On April 23, Kim Dong Publishing House in Hanoi announced they would be distributing one million free books to poor children across the country, fulfilling the desire of every child to read a story book. This task will be fulfilled under a program themed ‘One Million Books for Poor Children’, and will be conducted over a period of three years from 2013 to 2015. In the first phase of the program, 7,000 books will be distributed to children in Soc Son District in Hanoi. Bui Tuan Nghia, deputy head of the publishing house, said these books will be sent to libraries where young students can read after class hours. Nghia also hopes to cultivate reading as a hobby among students. Hoang Anh, who was second runner-up at the Miss Vietnam beauty pageant 2012, will lend her presence in this humanitarian effort. One million books will be distributed to 2,000 schools in disadvantaged districts across the country. The program aims to bring happiness to children and calls for communities to join hands in developing the reading culture among the younger generation, especially children in remote mountainous districts. On the same day, Hong No.1 library opened in the Viet-German Hospital in Hanoi, one of the biggest hospitals in the country. Singer Thai Thuy Linh, who is taking a keen interest in this activity, said the library will remain open from Monday to Friday to serve patients, patients’ relatives, and medical workers. (Sai Gon Giai Phong – Saigon Liberation April 24)
