economic and historical conditions. They had been published less frequently and lost their fans, said Trinh Bach. In the photo: Book are on sales on this occasion to stimulate the shopping needs of readers. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
A ‘book ATM’, initiated by Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Chairman and CEO of Thai Ha Books Join stock company, serves book lovers. Hung was inspired by the rice ATM newly-launched in Vietnam early April. It took him only three days to turn his expertise into the first book dispenser, which is set at 119-C5 To Hieu street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi. works pretty much the same as the vending machine, with people press buttons to select their favorite books and the ATM will dispense the chosen one. The receiver can then collect the book through a flap located at the bottom of the ATM. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
The book ATM has a capacity of 64 books, which varies in genres, targeting different age-group. Each person is allowed to take one. The first-ever book to be dispensed from the ATM machine is 'Ca phe tren Sao hoa', known as 'Coffee on Mars' in English. According to Chairman and CEO of Thai Ha Books Nguyen Manh Hung, his book ATM project is a long-term one, aiming at spreading reading culture among people from all walks of life. His company is expecting to develop additional free book ATMs across the capital in the near future and calling for book lovers and tech-savvy to join the project. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
In Vietnam, with the increasingly high popularity of internet and smart devices, iPad and Kindle, digitalized books, and e-books have become more popular in the last 10 years. The images of students or office workers reading books and newspapers on smartphones can be seen everywhere. Many bookstores in Hanoi and HCMC have become deserted. Experts said that with the development of e-books and the new ‘reading-on-smartphone culture’, the revenue of publishing houses and bookstores is near to zero on holidays, especially Tet. However, for many people, taking a walk around Spring Book Street, buying a good book is an interesting experience during Tet. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
With beautiful and impressive decorative images, bearing bold traditional Tet atmosphere, the Spring Book Street 2021 continues to become an intellectual space, a favourite cultural destination of the capital's residents and visitors to Hanoi. The Hanoi Book Street was established with the purpose of not only selling books but also providing a cultural space. It aims to introduce new books to readers and also let them explore the variety of books. In addition, visitors also have the opportunity to meet and discuss about books with local and international authors. The street is only 200 meters long but it is well designed and built to look extremely spacious with greenery providing a peaceful atmosphere. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Being so deeply-rooted in the national culture, Tet (Lunar New Year) still lives in the heart of every Vietnamese, despite industrialisation, urbanisation, and technological development and their effect on customs and attitudes. Tet Vietnam is celebrated to welcome the Lunar New Year and summarize what they did in the old one. It is considered an important mark for changes, plans, and progress. In addition, Vietnamese people believe that what they do on the first day of the new year will affect their rest. Among other traditions, buying, reading and keeping books has become a habit of many people when Tet comes. In the photo: The books are showcased beautifully to capture the attention of the readers. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Tet Nguyen Dan or Tet is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year marking the arrival of spring based on the Lunar calendar, a lunisolar calendar. There are a lot of customs practiced during Tet such as visiting a person’s house on the first day of the new year, ancestral worship, wishing New Year’s greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people and opening a shop. Reading book, especially spring publications is also a special pleasure for many Vietnamese people in anticipation of the new year. In the photo: A bookstore decorated with spring colors. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in Vietnam traditionally lasts for three days. During these days, people often stay at home to welcome guests to their houses or go to their relatives and neighborhood houses. The elderly will be received the Tet holiday’s gifts and wishes for health, the adults will be received the ones for fortune and success while the young and children will be received lucky money. Besides, Vietnamese people often go to pagodas. By donating money and asking for letters, they will receive several lucks and fortune. In the photo: Some publishers run a lucky draw to lure more visitors. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
The Hanoi Book street, located at 19/12 Street of Hoan Kiem district, aims to promote reading culture and develop a learning society for the country’s sustainable development. The street has 16 booths with easy access for children and people with disabilities, along with public computers for readers to search for book information, free wifi and water. Along the entire street, there are rows of chairs arranged for readers to sit. Additionally, there is also a café nearby for visitors to rest after searching for good books. In the photo: With 16 booths, publishers and bookstores at Hanoi Book Street bring tens of thousands of new and cultural-rich books to introduce to readers on this occasion. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
In the early days of the new lunar year, besides going to temples to pray for luck and success or asking for lucky calligraphy, many people in Hanoi choose to visit bookstores to choose books for themselves. Organised for the first time in 2017, the Hanoi Book Street in Hoan Kiem District has become an interesting meeting place for Hanoi’s book lovers and visitors every spring. It was established with the purpose of not only selling books but also providing a cultural space. In the photo: For many years, publishers have chosen the occasion of Tet to convey the message 'Tet honors books'. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
The Lunar New Year is traditionally a time when communities across Southeast Asia celebrate with large family gatherings, communal meals. In other words, exactly the kind of activities that the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing measures have made difficult. In Vietnam, especially Hanoi, residents have been asked to stay home and limit travel during the Lunar New Year holiday as a Covid-19 precaution. City authorities have already suspended festivals, religious rituals, sports tournaments and crowded events in public places and stadiums. In the photo: Despite being affected by the epidemic, with the love of books, local people and tourists still maintain the cultural beauty of Hanoi's spring day. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) 
Traditionally, Tet or Lunar New Year is Vietnam's biggest and most important holiday, an occasion for spring festivals, large gatherings and parties. Hanoi, less than two hours to the east of Hai Duong, the country's biggest Covid-19 hotspot at present, has locked down 10 areas where infections have been confirmed. The city has shut down all bars, karaoke parlors, and discotheques, as well as video game and internet parlors until further notice. Given the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors to the book street are requested to take preventive measures such as wearing masks, washing hands with sanitiser and keeping distance. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnamplus) VNA
