From Vietnam: Increasing Opportunity through Books
Recently, The Asia Foundation hosted four significant book exhibitions in Vietnam to promote special collections, reading rooms, and libraries which have received volumes from the Foundation’s book donation program, Books for Asia.
Books for Asia has operated in Vietnam since 1993 through a partnership with the National Library in Hanoi. Over the past five years, the Foundation has provided approximately 160,000 volumes to Vietnam, with an additional 120,000 expected to be shipped over the next three years. The program provides educational materials to help improve human resource development, support Vietnam’s goal of global and regional integration, and increase the country’s economic and intellectual capacity.
Recent donations to the National Library and several provincial libraries focused on American studies topics, children’s books, and other English-language materials. Special book exhibitions were hosted at Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Hue libraries. Prominent guest speakers discussed the development of The Asia Foundation-sponsored American Studies Program, established in partnership with the Henry Luce Foundation, at the Vietnam National Library. Speakers from partner libraries also discussed the successful collaboration with Books for Asia over the years. A final exhibition of the special collection will be held in Hanoi in February.
