Vietnam's e-reader market is experiencing rapid growth, with over 300,000 users nationwide and an annual increase of approximately 15 percent, according to data from Akishop, a leading e-reader distributor.

Nguyen Thu Huong, deputy sales director at Alpha Books, said that while global demand for e-books grows 8-10 percent each year, Vietnam stands out with a remarkable 15-percent growth rate, reflecting the country's rising interest in digital reading.

In the last two decades, Alpha Books has published more than 4,000 titles and observed significant changes in Vietnamese reading habits, specifically the shift toward e-books. 

With technological advancements and the accelerated pace of modern life, the number of e-reader users in Vietnam will continue to rise, signaling the expansion of various products and services.

On Saturday, Akishop hosted the 'Inknovation Day' event in Ho Chi Minh City, introducing advanced e-ink display technologies and showcasing top e-reader models from brands such as Kindle, Onyx Boox, PocketBook, and Remarkable. 

This first-of-its-kind event in Vietnam drew significant attention from the tech community and book enthusiasts.  

In Vietnam, four e-reader brands dominate the market: Kindle, Onyx Boox, Rakuten Kobo, and PocketBook, with Kindle and Onyx Boox capturing the lion's share. 

According to Tung Anh, product development manager at Akishop, the e-ink screen serves as the 'heart' of e-readers.

Cutting-edge technologies such as Carta 1300, Kaleido 3, and Gallery 3 not only replicate the feel of reading on paper but they are also environmentally friendly, thanks to their energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions. 

Globally, e-ink is emerging as a preferred solution for creating smart, sustainable surfaces.  

Although e-readers do not evolve as rapidly as smartphones or laptops, major manufacturers continue to invest in enhancing these devices.

Recently, Amazon launched the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, the company’s first color-screen e-reader, while Onyx Boox has introduced successive updates, including the Note Air 4C. 

Now in its fourth generation, the Note Air series has cemented its position in the market, underscoring global demand for reading and note-taking devices, particularly in Vietnam. 

These innovations indicate how e-readers can transform simple reading tools into modern, environmentally friendly lifestyle choices.

E-book licensing improvements

A key highlight of Inknovation Day was the unveiling of the Savi app, a licensed e-book distribution platform co-developed by Akishop and Alpha Books. 

Akishop’s CEO Nguyen The Hung explained that customer feedback has consistently pointed to a major frustration which is the difficulty of accessing e-books released at the same time as their print counterparts.  

The Savi app addresses this by enabling users to purchase individual books or subscribe to an unlimited library with flexible payment options. 

The latest titles can be delivered to users’ e-readers in under 30 seconds, regardless of whether they use Kindle, Onyx Boox, Rakuten Kobo, or PocketBook.

Notably, Savi also allows personalized e-books with features such as custom forewords or cover designs.  

Beyond Vietnam, the app is meant to also serve the overseas Vietnamese community, offering quick and convenient access to domestically published tomes.

Set to launch officially in early December on Android, with iOS support coming in 2025, Savi is intended to promote a digital reading culture and raise public awareness of copyright issues in Vietnam through its diverse library of high-quality, licensed titles.

A multi-billion dollar market

According to the 'E-Reader Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024-29)' report by Mordor Intelligence, the global e-reader market is experiencing robust growth.

It is projected to swell to US$10.62 billion by 2029 from $7.82 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.31 percent.

The rising popularity of e-books and the demand for glare-free reading devices are key drivers of this expansion.

North America leads the global market, followed by Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

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