Although the communal cultural post office in On Luong commune, Phu Luong district, northern Thai Nguyen province, only closed for maintenance a short time ago, many people have already asked representatives from the local People's Council for it to be re-opened.
"Members of the public are unaware that it is only a temporary closure for renovation," said a retired journalist living in the neighbourhood.
"It shows the need for cultural post offices is still there, where local people can get free access to basic books, newspapers and magazines."
However, this is contrary to the declining trend in turnover at these facilities. The Duong Quang post office in Bac Kan town, Bac Kan province, for instance, made only 20 to 30 per cent of what it used to in years gone by, said manager Nguyen Thi Xuan.
"This is mainly due to declining telephone services as home landlines and mobile phones have become more common," she said.
Thai Nguyen Post Office director Ha Thi Noa said the 140 communal post offices in her province have shown a sharp downturn in public telephone services since 2006.
But other services, including books, newspapers and the internet still witnessed high demand, she said.
"A lot of readers turn up every day for the free books and newspapers and we have a particularly high number of student visitors during the holidays," said Xuan.
However, Ban Thi Dao, manager of the post office in the remote commune of Tan Que, Bach Thong district, Bac Kan province, said she still sold millions of dong worth of phone cards every month.
Deputy director of the provincial post office Do Quang Dao said free access to books and newspapers in remote mountainous areas is good for those who wished to keep up with the country's political, economic and social issues.
"Books on farming are also very useful as well. Not everyone can afford to buy books or subscribe newspapers," he said.
Before the post office in On Luong commune closed for maintenance, it was always filled with children who surfed the internet on computers donated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said manager Phan Thi Hang.
Post office deputy director of Phu Luong district Phan Thi Minh Giap said students flock to the office during examination time for group study.
After all, Dao said these communal cultural corners remain indispensable "entrepots" where letters and packages are received and dispatched.
Not all communal post offices fulfill their functions, said Giap. The internet service at Yen Ninh post office in Phu Luong district, for instance, is mainly used by game players, rather than those who look up information, said Giap.
"Finding ways to increase the number of publications and enrich the food for the minds of local people is our major goal," said Bac Kan Post Office deputy director Dao.
"Apart from their difficulties, being located in a remote area is itself a strength for postal services. There's a potential market but we need an effective way to maintain and develop communal cultural post offices and turn them into indispensable facilities for local people," he said./.
"Members of the public are unaware that it is only a temporary closure for renovation," said a retired journalist living in the neighbourhood.
"It shows the need for cultural post offices is still there, where local people can get free access to basic books, newspapers and magazines."
However, this is contrary to the declining trend in turnover at these facilities. The Duong Quang post office in Bac Kan town, Bac Kan province, for instance, made only 20 to 30 per cent of what it used to in years gone by, said manager Nguyen Thi Xuan.
"This is mainly due to declining telephone services as home landlines and mobile phones have become more common," she said.
Thai Nguyen Post Office director Ha Thi Noa said the 140 communal post offices in her province have shown a sharp downturn in public telephone services since 2006.
But other services, including books, newspapers and the internet still witnessed high demand, she said.
"A lot of readers turn up every day for the free books and newspapers and we have a particularly high number of student visitors during the holidays," said Xuan.
However, Ban Thi Dao, manager of the post office in the remote commune of Tan Que, Bach Thong district, Bac Kan province, said she still sold millions of dong worth of phone cards every month.
Deputy director of the provincial post office Do Quang Dao said free access to books and newspapers in remote mountainous areas is good for those who wished to keep up with the country's political, economic and social issues.
"Books on farming are also very useful as well. Not everyone can afford to buy books or subscribe newspapers," he said.
Before the post office in On Luong commune closed for maintenance, it was always filled with children who surfed the internet on computers donated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said manager Phan Thi Hang.
Post office deputy director of Phu Luong district Phan Thi Minh Giap said students flock to the office during examination time for group study.
After all, Dao said these communal cultural corners remain indispensable "entrepots" where letters and packages are received and dispatched.
Not all communal post offices fulfill their functions, said Giap. The internet service at Yen Ninh post office in Phu Luong district, for instance, is mainly used by game players, rather than those who look up information, said Giap.
"Finding ways to increase the number of publications and enrich the food for the minds of local people is our major goal," said Bac Kan Post Office deputy director Dao.
"Apart from their difficulties, being located in a remote area is itself a strength for postal services. There's a potential market but we need an effective way to maintain and develop communal cultural post offices and turn them into indispensable facilities for local people," he said./.
