The city-level competition featured video clips from 74 distinguished families across 22 districts, towns, and municipalities. These families participate in three segments: Greeting, Introducing the Family Library, and Introducing Books. Most families adhere closely to the guidelines set by the organizing committee, creating programs that are well-invested both in terms of presentation and content. They selected meaningful books and demonstrated engaging performances between generations and family members to enhance the quality and effectiveness of each part of the competition, successfully conveying the message about the importance of reading and building a family library.
For instance, the video clip from Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mai’s family (Phu Thuong Ward, Tay Ho District) presented an impressive introduction to their family library. In their living space, the family has dedicated a corner to books, which they call the “Love Library.” The library is organized into sections: a central area for newly purchased books; a section for their youngest child, Anh Minh, featuring books on child psychology, humorous stories, mathematics, astronomy, and a collection of comic books that the child enjoys; a section for the parents with books on literature, the ethics of President Ho Chi Minh, and family psychology; a section for astronomy and planetary exploration books for their eldest son, Quang Vinh; and a shared space showcasing the children’s academic achievements and books about Hanoi.
Video clips of families participating in the competition are lively and engaging.
The library, with over 200 books spanning various fields of life, helps the family members explore and expand their knowledge. Moreover, the family library not only supports the members in maintaining a consistent reading habit but also fosters a spirit of love for books, values knowledge, and stimulates self-learning and self-reading. Every weekend evening, the family gathers to discuss books, with the parents enjoying tea while listening to the youngest child’s amusing and insightful questions, making the fatigue of the day fade away. Reading also helps strengthen the bond between generations in the family, bringing everyone closer together after hours of study and work. Through reading, the family has educated and set an example for the children, illustrating the importance of self-study and self-reading, with notable figures such as President Ho Chi Minh, the young scholar Nguyen Hien, and teacher Nguyen Ngoc Ky serving as inspirations.
Among the more than 200 books in Mrs. Mai’s family library, one that holds a special place is the two-volume series “Thang Long – Hanoi: What I Want to Know”, published by Kim Dong Publishing House in November 2010. Each volume contains 165 pages. The series covers topics such as: the geographical advantages of Thang Long, the remarkable people of Thang Long, Thang Long’s history, the traditions and elegance of Thang Long, Thang Long’s place in the global context, and the word puzzle “Thang Long.” This collection offers fascinating insights into Hanoi, helping family members better understand the development history of the capital. The series employs a question-and-answer approach, and its content unfolds through brief and concise historical storytelling. Through this book, the children gain a deeper understanding of Hanoi and grow fonder of and proud of their city, motivating them to acquire more knowledge and excel in their studies, thereby contributing to the growth and modernization of Hanoi.
The competition video from the Nguyen Diep family (Duc Thuong Commune, Hoai Duc District) is captivating, enhanced by the heartfelt introduction from Mrs. Diep’s son, Van Lan. The family, dubbed the “bookworm family,” consists of six members from three generations who all share a love for reading. Their family library has several compartments, each holding a variety of books such as those on culture, art, science, history, literature, and comics, all carefully stored. Most of the family’s books are selected based on the needs and preferences of the children. The books are not kept in one fixed place but are spread across the living room, near the dining table, and on the TV shelf so that family members can always take a moment to read. On weekends, Mrs. Diep’s son often takes the grandchildren to second-hand bookstores to buy books or purchase them online. Whenever he travels, he collects books about the history, culture, and people of the places he visits, enriching the family’s library. With over 1,000 books, every evening the family gathers to read and share their favorite books. Through reading, the children develop better awareness, creativity, and insight, learning to live responsibly and mature with every page they turn.
One of the books the Nguyen Diep family treasures is “Hanoi: A Thousand Years of Memories”, published by Kim Dong in 2020. This 234-page book, written in both Vietnamese and English, was created by Kim Dong Publishing House in collaboration with Cloud Pillow Studio. It offers readers a unique and intriguing experience through 3D visuals. The book vividly and attractively portrays a Hanoi that is both ancient and solemn, yet majestic and simple, through the eyes and hands of those who love and take pride in Hanoi. It aims to preserve the most beautiful memories of Hanoi while showcasing its famous landmarks to visitors, including the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature, Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Opera House, and the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
Mrs. Diep’s grandson particularly enjoys drawing pictures of the Turtle Tower, Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum, Hanoi Flag Tower, and com (young green sticky rice). Each painting represents a child’s perspective of Hanoi, inspired by exploring the area and reading the book. This book helps instill in every family member a sense of patriotism, national pride, and a deep love for the thousand-year-old land of Hanoi.
