Hanoi (VNA) – Renowned contemporary Mexican writer Juan Villoro took part in a series of events marking Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2026, helping introduce Latin American literature to Vietnamese readers and promoting the value of reading in the digital age.
Having joined anti-war demonstrations in support of Vietnam in the 1970s, Villoro returned to the country more than half a century later as one of Mexico's most celebrated writers, serving as a bridge for cultural exchange between the two nations.
From April 28 to May 5, he visited Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, participating in activities celebrating Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2026 while sharing his views on reading culture and the enduring human value of literature in the digital era.
Vietnam was once a dream destination
Reporter: What are your impressions of Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day? What does participating in reader exchanges during the event mean to you?
Author Juan Villoro: I am delighted to visit Vietnam for the first time. It is a country I have dreamed of seeing for many years.
When I was young, Vietnam appeared in the news because of the war. In 1970, I joined anti-war demonstrations in support of the Vietnamese people. That is why this visit is especially meaningful to me. It connects memory, literature and reality. For me, Vietnam is a dream that has become real.
We are living in a fascinating era, constantly surrounded by digital media, artificial intelligence and technologies that deliver information at incredible speed.
Yet this is precisely why we need to reaffirm the value of reading and books. One of the best ways to inspire a love of reading is to write for children and young adults.
My novel The Wild Book is about the magic of books and the journey of discovering oneself. Through it, I hope to encourage readers to realise that literature is a source of happiness, enjoyment and knowledge, something the digital world alone cannot provide.
Computers, mobile phones and AI are all important, but they can never replace critical thinking or the richness of human emotion that books offer.
Reporter: More broadly, how do you view reading culture and the publishing industry in Vietnam?
Author Juan Villoro: One of Vietnam's greatest strengths is its openness in publishing. A large number of translated books means readers here have access to literature and ideas from around the world.
Building cultural bridges with other countries is very important. In Mexico, we are pursuing the same goal. I translate works from German and English because I believe connecting with other cultures is deeply enriching.
One of the defining characteristics of Vietnam's publishing industry is this openness. It opens doors for readers to understand what is happening around the world, and I greatly admire that.
Literature: A home for emotions and dreams
Reporter: With artificial intelligence developing rapidly, what role do you think literature plays in shaping people's mind and character?
Author Juan Villoro: AI is an extraordinary tool for processing information, but human beings need something it cannot provide - literature and arts.
Have you noticed that when we visit certain websites, we are asked to prove that we are not robots?
The irony is that we now have to convince machines that we are human, and it is the machines that decide whether we have succeeded.
That raises a fundamental question: What does it really mean to be human?
People possess qualities that machines do not. We have secrets. We have emotions - the very things we rely on when making the most important decisions in our lives. Emotions define our humanity.
Culture, particularly literature, is where we encounter those emotions and dreams - things that no machine can truly replicate.
Reporter: Unfortunately, many young people today seem more interested in digital entertainment than in literature. In your view, what should be done to promote a stronger reading culture?
Author Juan Villoro: That is true. Today, far fewer people read literature than in the past. In Mexico, we are working to broaden the readership, and one of the most effective ways is to write for children and young adults.
Writing is a journey of exploring reality through endless curiosity. A true writer is someone who constantly asks questions and never takes anything for grant. Literature is therefore inseparable from life. It is an ongoing dialogue between people and the world around them, where imagination helps create new ways of understanding reality.
Reporter: Thank you very much!
