Vietnam Television and Department of Publishing and Libraries Partner to Launch Open Books with VTV Digital Platform by 2027

Vietnam’s publishing and broadcasting landscapes reached a significant milestone on November 10, as the Department of Publishing and Libraries under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding with the Center for Digital Platforms and Content Services of Vietnam Television (VTV). The landmark agreement establishes a formal framework to build, develop, and promote the specialized digital portal titled Open Books with VTV (Mở sách cùng VTV) on the national digital television platform VTVgo, while simultaneously facilitating the nationwide distribution and promotion of books.

The partnership represents a major strategic initiative designed to harness the unique strengths, technological resources, and institutional capabilities of both state entities. By combining VTV’s massive digital reach with the literary expertise of the Department of Publishing and Libraries, the collaboration aims to vigorously advance the national reading culture, elevate the visibility of quality publications, and expand access to knowledge for citizens across Vietnam. Scheduled for an official public launch on January 1, 2027, the initiative aligns directly with the strategic directions set forth in Resolution No. 80/NQ-TW regarding the development of Vietnamese culture.

Strategic Vision and Institutional Commitments

During the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trịnh Thị Thu Thủy emphasized that the ministry has continuously deployed diverse initiatives to foster a thriving reading culture nationwide. The overarching objective, she noted, extends far beyond merely physical spaces filled with books; rather, the ultimate goal is to cultivate lifelong reading habits, cognitive skills, and enduring cultural practices among citizens, particularly focusing on young demographics and communities facing geographical or economic barriers to literary access.

“The initiative to construct a specialized digital portal on VTVgo, tightly integrated with book promotion activities and distribution via VTVShop, represents an essential, practical step forward that aligns with the modern requirements of developing our reading culture,” Deputy Minister Trịnh Thị Thu Thủy stated. “I firmly expect that this platform will evolve far beyond a conventional channel for book marketing and sales; it must progressively transform into an inspiring digital literary space that touches the hearts of readers.”

Echoing this sentiment, Nguyen Thanh Lam, General Director of Vietnam Television, underscored the immense potential of utilizing national digital infrastructure to bridge the gap between authors, publishers, and the reading public. He emphasized that the VTVgo platform is uniquely positioned to serve as a modern digital sanctuary where citizens and dedicated book lovers can seamlessly discover and acquire works that resonate with their intellectual pursuits.

“We are purposefully developing VTVgo into a new digital ecosystem—a space where platform users, alongside passionate advocates of literature and reading culture, can easily discover their favorite works,” Nguyen Thanh Lam remarked. “Initially, concerning state-commissioned book titles and state-managed copyrights currently overseen by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism—specifically works traditionally released for free distribution in public spaces—VTVgo will directly connect with the digital infrastructures of publishing houses holding these titles to expand public accessibility.”

Core Pillars of the Cooperation Agreement

Under the terms of the newly finalized memorandum of understanding, the partnership will focus intensely on two primary operational pillars designed to maximize efficiency and digital synergy.

The first pillar centers on the comprehensive construction and continuous development of the Open Books with VTV portal on the VTVgo national digital television platform. Both parties will jointly establish the foundational orientations, thematic frameworks, and core editorial contents for the portal. This includes curating specialized lists of recommended books, authors, and literary works tailored to diverse audiences. Furthermore, the collaboration will organize high-profile book introduction programs, author meet-and-greets, academic panel discussions, and targeted media campaigns aimed at sparking reading interest, instilling healthy reading routines, and reinforcing cultural appreciation across the broader community.

The second pillar focuses on establishing robust connections and streamlining book promotion and distribution activities directly through the VTVgo ecosystem. This involves linking publishing houses, printing enterprises, distribution agencies, and interested commercial partners into a unified digital network. The initiative will curate and continuously update an authoritative catalog of book titles optimized for digital research, selection, and integration into the system. Joint promotional campaigns and thematic book sales programs will be deployed to significantly broaden physical and digital book accessibility while fostering a healthy, transparent publishing market.

Industry Stakeholders Welcome the Digital Transformation

Representatives from major publishing institutions attending the signing ceremony expressed profound support for the cooperative framework, highlighting its potential to solve long-standing distribution bottlenecks within the domestic book market.

Nguyen Thai Binh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House Truth, emphasized that guaranteeing stable distribution channels—particularly within digital environments—remains one of the most critical challenges facing contemporary publishers. He expressed strong optimism that the VTVgo-backed initiative will evolve into a reliable institutional anchor, providing publishing houses with enhanced operational capacities and offering readers frictionless pathways to high-quality literary works.

Lưu Đình Phúc, Director of the Department of Publishing and Libraries, affirmed that his agency will proactively spearhead the detailed operational planning, coordination, and mobilization of publishing houses, authors, researchers, and related organizations. Making a direct appeal to industry stakeholders, Director Lưu Đình Phúc urged publishing entities, printing establishments, distributors, and independent literary professionals to view the initiative as a transformative opportunity to modernize operational models, expand market reach, and contribute meaningfully to the sustainable growth of Vietnam’s publishing sector.

Implications and Broader Impact on Vietnam’s Publishing Ecosystem

The formalization of this alliance addresses several critical vulnerabilities within Vietnam’s traditional publishing industry. Despite steady output in terms of title volume and annual publication numbers, domestic publishers have historically faced structural hurdles regarding nationwide distribution efficiency, marketing visibility, and consumer reach outside major urban centers. Traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores remain heavily concentrated in Tier-1 cities, leaving rural and remote populations with severely restricted access to newly released literature.

By leveraging VTVgo—a platform boasting tens of millions of active users and seamless integration across smart televisions, mobile devices, and computers—the collaboration effectively democratizes access to books on a national scale. The integration of state-commissioned educational, historical, and cultural literature directly into a digital television environment bypasses traditional logistical friction, ensuring that citizens in even the most isolated provinces can access valuable intellectual resources.

Furthermore, the initiative arrives at a crucial juncture for the digital transformation of Vietnam’s creative economy. As digital consumption habits permanently alter how audiences consume information, entertainment, and education, the publishing sector must adapt to survive. By bridging linear broadcasting with e-commerce and digital content curation, the Open Books with VTV initiative establishes a pioneering blueprint for public-media-private sector collaboration. It successfully transforms passive television viewers into active literary participants, providing a sustainable economic model that supports publishers while simultaneously enriching the intellectual life of the nation.