Within the framework of the launching ceremony of the VIETNAM READING PROMOTION Program, Thai Ha Book Joint Stock Company has organized a space to display antique, rare and special edition books from the 16th-18th centuries of Vietnam, as well as other countries around the world. This will be the premise of the Vietnam Book Museum, which is expected to be located at the Thai Ha Books building in Ho Chi Minh at the end of 2022.

At the space of the museum, there will be hundreds of antique publications with special materials, they are now displayed on all 3 floors of the Thai Ha Books Tower (Phuc Dien ward, Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi).

All the artifacts displayed on the first floor were Buddhist scriptures in Khmer written on Buong leaves. The Khmer art of carving on leaves is very special. The leaves are selected right from the time they are buds on the tree and grafted into the tree frame in order to grow them as desired. The leaves will be taken care of to avoid exposure to sunlight for 3 – 5 months, then they are collected, dried and used.

It must be a pen with an iron tip for writing sutras on leaves. After the transcription is completed, a cloth soaked in a mixture of coal and pine oil, dipped in kerosene will be used to sweep over the inscription. The uniqueness of the Buong leaf sutra lies in the flexibility of the leaves, with the skill, meticulousness and intricacy of the writer, showing on both sides of the leaf. (According to the introduction of Master Thien Gia – Deputy Head of the Buddhist Executive Board of Phuoc Long District, Bac Lieu Province, Abbot of Cosdon Pagoda, Phuoc Long District, Bac Lieu Province)

Artifacts displayed on the second floor are more than 156 ancient and precious books in English, French, Italian… languages with a variety of genres such as novels, bibles, poetry stories, history books, etc. Visitors can directly view and understand the history of writing (Han, Nom, Quoc Ngu), languages in the world, as well as the history of printing and publishing. Such as The Letters of M.Clavdio (Delle Lettere Di M.Clavdio) by Tolomei published in 1563; Collection of Letters from Pope Bentivoglio (Lettere Del Cardinal Bentivoglio) by Angelo Zon published in 1670; The Anecdotes of England (Anecdotes Angloises, depuis L’establissement De la Monarchie) by J.F. De La Croix published in 1769; and The History of The Decline And Fall of The Roman Empire Vol1 by Edward Gibbon, published in 1776.

Moreover, this space also preserves special editions of books in all materials such as wooden box, lacquer, embroidery, silk, bamboo thread, etc., which have been printed by Thai Ha Books for many years. These special editions have left new imprints in the 15-year journey of serving Vietnamese readers. Most of the special editions are handmade from materials familiar to the Vietnamese people such as dó paper, lacquer, embroidery, bamboo thread, etc. A very special thing is that the artisans who cooperated in the making of those editions are all artisans from famous craft villages of Vietnam.

In particular, readers will be able to admire many calligraphies in Vietnamese, with the expertise of the artists, presenting modern messages in traditional manner and style.

At the third display floor, Thai Ha Books presents to visitors the history of writing, printing, books and introduces the first book ever, all in a relevant and lively sense. More than 20 frames with specific and accurate information will help viewers visualize the entire history of a very delicate and cultural product, along with human development.

Despite the time to prepare for the exhibition was urgent and the space for display was limited, Thai Ha Books managed to give visitors a basic picture of an upcoming Book Museum. We look forward to receiving constructive comments, and also support in terms of the donation of books-related artifacts in order to carry out the best preparation for the Museum.