The entry from Nguyen Nha Linh’s family (Dich Vong Hau Ward, Cau Giay District) brings a fresh perspective with a clear, energetic, and slightly humorous introduction from Linh. In the video clip, Linh collaborates with her father to stage a humorous skit that emphasizes the importance of books while also supporting the competition. For Linh, reading is of great significance. It allows her to encounter many valuable lessons, discover fascinating stories, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around her. It also helps her develop language skills, focus, and enjoy moments of relaxation. In her family, her grandparents are the ones who constantly encourage and impart valuable lessons to her. Although they are elderly, they still enjoy reading books and newspapers every day. Her parents also regularly read books and take Linh to bookstores to buy new books for her collection. Her home is filled with many bookshelves and a wide range of interesting books. Linh is determined to read as many books as her grandparents and parents do.
In this year’s competition, Linh introduces the book “Maxi Quiz – A Comprehensive Quiz on Encyclopedic Knowledge,” which she finds extremely useful. The book, published by The World Publishing House in 2018, is 272 pages long and features many fun and visually appealing illustrations. It was compiled by several French authors. The book is engaging because it combines games and is suitable for family play. Each topic in the book is divided into three levels of difficulty. Level 1 contains simple questions from everyday life; Level 2 involves deeper exploration and memorization; and Level 3 requires careful thinking. Each level contains 48 questions, with humorous illustrations accompanying each to stimulate children’s imagination. Thus, when reading this book, children can both learn and enjoy it through their senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Additionally, the book includes quiz questions that encourage thinking and discovery of answers. Finally, it applies scientific knowledge to analyze and explain the answers. To make it even more enjoyable, the book integrates three interactive games. With just 30 minutes a day, parents and children alike can conquer the book and explore the exciting world of science.
Linh hopes that by introducing this book, other children will discover a new title and become even more passionate about reading. She also wishes that parents would pay more attention to their children and spend more time reading books together. This book is one of the many fascinating titles in Linh’s family library. She is determined to read as much as she can and share many great books every day. Linh hopes that her actions and those of her family will spread a love for books and the habit of reading to everyone.
In the competition video clips of 74 exemplary families, during the Greeting segment, the families presented lively introductions using unique artistic forms such as skits, rap music, rhythm, and poetry. These performances left a positive impression, captivating the viewers.
In the Family Library Introduction segment, most families showcased extensive collections of books, with well-organized, systematic arrangements tailored to the preferences of each family member. This demonstrated that creating a reading space at home fosters connection among family members, encouraging them to read and share the valuable insights books provide. Some families even shared their methods for growing their home libraries, such as setting up daily, weekly, or monthly savings funds to buy books or borrowing books from nearby libraries. This inspired other families to plan and allocate time to build their own home libraries. Notably, some families shared their strategies for guiding children on reading methods, selecting appropriate books, and applying the knowledge gained from reading to life. Guidance from grandparents, parents, and caregivers plays a crucial role, as the family is where a love for books is nurtured, forming a reading habit from childhood into adulthood.
In the Book Introduction segment, many families in the competition introduced excellent books suitable for all ages, with clear, passionate presentations, incorporating visuals of interactions between generations reading and discussing the books they were introducing. This created a meaningful atmosphere of family reading, full of love and connection.
Families that won prizes in the competition took commemorative photos with the Organizing Committee.
At the event, 30 families were awarded prizes by the Organizing Committee (1 First Prize, 3 Second Prizes, 6 Third Prizes, and 20 Encouragement Prizes). The First Prize went to the family of Nguyen Nha Linh (Dich Vong Hau Ward, Cau Giay District).
Honored with the First Prize, Nguyen Nha Linh, a 5th-grade student at Dich Vong A Primary School, shared her joy in receiving a high award for her entry. She felt happy because her entire family had supported and participated in her submission. She promised to continue being diligent and studying well to become a useful citizen in the future.
Nguyen Bao Tuan, the father of Nguyen Nha Linh, also shared, “The family is a mirror of the children, and what we sow today will shape their future. Currently, our family maintains a three-generation tradition of reading together. This not only brings joy and strengthens our bond but also plays an essential role in transmitting cultural values, ideas, and developing critical thinking and intellect for future generations.”
Nguyen Nha Linh is happy because her whole family is with her.
The “Family Reading – Developing the Family Library to Connect Love” competition in 2024 was a great success. The competition helped honor the cultural values of Vietnamese families, ignited a passion for books, and emphasized the importance and value of books in building a happy family. It achieved its goal of spreading and developing a reading culture within families and communities, contributing to the establishment of a rich cultural and spiritual life for the people and helping to build a learning society.
