From a love for Hue
On the morning of September 29th, 2024, Hue Book and Culture Club officially launched at 23 - 25 Le Loi street, Hue City, with the mission of transforming this location into a “Space for Books and Hue Culture”. Initially founded by five to six members, the club quickly gained support from numerous individuals and organizations, leading to a series of meaningful activities.
With a primary focus on children and parents, the Hue Book and Culture Club has organized various events tailored to these audiences in its early stages. The first event, Helping Children Befriend Books, attracted over 200 registrants. Mr. Hoang Trong Thuy, an educator from the Friendly Library Project and Mrs. Nguyen Minh Thanh Nhan, Vice Principal of Ly Thuong Kiet Primary School, shared valuable insights on fostering a love for reading among children.
At a summary event marking the club’s first three months of activities, Mr. Phan Thien Dinh, Secretary of Thuan Hoa District Party Committee, expressed his hope that the Hue Book and Culture Club would collaborate more closely with the education sector. He emphasized the importance of integrating activities that help students develop a bond with books while assisting parents and teachers in building life skills and instilling a love for Hue in the younger generation.
In a visit to the club while on a work trip to Hue, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung - a native of Hue, Principal of Tue Duc International College - VABIS, and CEO of the Tue Duc Green School system - was impressed by the initiative. He noted that only a deep love for Hue and reading could sustain such meaningful and ongoing activities.
A future space for book and Hue culture
Students experiencing cultural activities at 23-25 Le Loi
Nguyen Khoa Dieu Ha, writer, an enthusiastic supporter of the Hue Book and Culture Club, expressed her hope that this space will soon become a regular gathering place for book lovers and Hue enthusiasts. She shared her belief in this vision, stating that after following the club’s activities during the past time, she found them to be truly meaningful and impactful.
At the beginning of January 2025, the Hue Book and Culture Club outlined an extensive activity plan for the entire year, featuring a diverse range of programs. The Tet experience activities quickly garnered hundreds of parents’ registrations. Additionally, the book launch event for “Noi Niem Thoi Ao Trang” (on the morning of January 18th, 2025) drew participation from teachers and students alike.
February 2025 promises to be vibrant with author meet-and-greet events, including a discussion with Ton Nu Xuan Quyen, an author, alongside Hue’s startup and young entrepreneur community, and a meeting with Tran Huu Phuc Tien, also an author, about his book - Indochina Tourism of the Past. The book exchange sessions, which engaged many children in 2024, will be improved to appeal more to young adults and university students.
Truong Thi My Dung, Head of the Hue Book and Culture Club, shared that in addition to ongoing activities, the club introduced a book café model before Tet. This initiative aims to ensure daily engagement at the venue rather than limiting activities to weekends. She also revealed that if sponsorship funding is secured, the club will organize additional competitions related to books and culture.
“Everything we do stems from our love for Hue and a desire to nurture young people. We want to create a positive, dynamic environment where students don’t just focus on academics but also learn to contribute to society and their communities,” My Dung expressed.
The Hue Book and Culture Club was officially founded on September 29th, 2024, following the directive of the former Hue City Party Committee Standing Committee. The goal is to develop the Hue Book Space, ultimately expanding into a Hue Cultural Space, while promoting social engagement through partnerships with various organizations and institutions in the region.