VietNamNet Bridge - Book prices in Vietnam are much lower than in many other countries, but this has not led to people spending more time reading books.

The opening of the Book Fair

The 2016 Hanoi Book Fair opened on October 6 was praised as a big cultural event for Hanoians. Sharp price discounts were offered at the fair with some books sold at just VND2,000-5,000.

The prices are ‘dirt cheap’ and even cheaper than a motorbike parking ticket, valued at VND10,000.

Chu Phong Ba, 34, in Yen Hoa Ward of Cau Giay district, said as the books there were very cheap, he bought comic books for children and a short story by Bao Ninh

“I hope cheap books will help Vietnam more easily access the intellectual treasure of the world,” he said.

However, an analyst commented that even if publishers do not offer price discounts, books in Vietnam would still be much cheaper than in other countries. However, the advantage still cannot lure Vietnamese.

An official showed that 26 percent of Vietnamese people don’t read books. Only 30 percent of Vietnamese read books regularly, while 44 percent read books occasionally. Readers at libraries account for 8-10 percent of population.

Only 30 percent of Vietnamese read books regularly, while 44 percent read books occasionally. Readers at libraries account for 8-10 percent of population.

Each Vietnamese reads four books a year, including 2.8 textbooks and 1.2 other books.

An educator has recently commented in a local newspaper that Vietnamese read less books than students of a primary school in Japan. 

He cited a report as saying that at a school with 700 students in Nago City, a small city in Okianawa province, the library operated at full capacity in October and November 2015. 

In October, students there read 19.2 books each. First graders were the most diligent readers: each of them borrowed 28.9 books from the school’s library.

“I know there are many other factors that affect people’s reading habit in different countries. But I still have to say that Vietnamese are lazy about this and have problems in choosing suitable books to read,” he said.

The expert went on to say that Vietnamese youth are addicted to social networks and tend to worship ‘virtual value’.

A report showed that Vietnam is among 10 countries with the highest number of people searching for keywords related to sex. Vietnamese spend 2.5 hours surfing on Facebook every day

In 2015, revenue from publications was VND2 trillion, while revenue from beer products was VND66 trillion.

Dat Viet