Mai Chi
“Family Reading – Developing the Family Library to Connect Love” Competition 2024: Spreading and Promoting the Reading Culture
The city-level competition featured video clips from 74 distinguished families across 22 districts, towns, and municipalities. These families participate in three segments: Greeting, Introducing the Family Library, and Introducing Books. Most families adhere closely to the guidelines set by the organizing committee, creating programs that are well-invested both in terms of presentation and content. They selected meaningful books and demonstrated engaging performances between generations and family members to enhance the quality and effectiveness of each part of the competition, successfully conveying the message about the importance of reading and building a family library.
For instance, the video clip from Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mai’s family (Phu Thuong Ward, Tay Ho District) presented an impressive introduction to their family library. In their living space, the family has dedicated a corner to books, which they call the “Love Library.” The library is organized into sections: a central area for newly purchased books; a section for their youngest child, Anh Minh, featuring books on child psychology, humorous stories, mathematics, astronomy, and a collection of comic books that the child enjoys; a section for the parents with books on literature, the ethics of President Ho Chi Minh, and family psychology; a section for astronomy and planetary exploration books for their eldest son, Quang Vinh; and a shared space showcasing the children’s academic achievements and books about Hanoi.
Video clips of families participating in the competition are lively and engaging.
The library, with over 200 books spanning various fields of life, helps the family members explore and expand their knowledge. Moreover, the family library not only supports the members in maintaining a consistent reading habit but also fosters a spirit of love for books, values knowledge, and stimulates self-learning and self-reading. Every weekend evening, the family gathers to discuss books, with the parents enjoying tea while listening to the youngest child’s amusing and insightful questions, making the fatigue of the day fade away. Reading also helps strengthen the bond between generations in the family, bringing everyone closer together after hours of study and work. Through reading, the family has educated and set an example for the children, illustrating the importance of self-study and self-reading, with notable figures such as President Ho Chi Minh, the young scholar Nguyen Hien, and teacher Nguyen Ngoc Ky serving as inspirations.
Among the more than 200 books in Mrs. Mai’s family library, one that holds a special place is the two-volume series “Thang Long – Hanoi: What I Want to Know”, published by Kim Dong Publishing House in November 2010. Each volume contains 165 pages. The series covers topics such as: the geographical advantages of Thang Long, the remarkable people of Thang Long, Thang Long’s history, the traditions and elegance of Thang Long, Thang Long’s place in the global context, and the word puzzle “Thang Long.” This collection offers fascinating insights into Hanoi, helping family members better understand the development history of the capital. The series employs a question-and-answer approach, and its content unfolds through brief and concise historical storytelling. Through this book, the children gain a deeper understanding of Hanoi and grow fonder of and proud of their city, motivating them to acquire more knowledge and excel in their studies, thereby contributing to the growth and modernization of Hanoi.
The competition video from the Nguyen Diep family (Duc Thuong Commune, Hoai Duc District) is captivating, enhanced by the heartfelt introduction from Mrs. Diep’s son, Van Lan. The family, dubbed the “bookworm family,” consists of six members from three generations who all share a love for reading. Their family library has several compartments, each holding a variety of books such as those on culture, art, science, history, literature, and comics, all carefully stored. Most of the family’s books are selected based on the needs and preferences of the children. The books are not kept in one fixed place but are spread across the living room, near the dining table, and on the TV shelf so that family members can always take a moment to read. On weekends, Mrs. Diep’s son often takes the grandchildren to second-hand bookstores to buy books or purchase them online. Whenever he travels, he collects books about the history, culture, and people of the places he visits, enriching the family’s library. With over 1,000 books, every evening the family gathers to read and share their favorite books. Through reading, the children develop better awareness, creativity, and insight, learning to live responsibly and mature with every page they turn.
One of the books the Nguyen Diep family treasures is “Hanoi: A Thousand Years of Memories”, published by Kim Dong in 2020. This 234-page book, written in both Vietnamese and English, was created by Kim Dong Publishing House in collaboration with Cloud Pillow Studio. It offers readers a unique and intriguing experience through 3D visuals. The book vividly and attractively portrays a Hanoi that is both ancient and solemn, yet majestic and simple, through the eyes and hands of those who love and take pride in Hanoi. It aims to preserve the most beautiful memories of Hanoi while showcasing its famous landmarks to visitors, including the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature, Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Opera House, and the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
Mrs. Diep’s grandson particularly enjoys drawing pictures of the Turtle Tower, Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum, Hanoi Flag Tower, and com (young green sticky rice). Each painting represents a child’s perspective of Hanoi, inspired by exploring the area and reading the book. This book helps instill in every family member a sense of patriotism, national pride, and a deep love for the thousand-year-old land of Hanoi.
