Vietnamese Cultural Space leaves a strong impression at the International Book Fair in China's Guangdong
WVR - The long queues of visitors waiting to experience the “Vietnam House” at the International Book Fair “Nan Guo Shu Xiang 2025 - Reading the World” in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, were a vivid reflection to the appeal of Vietnamese culture to local people and international friends.
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| View of the “Vietnam House” at the International Book Fair “Nan Guo Shu Xiang 2025 - Reading the World”. |
From 15 to 19 August, the Consulate General of Vietnam in Guangzhou, in collaboration with South Media Group (Nanfang Daily), established the “Vietnam House” and organised a series of events showcasing books, fashion, culture, cuisine, the history of China-Vietnam relations, and the promotion of Vietnamese tourism within the framework of the International Book Fair “Nan Guo Shu Xiang 2025 - Reading the World”.
The “Nan Guo Shu Xiang” International Book Fair has a history of more than 30 years and is one of the largest Chinese-language book fairs in the world, attracting over one million visitors annually.
This year’s Book Fair was held at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, drawing the participation of 23 countries and territories, with more than 20,000 publications introduced alongside numerous cultural exhibition spaces from across the globe.
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| Vietnamese culture and cuisine experience area. |
In 2025, marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China, as well as the Year of People-to-People Exchange between the two countries, Vietnam became the Guest of Honour of the event and built the “Vietnam House” under the theme: “Preserving Culture, Connecting Literature”.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Consul General Nguyen Viet Dung stressed that this was a practical activity by both sides to implement one of the “six priorities” for advancing Vietnam–China relations, namely building a “more solid social foundation”.
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| Opening of the International Book Fair “Nan Guo Shu Xiang 2025 - Reading the World |
The Consul General expressed the hope that through cultural exchange and experience activities at this Book Fair, the Consulate General of Vietnam in Guangzhou would strengthen its role as a bridge, further consolidating and nurturing the traditional friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and China in general, and between the people of Vietnam and Guangdong province in particular.
The timing of the Book Fair was especially significant, coinciding with the first anniversary of the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to China, with his first stop being Guangzhou, Guangdong province. This demonstrated the affection and importance attached by the Vietnamese Party and State leaders to the Party Committee, authorities, and people of Guangdong.
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| Consul General Nguyen Viet Dung delivers remarks at the opening ceremony. |
The event received strong attention from the Guangdong provincial leadership. Hu Jingquan, Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Publicity Department of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, and Deng Hong, Deputy Director of the Information Office of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, spent considerable time visiting the “Vietnam House”.
The Guangdong leaders highly valued the cooperation between the Vietnamese Consulate General and the Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History in presenting the special exhibition “President Ho Chi Minh in Guangzhou” at the Book Fair. These valuable historical documents enabled the people of Guangdong, especially the younger generation, to learn about and appreciate the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Guangdong.
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| Hu Jingquan, Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Publicity Department of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, visits the Vietnam House. |
Alongside history, the Consulate General shared stories of the present through short video clips highlighting achievements in economic and trade cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
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| Deng Hong, Deputy Director of the Information Office of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, visits the exhibition “President Ho Chi Minh in Guangzhou”. |
At the Book Fair, designer Tuan Sanh presented his “Sao Khue” collection of ao dai, featuring exquisite hand-embroidered motifs displayed and performed at the event. Iconic cultural images of Vietnam and China, such as the lotus, peony, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and the Forbidden City, were meticulously embroidered on the gowns. These not only conveyed the message of Vietnam-China friendship and cultural similarities but also honoured the traditional hand embroidery of Vietnamese artisans. The fashion show created wide resonance and attracted keen interest from visitors.
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| Delegates watch a video clip on Vietnam-China cooperation produced by the Consulate General. |
A particular highlight of the event was the artwork “Hidden Painting in Oil on Silk” by artisan Tuan Sanh. Viewed directly, the piece featured lotus flowers and the kapok blossom - a symbol of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. When illuminated, another image appeared: the Khue Van Pavilion - a cultural symbol of Vietnam - standing alongside the Canton Tower, a modern landmark representing Guangdong’s dynamic development.
At the “Vietnam House”, visitors enjoyed Vietnamese culinary delights such as banh mi, nem, and drip-brewed coffee. The long queues of people eager to experience them were vivid evidence of the appeal of Vietnamese cuisine to the people of Guangdong and international friends.
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| Ao Dai fashion show at the Book Fair. |
During the Book Fair, the Consulate General, in coordination with South Media Group (Nanfang Daily), organised a series of cultural exchange activities, including: a seminar with renowned Chinese scholars who have studied President Ho Chi Minh for many years; a talk by translator and Director of Publishing House Nguyen Le Chi on “A Decade of Chinese Literature in Vietnam”; a presentation of the book “Across the Clouds” and Vietnamese reading and tea culture by writer Do Quang Tuan Hoang; and a discussion on Vietnamese coffee and traditional cuisine with the participation of cultural researcher Vu The Long, representative of Trung Nguyen Coffee Group and Nguyen Minh, founder of the “Phung Tuan Banh Mi” brand.
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| Delegation from Lang Son Province attends the event. |
On this occasion, the Consulate General, together with localities such as Hanoi, Lang Son, Da Nang, and Ninh Binh, prepared video clips and publications to promote Vietnamese tourism. A delegation from Lang Son province, led by Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs Trinh Tuyet Mai, introduced cultural products, tourism and regional specialties, attracting strong interest from Chinese visitors.
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| The hidden painting artwork by designer Tuan Sanh. |
Entering the “Vietnam House”, visitors encountered a space harmoniously blending tradition and modernity, celebrating the national cultural identity. The entrance was inspired by the Khue Van Pavilion - an architectural symbol imbued with the spirit of learning and the cultural values of reading among the Vietnamese people.
The exhibition areas and cultural experiences were elaborately arranged, featuring hanging panels with brocade patterns of Vietnamese ethnic minorities, embroidered silk pieces, and handicrafts created by skilled artisans with decades of experience.
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| Seminar on the topic “Comrade Ho Chi Minh in Guangzhou”. |
More than 100 outstanding Vietnamese publications were also displayed, including literary works by Vietnamese writers, Vietnamese translations of Chinese literature and academic research by international scholars on Vietnamese culture and history. Many of these titles were introduced to Guangdong readers for the first time.
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| Writer Do Quang Tuan Hoang presents his book “Vat qua nhung ngan may” and discusses Vietnam’s reading culture and tea culture. |
Strolling around the “Vietnam House”, visitors explored the history of Vietnam-China friendship, experienced a modern and vibrant Vietnam, and immersed themselves in a colourful cultural journey through exhibition spaces, stories and interactive activities.
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| Translator and Director of Chi Publishing House, Nguyen Le Chi, shares insights on “A Decade of Chinese Literature in Vietnam”. |
The creative reading space, along with the series of cultural, tourism, fashion, culinary, and literary promotion events of Vietnam, captured wide attention from the local media. Major outlets in Guangdong, such as Guangdong Radio and Television, South Media Group, Guangzhou Television and Yangcheng Evening News, continuously reported and produced features on the “Vietnam House”.
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| Book exhibition space at the Vietnam House. |
(Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Guangdong)
