Ho Chi Minh City Book Street Fest, set to run in downtown district 1 from Jan 28 to Feb 3, will showcase a large number of books along with captivating activities for book enthusiasts.

Themed “Ho Chi Minh City - the city I love”, the seven-day fest, which will be held on Mac Thi Buoi, Nguyen Hue and Ngo Duc Ke streets in district 1, will promise to be a feast of culture and knowledge.

One of its highlights is the showcase of books and photos which affirm the country's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos in the East Sea. Several recently-published books on the subject will also debut on this occasion.

The event also marks the 70th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army. With General Vo Nguyen Giap, one of the country’s most revered army leaders passing away in Oct 2013, the book street will also boast 80 file photos about the general’s life and military career.

Phan Thi Co., for the first time, takes part in the event. Its model ship depicts four witty characters of the favorite cartoon “Than dong dat Viet” (Vietnamese prodigies). A wide range of other books and comics which reiterate the country’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos will also be introduced to readers.

“Don ca tai tu” (southern folk music), which has recently been recognized by the UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, will also be highlighted at the book street. On display will be the UNESCO’s recognition certificate, books, DVDs, instruments along with photos of “don ca tai tu” artists performing in HCMC.

At the opening, famed singers and pianists will be performing on topics about General Vo Nguyen Giap, Vietnam and the archipelagos.

The General Science Library will also take part in the book street, showcasing their books for the visually impaired including audio books, Braille books and those with protruding illustrations.

The Nguyen Hue Flower Street  will also run in the neighborhood from Jan 28 to Feb 3.