combined with silk painting experiences at the Van Phuc temple complex. The plan also includes organizing cultural activities, artistic performances, and traditional games every Saturday and Sunday, particularly focusing on folk games and activities that educate participants about history and culture through engaging books available in the reading room.
Van Phuc village (Van Phuc Ward, Ha Dong District) is located by the Nhue River, more than 10 kilometers from the center of Hanoi. It is renowned not only for its traditional silk weaving industry, which has been practiced for over a thousand years, but also as a revolutionary homeland, rich in historical and cultural sites, including temples, pagodas, and the Ho Chi Minh Memorial House.
In recent years, the reading room established at the Van Phuc temple complex has been renovated through socialized funding to serve local residents and tourists, creating a significant impact within the community. Reading helps local people embrace scientific and technological advancements in their production and daily lives while providing relaxation and alleviating the pressures associated with the craft industry, thus contributing to the socio-economic development of the area. Young people visiting the reading room have the opportunity to explore the historical sites, learn about the revolutionary history of the village, and participate in engaging activities, which fosters a deeper love for their homeland and national pride.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh guides children in selecting enjoyable books to read.
To continue preserving and promoting a reading culture in the digital age and to offer readers more ways to engage with books, in 2018, the People’s Committee of Van Phuc Ward assigned the Culture and Information Department to collaborate with the Youth Union to develop the project “Reading Culture Connecting History and Craft Village Tourism.” The project entails several components: incorporating activities into the Van Phuc village tourism tour that allow for cultural exploration through a reading space, combined with silk painting experiences at the Van Phuc temple; organizing cultural events, artistic performances, and traditional games every Saturday and Sunday, particularly focusing on games that educate participants about history and culture through interesting books available in the reading room; decorating the reading room and regularly updating it with new, diverse titles, prioritizing books for children and educational purposes; and organizing practical learning sessions in the reading room for schools, such as extracurricular activities that explore history, literature, and science through books available in the community reading space.
To date, the reading room at the Van Phuc temple complex boasts over 1,000 books across various fields, featuring a diverse array of genres, including Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts, law, engineering, literature, and both Vietnamese and world history, along with more than 20 newspapers and magazines. Most of the collection is made possible through social contributions, with many book enthusiasts generously donating books and sponsoring the purchase of additional materials and equipment for the reading room.
The reading room is open every day of the week, welcoming readers such as retired officials, the elderly, students, and local silk producers and weavers. Mr. Do Quang Vinh, a former official passionate about reading and dedicated to promoting reading culture in the community, has extensive experience managing the reading room. With his knowledge spanning multiple fields and proficiency in four foreign languages (English, Chinese, Russian, and French), Mr. Do Quang Vinh not only effectively manages and maintains the reading room but also serves as a mentor, addressing inquiries and guiding readers, particularly young ones, interested in exploring literature, history, and other subjects. Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, the head of the Van Phuc Silk Village Poetry Club, is currently overseeing the reading room’s operations in place of Mr. Do Quang Vinh, who is now in his advanced years. Mr. Thanh aims to inspire a love for poetry and literature in the community. Many tourists visiting the Van Phuc Silk Village express their delight at the cool, airy atmosphere of the reading room and are captivated by its rare books. They also enjoy learning about the history of the temple complex and the silk-weaving craft through engaging stories shared by Mr. Do Quang Vinh and Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen, a Cultural and Social Officer in Van Phuc Ward, noted that since the implementation of the project “Reading Culture Connecting History and Craft Village Tourism,” the reading room at the Van Phuc temple complex has become a vibrant cultural destination for both locals and tourists looking to read and explore./.
Ngoc Tram