Everything starts from the first step, including reading culture.

Vietnam is a country with a tradition of "respecting books", loving knowledge and always striving for progress on the path of knowledge. However, when entering the integration period, the reading culture is facing the risk of fading away due to the dominance of audio and visual media (phones, tablets, laptops, etc.). Most young people today are "absorbed" in pursuing temporary pleasures and abandoning the endless source of knowledge from books. In order for books to once again affirm their position and role in modern life, becoming the foundation of a learning nation, it is time for the whole society to "join in" to revive the reading culture from the first steps.

Ups and downs of reading culture

Reading books has long been a cultural feature of the Vietnamese people. Our ancestors highly valued books and affirmed that “Thu trung ngoc huu” (There is jade in books); “Even if there are hundreds of thousands of taels of silver and gold/It is not as good as a few volumes of classics and history”…

In the past, books were not as diverse as they are now, and not every family could afford to buy many books. However, most families had bookshelves and bookcases for the whole family. Precious and valuable books were all bound in hardcover, with cloth or gold-plated leather spines, and in addition to the author’s name and book title, there was also the name of the family bookcase… That appreciation of books was passed down to generations in the family, forming the Vietnamese reading culture.

The joy and treasure of finding a good book.

In the 1990s and 2000s, it was not difficult to see the image of students “rooting” in libraries and bookstores. They wanted to own a new book but could not afford it. Somewhere, the words of the character Thuong in the movie “Phia Truoc La Bau Troi” kept echoing: “If I had money, I would go to the bookstore and buy any book I liked.”

Nowadays, it is not difficult for each person to own a bookshelf with a variety of genres, which can be read at any time of the day. However, the convenience of media, entertainment, and the outstanding features of social networking platforms are more attractive and appealing to young people than printed books.

Young people "kill time" by gathering and painting statues.

"Glued" to the phone all the time, everywhere.

Many young people, when entering a bookstore, do not know what kind of book to choose. They just "superficially" browse through each shelf and then leave "empty-handed". Gradually, the habit of buying and reading books is no longer there. Instead, there is time to gather with friends to chat; surf the web, and paint to "kill time". It seems that enjoyment and fun have "suffocated" the desire to cultivate the endless source of knowledge from books of young people.

Why is the reading culture of young Vietnamese people not high?

Speaker Nguyen Quoc Vuong commented: Young people are lazy to read because they do not understand the importance of books. Another reason is that there is no foundation to develop and improve reading culture for young Vietnamese people.

“We have many learning promotion associations but no reading promotion associations. While many schools and libraries say it is difficult to convince people to read, in a place that seems much more difficult, prison, people love books and are eager to read,” said speaker Nguyen Quoc Vuong.

Paper books provide an endless source of knowledge.

Writer Nguyen Binh Phuong said: Parents who do not read books cannot encourage their children to read books. At school, teachers also rarely read books and cannot be role models for students.

Young people, although they recognize that reading is necessary, do not know where to start. Thế Tài, a student of the Faculty of Business Administration at Đại Nam University, shared: “I really want to read books, but I do not know which type of book to choose. Having no one to guide me, no one to read with, no one to share with also makes me discouraged and unmotivated to read.”

Every book is a window to the world; it is fuel for your mind.

It is no coincidence that businessman Dang Le Nguyen Vu spent 5 billion USD (~ 117,000 billion VND) to build bookshelves, launching a movement to love books and read books in all provinces and cities of Vietnam since 2018.

Accordingly, in 5 years (2018 - 2023), Mr. Vu's group will equip bookcases and film cabinets to cultural houses and libraries of 713 administrative units including 68 provincial cities, 50 towns, 49 districts and 546 counties; equip more than 20 million bookcases and films to more than 20 million households, clans...; the entire library system of state agencies, social organizations... across the country.

Every student needs to form a reading habit to acquire knowledge and develop a reading culture.

Not only businessman Dang Le Nguyen Vu, many individuals and organizations also recognize the importance of books and reading culture. The movement of donating books and building libraries has been promoted by localities. The zero-dong library model is not only organized in towns and wards in many provinces and cities across the country. Reading culture is also focused on by families, encouraging and motivating their descendants to maintain and practice.

Many book clubs of influential individuals such as speaker Nguyen Quoc Vuong and Dr. Le Thuy Anh were established, becoming a “meeting place” for people who share a passion for reading. That shows that the meaning and value of books are irreplaceable. Without books, there can be no knowledge. And without knowledge, it is impossible to serve well for work, life and have a high income.

Therefore, rectifying reading culture is an important national task that needs to be focused on and strengthened on many levels, especially educational institutions, where knowledge is trained for the young generation - the future owners of the country.

What does Dai Nam University do to develop a reading culture?

Recognizing the importance of books and reading culture among students, Dai Nam University decided to organize the "Dai Nam University Book Festival 2023" . The program aims to raise awareness among staff, lecturers and students about the importance of reading for the development of thinking, education and training of human personality. Aiming to build a reading society to respond to the information society, the knowledge economy and a sustainable development society; responding to the 2nd Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day in 2023.

Famous speakers such as historian Le Van Lan, Nguyen Quoc Vuong, etc. were invited by Dai Nam University to interact and share with students. Here, young people learned about the benefits of reading, how to choose suitable books, reading methods, memorizing, selecting information, etc. From there, the inspiration to read was aroused in the hearts of every staff, lecturer and student of the University.

After reading, young people can also spread their favorite books to friends and teachers by participating in the book review minigame; exchanging books - getting books at the School's Youth Station.

In particular, the Youth Union of Dai Nam University decided to establish the "Books and Action" Club to gather young people who love books and want to spread the reading culture to students of the whole school in particular and society in general.

“Our wish is to spread, rectify and revive the reading culture, first of all for students of Dai Nam University, and more broadly for the whole society. Each member is a reading ambassador, spreading the spirit and habit of reading to friends and relatives. From their friends and relatives, they continue to share with others, gradually forming a community of reading and book lovers” , Mr. Vu Dang Tuan Anh - Secretary of the Youth Union of Dai Nam University shared.

Teachers and students of Dai Nam University join hands with society to "revive" reading culture.

Ms. Cao Thi Hoa - Vice Principal of Dai Nam University emphasized: "Reading culture is created by many factors, but the first and core is the attitude and behavior towards reading. With the efforts of the School, the consensus of teachers and students, I hope that the reading culture of Dai Nam University will gradually change and from teachers, positive motivation will be transmitted to the young generations of Vietnam in general and Dai Nam University in particular".

“Dai Nam University Book Festival 2023” program on April 19 at Dai Nam University. Many interesting activities and many good books are waiting for young people to discover and learn.

>>> Details: https://dainam.edu.vn/vi/tin-tuc/dieu-gi-dang-cho-dnuer-tai-ngay-hoi-sach-dai-hoc-dai-nam-2023

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