From the love of books to the journey of spreading reading culture
Nearly a decade ago, when she was a high school student, Tran Thi Phuong Ni (Lien Minh commune, Hanoi) was used to the days of going to class associated with blackboards, white chalk and paper books. During the time at home due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, reading gradually became an indispensable part of the female student's daily rhythm of life. From familiar literary works, Phuong Ni began to passionately explore the values behind each page of the book, and then reading was no longer a temporary habit but became a persistent hobby.
When entering university, along with a busier pace of life and the development of technology, Phuong Ni's approach to books also has flexible changes. The female student began to take advantage of her free time to listen to audiobooks on digital platforms.
Phuong Ni still aims to read at least 2 books per month, and at the same time take advantage of free time to listen to audiobooks on digital platforms. For her, reading books does not need rigid templates, sometimes, choosing a random book brings unexpected experiences. From familiar literary books, over time, reading gradually became Phuong Ni's habit, and later a hard-to-replace passion.
The turning point came when Phuong Ni had the opportunity to participate in activities at a community library in the locality. Phuong Ni and her members actively guided and accompanied children in O Dien and Lien Minh communes (Hanoi) to form the habit of reading books through the library's "happily reading hours".
Looking at the young children fascinated by each book, I realized that reading can spread and nurture the souls of many generations. Every time I hear them ask me historical, geographical, and scientific questions in books, I feel happy and understand the value of the journey I am pursuing more clearly" - Phuong Ni shared. These simple moments have made female students change their perspective on books, which is not only knowledge, but also a bridge between individuals and the community.
In university lecture halls, female students also participate in reading culture spreading contests. In 2025, surpassing 18,000 contestants, female students won consolation prizes in the "Reading Culture Ambassador" contest organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Experiences from contests and community activities further enhance Phuong Ni's love and belief in the value of reading culture.
Reading culture in Vietnam is increasingly being concerned thanks to the contribution of the entire book-loving community. From my experience, I will continue to accompany community reading activities, spreading reading habits to young children - the generation that shapes the future of the country" - Phuong Ni added.
Electronic books are changing the way young people read books
Having a habit of reading books and comics since she was a primary school student, Nguyen Thuy Linh (22 years old), a 4th year student at the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda, is also gradually switching to using e-readers. This device brings convenience when female students can put it in their handbags and read it anywhere.
Since I was little, I have loved fantasy and science fiction books like the Harry Potter series. The length of these books is usually very large and difficult to carry when traveling or going to a coffee shop. Therefore, using a reading machine in such cases is a reasonable choice" - Thuy Linh said.
For Thuy Linh, each way of reading has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the reader's experience. For comic books, paper books will have the advantage of vivid colors and high collectible value. As for novels and science books with large amounts of information, using e-books will help readers to be more convenient in taking notes and tracking the content.
Sharing the same view as Thuy Linh, Do Thi Hao (23 years old), a final year student at the University of Labor and Social Affairs, has also been using e-readers for 4 years.
According to Hao, when using a reading machine, readers can buy foreign language ebooks (electronic books) without
has printed versions in Vietnam. At the same time, this device is also suitable for people who regularly travel by public transport. Every day, female students take advantage of using a reading machine when traveling from home to school or part-time work by bus.
Whether choosing to read paper books or electronic books, the common point of Phuong Ni, Hao, Thuy Linh or many other young people is still the need to access knowledge and maintain reading habits in modern life. The change in the form of approach does not erode the value of reading, but on the contrary, contributes to helping reading culture adapt more flexibly to the new pace of life, continuing to be preserved and spread in the community.
Spreading reading culture from university lecture halls
While many students, young people like Ni, Thuy Linh, or Hao, consider reading books as a good habit that needs self-awareness to develop and spread, in higher education institutions, many activities are included, besides teaching, such as seminars, workshops, book introduction contests, open reading spaces... to encourage students to form reading habits and spread knowledge in the community. These activities contribute to making reading a part of school life, instead of just personal choices.
Along with that, universities also focus on upgrading library systems, developing digital learning materials and diversifying information resources. The combination of traditional libraries and digital platforms helps students easily access knowledge anytime, anywhere, in line with the trend of flexible learning in the digital age.
Prof. Vu Van Yem - Deputy Director of Hanoi University of Science and Technology affirmed that knowledge is the foundation of sustainable development and books - whether in the form of traditional prints or modern digital data - are still the most persistent "teacher" leading us to explore the world, train thinking and nurture creative aspirations.
For Hanoi University of Science and Technology, books are not only a source of professional knowledge, but also a tool to form bravery, systematic thinking and serious research spirit - the core qualities of engineers and science scientists of Hanoi University of Science and Technology through many generations" - Professor Vu Van Yem affirmed.
Throughout 7 decades of formation and development (1956 - 2026), knowledge accumulated and spread through information resources has become a solid support for every step of the school in the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country.
He believes that in the digital age, when AI and big data are changing the way people access information, reading culture is becoming even more important. Amidst a sea of short and fast information, systematic reading helps students form deep analysis and critical thinking skills - skills that technology cannot completely replace.
Therefore, developing reading culture through investment in modern library systems, digital knowledge platforms and open learning spaces is considered one of the key tasks to train high-quality human resources to meet the increasingly demanding requirements of society.
