Hanoi Book Fair 2025: A cultural and creative convergence
The event affirms Hanoi’s role as a center of culture, knowledge and creativity.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Hanoi Book Fair 2025 is being held at the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone until October 5, under the theme “Thang Long - Hanoi - Aspiration to Rise.”
Truong Viet Dung, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee delivered opening speech of Hanoi Book Fair 2025. Photo: Duy Khanh/The Hanoi Times
Speaking at the opening ceremony on the evening of October 3, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, Truong Viet Dung, said that the book fair is a meaningful activity to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Capital’s Liberation (October 10, 1954 - 2025).
“The Hanoi Book Fair this year marks many important occasions, fosters a culture of self-learning, promotes the reading movement and contributes to nurturing a civilized, elegant image of Hanoians,” he stated.
Throughout the event, visitors can participate in author meetings, panel discussions and thematic talks with renowned writers and scholars, offering new insights into literature, history and culture.
A major highlight of this year’s fair is the integration of digital transformation in publishing and cultural activities. Visitors can explore a series of e-books under the theme Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam, featuring 10 multimedia 3D books and 20 illustrated picture books.
The multimedia collection presents the lives and legacies of notable cultural figures such as Chu Van An, Nguyen Trai, Luong The Vinh, Le Quy Don and Ngo Thi Nham, eminent scholars who shaped Vietnam’s Confucian and educational traditions.
Visitors to Hanoi Book Fair 2025. Photo: Duy Khanh
The accompanying picture books narrate stories about the Temple of Literature, monarchical education, and the site’s historical, architectural, and artistic values, honoring Vietnam’s first national university.
Technology-enhanced experiences also enrich the event. Attendees can use VR360 virtual reality glasses to explore the Temple of Literature with musical accompaniment, or interact with AI in the “Q&A with the Turtle” experience. Traditional cultural activities such as hand-sewn bookbinding, pattern printing on doctorate steles, and calligraphy demonstrations further bridge the past and present.
Beyond promoting a reading culture, the Hanoi Book Fair 2025 serves as a platform to honor national heritage and inspire patriotism. It reinforces the collective aspiration for a strong, prosperous, and happy Vietnam- proud of its millennia-old civilization and heroic traditions.
