The Binh Ngo Tet book festival, a significant cultural event, concluded its eight-day run in Ho Chi Minh City, attracting over one million visitors and achieving nearly 8.2 billion VND in revenue. Held from 15/2 to 22/2, coinciding with the 28th of the twelfth lunar month to the 6th day of Tet, the festival spanned three key locations: Le Loi street (Saigon ward), Binh Duong ward, and Vung Tau ward.

Le Loi street alone welcomed over one million visitors, making it a bustling hub of activity. Concurrently, New City Park in Binh Duong ward saw approximately 100,000 attendees, underscoring the widespread appeal of the event across different districts.

Tet book street on Le Loi - Nguyen Hue was crowded with visitors on opening night. *Quynh Tran*

Over the eight days, the festival hosted a diverse array of 80 activities, including: 15 stage programs, 20 exhibition themes, and over 30 workshops. The main book street on Le Loi street, specifically the Nguyen Hue - Quach Thi Trang section within Saigon and Ben Thanh wards, was meticulously organized into three distinct zones—A, B, and C. This expansive layout covered an area of over 13,000 square meters along a 400-meter stretch, providing ample space for exhibitors and visitors.

A central highlight of the festival was the Ho Chi Minh cultural space, featuring eight thematic book pillars. These commemorated significant historical milestones, such as 115 years since Uncle Ho departed to find a way to save the nation (1911-2026) and 50 years since Saigon - Gia Dinh was renamed Ho Chi Minh City (1976-2026). Here, readers explored numerous publications about President Ho Chi Minh's life and career, including English editions and the Ho Chi Minh Heritage bookshelf collection with nearly 70 titles. The organizers also embraced modern trends by creating technology-focused areas, showcasing AI, AR, and digital libraries, reflecting the evolving landscape of reading in the digital transformation era. Furthermore, the Circle of Knowledge Intersection, an international integration zone, served as a platform for many foreign publishers to exhibit their works and engage with local readers.

Total book sales during the festival reached over 83,000 copies. Best-selling titles included: Vietnam's Most Beautiful with Uncle Ho's Name (English edition), Childhood in Indochina, Vietnamese History in Pictures (English and Vietnamese editions), Reverse Thinking, and Open Mindset. Revenue peaked between the first and third days of Tet, with many vendors reporting good growth, indicating strong purchasing power and reading demand at the start of the year.

Many parents brought their children to visit the Tet book street for the first time. *Quynh Tran*

Beyond the main Le Loi location, the Binh Duong and Ba Ria Vung Tau sites each offered unique attractions. Binh Duong ward featured a spring newspaper exhibition space, a calligrapher's corner for giving characters (ong do cho chu), and a reading and storytelling playground for children. In Vung Tau ward, displays focused on local struggle traditions, achievements in marine economy, and external communication regarding the sea and islands.

The cherished spring book lucky money (li xi sach) activity continued, offering more diverse gifting methods compared to last year. Readers could receive books in three ways: by scanning a barcode for audiobooks, through a compassionate book ATM, or directly. Nearly 2,000 copies of books, newspapers, and magazines were distributed to residents across the three festival areas.

The Tet book street festival is an annual cultural event held in Ho Chi Minh City during the Lunar New Year. The Binh Ngo Tet marked its 16th year, building on the success of previous editions. Last year, the event also attracted over one million visitors who explored books and participated in various engaging activities.

Mai Nhat