VietNamNet Bridge – Though experts think it will take at least another five years before e-books will cut into the revenues of printed books, many book distributors are already preparing for the day even as the use of IT spreads in Viet Nam.

The recent opening of the country's first e-bookshop, Alezaa.com, with more than 400 titles has made them think of strengthening their ties with IT firms.

Thai Ha Book and Lac Viet Computing Corpor-ation on Saturday signed a deal to co-operate in manufacture of e-books.

Ho Cong Chien, deputy general director of Lac Viet, which has published an e-dictionary, said since e-books were still new in Viet Nam, there were many tasks like securing copyright and online payment methods.

"There is a long road ahead for this kind of books, because Vietnamese are not used to spending money on e-books," he said.

Nguyen Manh Hung, chairman of Thai Ha Book Company, said a combination of IT and reading culture was essential for the business.

"I believe e-books can spearhead Viet Nam's intellectual economy in the 21st century."

Companies that sell books online, like Vinabook and Tiki, are also considering investing in digital publishing.

Tri Viet Book Company, which has Vietnamese publishing rights to 70 per cent of all books written by famous writers around the world, has sold the books digitally to mobile service providers.

This year it sold the content of 50 books to Samsung Vina for US$23,000 per year. The content will be used on mobile phones and other gadgets.

The company also has a $3 million contract with Nokia.

Vinabook plans to tie up with book distribution companies like Dong A, Nha Nam, Tri Viet, Tre Youth Publishing House, and others for providing e-books on smartphones, ipads, PCs, and laptops.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News