Hanoi held its first reading festival for young people on Book Street

Hanoi held its first reading festival for young people on October 31 at Hanoi Book Street in Cua Nam Ward. DTiNews reported that the Hanoi Youth Union drew about 400 youth-union members, students, children, and residents. The day launched a youth reading campaign and the 2026 Young Reading Culture Ambassador badge, for people who spread reading in their communities. An awards ceremony is expected in December.

Deputy secretary Dao Duc Viet asked schools and youth groups to keep regular reading spaces, and to mix books with real experiences rather than treat a screen as the only way to learn. Children's author Le Phuong Lien, who has worked in children's literature for more than 50 years, said a library card was one of her most treasured possessions when books were scarce. Writer Nguyen Xuan Thuy told the room that the problem now is often too much information, not too little, and that a book still asks the reader to picture the story.

Nine publishers and bookshops offered deals on 132 titles, and four themed stations ran activities. The report's count is the crowd and the titles on offer. It does not say how many badges will be given out in December, or how many books left the street in someone's bag.