The entry from Nguyen Nha Linh’s family (Dich Vong Hau Ward, Cau Giay District) brings a fresh perspective with a clear, energetic, and slightly humorous introduction from Linh. In the video clip, Linh collaborates with her father to stage a humorous skit that emphasizes the importance of books while also supporting the competition. For Linh, reading is of great significance. It allows her to encounter many valuable lessons, discover fascinating stories, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around her. It also helps her develop language skills, focus, and enjoy moments of relaxation. In her family, her grandparents are the ones who constantly encourage and impart valuable lessons to her. Although they are elderly, they still enjoy reading books and newspapers every day. Her parents also regularly read books and take Linh to bookstores to buy new books for her collection. Her home is filled with many bookshelves and a wide range of interesting books. Linh is determined to read as many books as her grandparents and parents do.
In this year’s competition, Linh introduces the book “Maxi Quiz – A Comprehensive Quiz on Encyclopedic Knowledge,” which she finds extremely useful. The book, published by The World Publishing House in 2018, is 272 pages long and features many fun and visually appealing illustrations. It was compiled by several French authors. The book is engaging because it combines games and is suitable for family play. Each topic in the book is divided into three levels of difficulty. Level 1 contains simple questions from everyday life; Level 2 involves deeper exploration and memorization; and Level 3 requires careful thinking. Each level contains 48 questions, with humorous illustrations accompanying each to stimulate children’s imagination. Thus, when reading this book, children can both learn and enjoy it through their senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Additionally, the book includes quiz questions that encourage thinking and discovery of answers. Finally, it applies scientific knowledge to analyze and explain the answers. To make it even more enjoyable, the book integrates three interactive games. With just 30 minutes a day, parents and children alike can conquer the book and explore the exciting world of science.
Linh hopes that by introducing this book, other children will discover a new title and become even more passionate about reading. She also wishes that parents would pay more attention to their children and spend more time reading books together. This book is one of the many fascinating titles in Linh’s family library. She is determined to read as much as she can and share many great books every day. Linh hopes that her actions and those of her family will spread a love for books and the habit of reading to everyone.
In the competition video clips of 74 exemplary families, during the Greeting segment, the families presented lively introductions using unique artistic forms such as skits, rap music, rhythm, and poetry. These performances left a positive impression, captivating the viewers.
In the Family Library Introduction segment, most families showcased extensive collections of books, with well-organized, systematic arrangements tailored to the preferences of each family member. This demonstrated that creating a reading space at home fosters connection among family members, encouraging them to read and share the valuable insights books provide. Some families even shared their methods for growing their home libraries, such as setting up daily, weekly, or monthly savings funds to buy books or borrowing books from nearby libraries. This inspired other families to plan and allocate time to build their own home libraries. Notably, some families shared their strategies for guiding children on reading methods, selecting appropriate books, and applying the knowledge gained from reading to life. Guidance from grandparents, parents, and caregivers plays a crucial role, as the family is where a love for books is nurtured, forming a reading habit from childhood into adulthood.
In the Book Introduction segment, many families in the competition introduced excellent books suitable for all ages, with clear, passionate presentations, incorporating visuals of interactions between generations reading and discussing the books they were introducing. This created a meaningful atmosphere of family reading, full of love and connection.
Families that won prizes in the competition took commemorative photos with the Organizing Committee.
At the event, 30 families were awarded prizes by the Organizing Committee (1 First Prize, 3 Second Prizes, 6 Third Prizes, and 20 Encouragement Prizes). The First Prize went to the family of Nguyen Nha Linh (Dich Vong Hau Ward, Cau Giay District).
Honored with the First Prize, Nguyen Nha Linh, a 5th-grade student at Dich Vong A Primary School, shared her joy in receiving a high award for her entry. She felt happy because her entire family had supported and participated in her submission. She promised to continue being diligent and studying well to become a useful citizen in the future.
Nguyen Bao Tuan, the father of Nguyen Nha Linh, also shared, “The family is a mirror of the children, and what we sow today will shape their future. Currently, our family maintains a three-generation tradition of reading together. This not only brings joy and strengthens our bond but also plays an essential role in transmitting cultural values, ideas, and developing critical thinking and intellect for future generations.”
Nguyen Nha Linh is happy because her whole family is with her.
The “Family Reading – Developing the Family Library to Connect Love” competition in 2024 was a great success. The competition helped honor the cultural values of Vietnamese families, ignited a passion for books, and emphasized the importance and value of books in building a happy family. It achieved its goal of spreading and developing a reading culture within families and communities, contributing to the establishment of a rich cultural and spiritual life for the people and helping to build a learning society.
Mai Chi