Book heaven: The 5th Vietnam international book fair and exhibition 2015 impresses many readers with 200 booths of more than 100 publishers. VNS Photo Doan Tung

HA NOI (VNS) — The 5th Viet Nam International Book Fair and Exhibition 2015 is taking place at Thong Nhat Park in Ha Noi, attracting a large number of book lovers.

The fair area includes 200 booths from over 100 domestic and international publishers. Many promotions, discounts for new and good books can be found there at the fair.

"I found information about this book fair on Facebook, so my friends and I decided to come here to buy some books on economics which I am studying at college," said Le Quynh Mai, a third-year student at Academy of Finance. "It has so many kinds of books and I get to buy my favorite books at reasonable prices."

Organised by the Department of Printing and Publishing under the Ministry of Information and Communications, the event includes three areas: exhibitions, book fairs and related events such as seminars and talks, and will last until September 14.

The exhibition area displays many artifacts and valuable materials relating to the formation and development of books associated with publishing activities in Viet Nam. Moreover, a special display system of Vietnamese historical books such as Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu, (Complete Annals of Dai Viet) or the first published publication of the Declaration of Independence.

Through talks by publishing units and the introduction of new books, the audiences have more opportunities to interact and meet with authors. It helps them understand more about the process of writing books and the meaning which the author wants to convey in the story.

One of talks was by Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, author of Cuoc chien tuoi day thi (I fight my son's puberty) on the first day of the fair.

"The story in the book is about the author's son. She had written the book to give to her son as a gift," said Nguyen Thuy Hang, 42, a visitor at the fair. "What I read in the book is similar to what I and other people who have their child enter puberty are facing. I spend time coming here to listen to the author and feel extremely excited."

This year, besides the domestic publishing house, there is the participation of 20 major publishers from around the world, such as Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Taschen and Tan Yang.

"I come to this fair to find some books of foreign publishers at a low price", said Luu Thuy Van, 21, from Ha Noi University. "I have found various foreign books here, which can satisfy visitors like me."

English readers can find English language books at the fair, but most of the titles are dictionaries and textbooks targeting high-school English students. The most appealing fact: lots of discounted books, at amazingly low prices.

The visitors to the book fair are varied, including children, the youth and the elderly. However, they all come to the fair with expectations of buying their own favorite books.

Hoang Xuan An, 69, from Hoan Kiem district, visited the book fair to buy some books on the revolution. "I like reading books, so I come to most of the book fairs held in Ha Noi", said An. "I find this book fair to be bigger than the others that I attended."

He also shared that he bought some of his favorite books at affordable prices for retirees like him. "I hope such book fairs will be held more regularly," added An.

For publishing houses, the book fair is the opportunity for them to sell more books and introduce new ones to readers.

"The fair is the place where the publishing house and readers can meet each other," said Mai Xuan Anh, head of sales department at Viet Nam AZ communication and Culture Company limited, one of the units attending the fair. He added that the fair contributed to promoting a reading culture, especially for the youth. — VNS