Culture - Sports

Retired lecturer helps promote reading culture

To nurture her hobby and spread the love for books to every voracious reader, a retired lecturer has created a free bookstore in Hanoi’s Dong Da district. In the digital era where reading culture is threatened by newer forms of communication, her bookstore shines like a gem.
Phùng Thị Phương Chi
Retired lecturer helps promote reading culture ảnh 1Free bookstore in Hanoi's Dong Da district (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - To nurture her hobby and spread the love for booksto every voracious reader, a retired lecturer has created a free bookstore inHanoi’s Dong Da district. In thedigital era where reading culture is threatened by newer forms of communication,her bookstore shines like a gem.

At 74, Mrs. Pham ThiHuyen Dung could have chosen to retire and enjoy her days, yet she decided topursuit her hobby: opening a free bookstore.

Ensconced in a cornernext to Dong Da Hill in Dong Da district, her little bookshelf has grown,boasting an impressive 10,000 book titles and attracting lots of readers.
Retired lecturer helps promote reading culture ảnh 2Different kinds of books in the bookstore (Photo: VNA)

“This is a beautiful and generous act by Mrs Dung that needs preserving,”said Nguyen Cong Tien, a freequent reader at the bookstore. “I hope that thelocal authority will contribute to further develop this free bookstore,” Tiensaid.

Most of the books arepurchased by Mrs Dung, while some are gifted by other readers. Besides books,the readers even donate umbrellas, chairs and bookshelves to make the readingexperience as comfortable as possible.

At the bookstore,readers can enjoy a good book and even sometimes have a chat about the books.
Retired lecturer helps promote reading culture ảnh 3Student Le Cong Thanh (Photo: VNA)

Student Le Cong Thanh, who is also a frequent reader, said: “The free bookstore isa great place for young people to catch a break from all electronic devices andenjoy good books.”

University students, aswell as neighbours, often lend Mrs Huyen Dung a helping hand with reorganisingthe bookshelf. 

“I am glad that my bookstore has become a place for book lovers. I hopethat more free bookstores will be opened in other places to nurture readingculture,” Dung said, adding that investing time in reading is the best way touphold the country’s traditional values.
Retired lecturer helps promote reading culture ảnh 4Mrs. Pham Thi Huyen Dung, owner of the bookstore (right) (Photo: VNA)

A shocking statisticsin 2013 showed that each Vietnamese person read only 0.8 book per year onaverage. Since then, concerted efforts have been made nationwide to revivereading culture.

A project submited by the Department of Library under the Ministry ofCulture, Sports and Tourism to develop reading culture in 2011-2020, aims toget 80% Vietnamese students and 70% of country’s pupils into the habit ofreading books.

In the digital era, where reading culture isthreatened by newer forms of communication, Huyen Dung’s love for books andreading rekindles the old flames of reading in people’s hearts.-VNA
Phùng Thị Phương Chi
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