Hanoi (VNA) - While technology moves forward, with some 70 percent of the population having access to the internet, Vietnamese readers are being left behind. Although the digital transformation plays an important role in promoting reading culture in the country, overall readership is still lacking, according to Director of the Authority of Publication, Printing and Distribution Nguyen Nguyen.
Nguyen made the statement during an interview with Vietnamplus reporters with respect to digital publications and reading culture on the occasion of the first Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day.
Following is the full interview:
Reporter: Could you please tell us why Ho Chi Minh city was chosen to host the first Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day?
Nguyen Nguyen: Along with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City is a hub of publication and reading culture. The main activities of the Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day will be held in Ho Chi Minh City, aiming to encourage and promote reading culture in the city, which has been hit hard by the recent pandemic lockdowns.
Director of the Authority of Publication, Printing and Distribution Nguyen Nguyen (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Reporter: What activities have been launched by the Authority of Publication, Printing and Distribution during book day?
Nguyen Nguyen: The Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day is not just organized in the cities but throughout the country so as to encourage reading widely. Meanwhile, an impressive opening ceremony will be held to attract the public attention. We have an extensive awareness campaign, making the Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day a leading event in the publication sector.
The two major themes of the event are reading culture within the digital transformation, and the development of reading culture for a prosperous Vietnam.
Reporter: Could you please detail the digital transformation process within the publication sector?
Nguyen Nguyen: We organised the digital transformation into four steps. First, data digitalisation in all publication enterprises. After that, platforms are utilised with basic activities before they are deployed in the publication process, from management, editing, and market communications. The last step is the application of artificial intelligence (AI) into the publication work. However, AI utilization is still limited.
Reporter: This year, the online book festival has an array of offline activities. What’s happening offline?
Nguyen Nguyen: The virtual book festival has been held since 2020, considered the best solution during pandemic. The online format of the book festival also helps raise awareness of the significance of digital transformation to the sector. This nudges publications closer to readers in remote and mountainous areas – a potential market for publication firms if they apply technologies that work online and offline, along with sound promotional programmes.
The online book festival makes a big contribution to the orientation of content areas as well as the professionalisation of the publication workforce.
The Vietnam Book and Reading Culture space in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Reporter: What does reading culture mean to the publication market?
Nguyen Nguyen: Reading culture is actually the launcher for publication. A large number of readers will help expand publication market. Reading culture is envisaged to branch out not only for the development of the publication market but will also serve to improve reading quality.
The Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day kicks off in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)
Box: Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2022, the first of its kind, will take place with various activities this month, especially from April 15 to May 1.
An opening ceremony is slated for April 19 on Nguyen Hue street, Ho Chi Minh City, according to the Authority of Publication, Printing and Distribution under the Ministry of Information and Communications.
An online book festival will be held at Website book365.vn from April 19 to May 20.
On this occasion, the HCM City People’s Committee will host a book fair on Nguyen Hue street from April 19 to 24. There will be seminars on reading culture in the month as well.
Hanoi will also organise a range of activities in response to Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2022 from April 21 to May 1 at the Hanoi Book Street and the National Library of Vietnam.
Last year, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam signed Decision No.1862/QD-TTg on the organising of Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day annually on a national scale on April 21.
The day is expected to encourage and develop the reading movement among the community, contributing to building a learning society. In addition, it aims to honour readers, authors, publishers, printers and libraries that make efforts to preserve, collect and promote books./.
