The event, running until October 2, aims to improve citizens' reading habits and focuses particularly on young readers.
Located at Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) and Quoc Tu Giam, Vietnam'sfirst university, the event capitalises on the city's literary history.
Khue Van Cac (Constellation of Literature Pavilion), asymbol of the Vietnamese people's fondness for reading, was made out ofbooks for the event.
Forty five publishing housesfrom across the country occupy 112 booths with their latest publicationsincluding children's books, works by Vietnamese authors andtranslations at discounted prices.
The book fair hostsseven book exhibitions, each with unique themes - Hanoi's past andpresent, late President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi and some beautifullydesigned publications.
Lectures with answer andquestion periods will be given throughout the festival. Well-knownauthors such as Do Phan, poet Vu Quan Phuong, 95-year-old culturalresearcher Huu Ngoc and historian professor Phan Huy Le, who penned LichSu Thang Long – Hanoi (History of Thang Long – Hanoi) - willparticipate.
During the week-long event there will alsobe a slew of book-related arts-and-crafts activities, including acalligraphy performance and a bookmark decoration event.
The festival also hopes to improve reading habits. Donated books willbe distributed to local libraries, schools, post offices and culturalhouses in poor communes in Hanoi, Truong Sa (Spratly) island districtand Khanh Hoa province.
The book fair is hosted by thecity Department of Information and Communications to celebrate the 60thLiberation Day of Hanoi and the 15th year since the capital received thetitle City for Peace from UNESCO. It is open from 8am to 9pm, freeentrance.-VNA