Promoting literature: Phuong Nam Book Company is offering discounts of 30-50 per cent on more than 2,000 titles, most of which are in the Vietnamese literature genre. — Photo thoidai.com.vn

HCM CITY (VNS) — Publishers and book companies around the country are offering discounts of up to 50 per cent to hundreds of book titles to attract students and young readers during the summer vacation.

More than 2,000 titles, most of which feature literature of Viet Nam, are being offered by Phuong Nam Book Company with discounts of 30-50 per cent.

Among the highlights for Phuong Nam's books are children stories written by well-known writer and translator Ly Lan, including Bi Mat Giua Toi va Than Lan (Secrets Between the Black Lizard and Me), Ngoi Nha Trong Co (A House in the Meadow) and Ba Nguoi va Ba Con Vat (Three Men and Three Animals).

Lan wrote the stories years ago. Her stories were reprinted several times by local publishers to meet reader demands.

Lan is the translator of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books into Vietnamese.

Last week, Kim Dong Publishers, which specialises in books for children, launched a reading campaign called Happy Summer Holidays with Kim Dong Books, with the release of many Vietnamese cartoons for children under seven and the Vietnamese version of 15 much-loved stories by Roald Dahl, including Matilda & Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Magic Finger and Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant.

Kim Dong also has completed the translation of The Book of General Ignorance by John Lloyd and John Mitchinson for publication in Viet Nam.

The Tre (Youth) Publishers is offering more than 2,500 children books titles at its summer book fair opened at its office on Ly Chinh Thang Street, District 3 until August 31.

Fahasa plans to open two books fairs for children in the suburban districts of Hoc Mon and Nha Be from June 1-7 to greet International Children's Day.

Fahasa, HCM City's leading book distributor, will offer discounts of 5-50 per cent for nearly 20,000 books, including textbooks for use in primary and high schools in September. All the books are new.

This summer, e-book stores run by several companies, including Tiki and Vinabook, have cut prices of many of their books, some of them up to 40 per cent. — VNS