The 19/12 book street as it is known today has a much more thrilling mysterious long history to learn than you might imagine. Formerly used as a public graveyard burying dead people of the National Resistance War against French colonialists, which occurred in Hanoi in 1946, this cemetery turned into a flea market by 1986 as all the corpses were brought to another place. Although the market was then named 19/12, hardly did any merchants and the locals use that one. They, instead, called it Chợ Âm Phủ – Hell market!

Considered as one of the most popular streets in Hanoi, 19/12, also once known as Rue Simoni St, cannot be home to any Trade centres, which is due to the very Oriental belief of the “Otherworld” that all the dead spirits of the war still rest in peace here, making it a wise thing to follow – do not disturb them under any circumstances! Scary and gloomy as it might seem, Chợ Âm Phủ was on the other hand just like a supermarket with all variety of goods that normal customers will look for – vegetable, seafood, poultry, herbs, haberdashery and so on. The most interesting feature was, however, the main good sold here was nothing other than Dogmeat – Thịt chó. People believe that the very dish along with shrimp paste and white wine would avoid dark spirits entering the market.

Sadly, 2008 saw the closing of the market to make room for a park in memory of the war victims. And on May 1, 2017, the park was one more time reconstructed into a book street, welcoming all the locals and foreigners. Tuoi Tre Newspaper reports that the opening caught so much public attention since thousands of people came to celebrate. However, after six months, the street started to see a decrease in visitors. The bookstores used to earn more than 100 million dongs in the first few months, but recently they gained less than 50 million dongs. They are now trying hard to survive in 19/12 street.

19/12 book street opens daily from 8:00 am to 22:00 pm. It is equipped with electronic information boards introducing Vietnam’s history. There is also a lovely flower store on the left and a Nhã Nam bookstore on the right at the street-door; many benches are situated along the path for visitors to rest or take a selfie. 

Fun fact: If you go to 19/12 Street, you will find it as a photoshoot area rather than a book area. 

Come by and enjoy the city’s fresh outdoor destination! And now, check out our vibrant photo album!

Photo Album Flickr
(Please use the left/right arrows to navigate in the files of the open album)

Words by Thao Mai
Photos by Phuong Hoang

The post Hanoi’s 19/12 Book Street – How’s it going? appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

First open to the public in early September 2016, Saigon’s book street has since been referred to as a ‘paradise’ for book lovers, and so far it has been living up to its reputation. Boasting a length of over 100 meters, Nguyễn Văn Bình book street is not only the longest but also presumably the most diversified of its kind. The street is made up of many kiosks measuring from 3 to 4 meters in width placed side by side.

Each kiosk belongs to a specific publisher or bookstore looking to promote their products, which range from literary publications and magazines to reference books and comics. Items on the shelves cover quite a broad spectrum of genres, such as fictions, non-fictions, travel writings, or poetry, so it is almost guaranteed that anyone can find something for themselves. My favorite kiosk, however, is one that sells old books and postcards for next to nothing, and collectors are to be found lingering around it hoping to find some of their favorite out-of-print materials.

Apart from being a splendid outdoor library, Nguyễn Văn Bình book street also serves as a gathering spot for book enthusiasts. Near the end of the street lies a reading area offering comfortable chairs and sofas for you to sit back and enjoy your book. This place is often filled to the brim with readers, young and old, absorbed in their books for hours on end. They are generally friendly, from my personal experience, and after a few minutes of breaking the ice, most people are willing to have a little chat about whatever topic that comes to mind. Occasionally, these reading spaces are used to hold many interesting activities like book talks by experts or inspirational figures or art and cultural workshops by numerous artists. The most recent activity that I had a chance to partake in was a calligraphy workshop and it was amazing to get to interact directly with the hosting artists who would have otherwise been distanced from the audience had they performed on a stage.

In a sprawling metropolitan like Ho Chi Minh city – Saigon, entertainment is in great demand and a vast array of recreational places are established to meet the ever-growing need. Yet, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, the image of a calm street full of books still manages to stand out. Why? Because Nguyễn Văn Bình street doesn’t just give its visitors books, but more importantly a place for them to come together and share their knowledge and experiences, and ultimately the one thing those who choose to set foot on such a street have in common – the love for reading.

To see more photos, check the open album below or go to Flickr:
Photo Album Flickr
(Please use the left/right arrows to navigate in the files of the open album)

All photos by Trieu Anh
Words by Duy Nguyen

The post Saigon’s Book Street | A Great Destination for Book Lovers appeared first on Maze Vietnam.