Hanoi authorities prepare for opening new street for books

The December 19 street links Hai Ba Trung and Ly Thuong Kiet streets in downtown Hanoi.
The city’s authorities have asked concerned agencies to spread information about the venue, control the origins and contents of the books available at the street as well as invite publishers and books stores to set up stalls on the street.

The book street in HCM City.

The book street will have up to 20 stalls and remain open between 8am and 10pm. The area will offer book cafes, reading spaces, book talks and exchanges between authors and audiences.
The city's leaders are considering hanging bookshelves on street walls to help people collect books more easily and create more space for readers. There will also be activities to introduce interesting books and also talk shows on books.
The funding for creating the book street and organizing related events will come from the city’s budget. The municipal Department of Information and Communications will be responsible for managing the content of books. Book stalls are available for publishers and booksellers at a fee.
Depending on the actual operation of the fixed book street, another mobile book street will be held at the weekend pedestrian zone near Ly Thai To Park next to Hoan Kiem lake. Book streets create a unique part of pedestrian malls and will stimulate a reading culture among people in the city.
The book street is part of Hanoi's plans to maximize cultural values in the city. It also plans more vehicle-free streets in Hoan Kiem district. Streets being considered are Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Thai To, Hang Khay, Le Lai, Le Thach, Dinh Le, Nguyen Xi, Trang Tien (from Ngo Quyen to Dinh Tien Hoang), Le Thai To, and Hang Trong (from the Opera House to Le Thai To).
According to examination implemented by the municipal Transport Department, there is not a busy traffic on December 19 street. Currently, the street is used mainly for parking service and among most convenient places to open a fixed book street.

The December 19 street now is used mainly for parking service.

The perspective of a fixed book street on December 19 street.

The municipal Information and Communications Department said it has planned a clear map for the street.
Hanoi has recently passed a new tourism decree with a target of welcoming 30 million tourists by 2020, including 5.7 million international arrivals, for an annual rise of 8-10%.
In 2016, the city has targeted receiving 21.165 million tourists, including 3.8 international tourists, and to earn revenue of 60 trillion VND (2.69 billion USD).