International Book Festival in Chongzuo

Chongzuo belongs to the Guangxi Autonomous Region, has a population of 2.5 million, nearly 90% of whom are ethnic minorities, and is a modern border city developing on the basis of inheriting and promoting cultural values, especially indigenous culture.

After the success of the Vietnamese cultural booth within the framework of the China - ASEAN Book Culture Week 2025 organized by Chibooks (with the support of the organizing committee and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Guangxi, China), the Vietnamese writers' group was doubly happy when the Southeast Asia award was given to the book Hanoians , stories of eating and drinking in the past (author Vu The Long, Chibooks and the Writers' Association Publishing House).

Leaving Nanning city, Guangxi after the closing ceremony of the China - ASEAN Book Culture Week 2025 (July 2 - 6), the Vietnamese delegation (including me, translator Nguyen Le Chi, author Do Quang Tuan Hoang) arrived at Sung Ta, a city bordering Cao Bang , Lang Son and Quang Ninh, Vietnam.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, Consul General of Vietnam in Guangxi, visited the Vietnamese book booth at the 2025 China - ASEAN Book Culture Week, Nanning City, Guangzhou

PHOTO: BN - NLC

Chongzuo is blessed with a diverse cultural community. During our 3-day stay in the border city, Chongzuo friends took us to visit: the Hoa Son rock painting complex (with unique historical and artistic values, recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage in 2016), Chongzuo Ethnic Museum, Ta Giang leaning tower, Thai Binh ancient town, go into the mountains and forests to see white-capped langurs and the nature museum..., meet and work with Chongzuo City Television Station, Chongzuo Writers Association...

Vietnamese book stall in the center of the book fair

PHOTO: BN - NLC

At the studio, Chongzuo City Television gave me more than an hour of interview time about reading culture, Ho Chi Minh City literature and Vietnamese literature.

Writer Trinh Bich Ngan - President of Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association (right) at the recording studio of Sung Ta City Television Station

PHOTO: NLC

Among the many activities that the Vietnamese delegation participated in, the most profound impression on me was the 2025 Chongzuo International Book and Calligraphy Festival held at Chongzuo Pedagogical College (on the evening of July 8) which was broadcast live on Chongzuo City Television.

The guest and speaker are two famous Chinese writers: poet Duong Khac, Chairman of the Poetry Council - Chinese Writers Association, introduces the new poetry collection In the Pomegranate I See My Fatherland ; writer Tu Tac Than with the novel Bac Thuong and Vietnamese author, Do Quang Tuan Hoang with the book Vietnamese culture Across the clouds (Chinese edition published by Chibooks and Guangxi Science and Technology Publishing House and launched in China in November 2024).

Some pictures from the art program of the International Book and Calligraphy Festival of Chongzuo City

PHOTO: BN - NLC

Images of poets: Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi... are recreated on stage.

PHOTO: BN - NLC

Before the three authors introduced their works, six Chinese writers presented books to representatives of international students from six countries studying at universities in Chongzuo City.

After the speeches of the 3 speakers, there was an art program honoring cultural values, especially traditional culture, through many forms of expression: singing and dancing performances by children with books in hand and the lyrics resounding: "Poetry is like a cool stream pouring into our hearts..."; many performances recreating the lives and creativity of poets Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi... and the works of poets from about 1,300 years ago were presented very vividly with art that harmoniously combines tradition and modernity...

After the live program was broadcast on television, the three authors of the three new books signed their books for readers. Many readers bought several books of poetry, novels and memoirs at the same time. When I asked a student holding a stack of books to his chest, "Why did you buy so many?", he replied, "I bought them for my relatives to read."

During the meeting with Southeast Asian writers, Mr. Dinh - Secretary of the Chongzuo City Party Committee, said that for the past 3 years, Chongzuo has organized the International Book Reading and Calligraphy Festival of Chongzuo City every year, to honor the value of books, poetry and literature and connect reading culture with many cities, localities and countries.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ngay-hoi-doc-sach-quoc-te-o-sung-ta-185250711124643541.htm