Reading and driving rarely go hand-in-hand, but the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport is not letting that discourage it from putting its full-throttled support behind Vietnam Book Day on April 21.

The department, in collaboration with the municipal traffic management center, is moving at full speed to make sure its Book Bus, ‘Knowledge Bus Stop,' and Electronic Information Display are ready for the event on the Ho Chi minh City Book Street in District 1.

The ‘book bus,’ carrying the "A journey of knowledge and future" slogan, will serve as a small-scale library, furnished shelves, tables, and chairs for readers looking to relax in a quiet space. 

The six meter long, 1.5 meter wide bus was designed as a scale model of the city’s Bus No. 8, which runs between District 8 and Thu Duc University Village – a route familiar to many local college students.

Employees prepare books for the 'Book Bus' at the Book Street in Ho Chi Minh City on April 18, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Visitors to the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street can also take a seat on the wooden benches at the ‘Knowledge Bus Stop,’ another mini-library whose roof is designed to look like a page from a book.

The electronic information display will provide free Wi-Fi for people to look up book information, activities ongoing at the book street, and local bus routes.

The transport department said the device is the first of its kind to be installed in Ho Chi Minh City and is in conjunction with its project to apply technology to bus stops throughout the city.

Besides the introduction of the ‘book bus,' the transport department is scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding on the development of reading culture with the managers of the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street.

Workers install the "Knowledge Bus Stop" at the Book Street in Ho Chi Minh City on April 18, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

First observed in 2014, Vietnam Book Day is meant to encourage reading culture among local residents.

This year’s celebrations at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, from April 20 to 24, will feature activities ranging from an awards ceremony for the Family Bookcases contest to book donations and information sessions on topics such as effective reading.