Thai Ha Books | Monday, 22 June 2026

Many people have asked me, “Why did you choose 22 June 2007 as the exact date to establish Thai Ha Books?”

In fact, that date was no coincidence.

It was a day filled with meaning.

22 June 2007 fell around the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, when daylight reaches its greatest extent. And I wanted Thai Ha Books to be born in that light — the abundant light of knowledge, wisdom and civilisation.

The word “Thai” signifies greatness, breadth and brightness, while “Ha” means river.

To me, Thai Ha represents a great river of light, knowledge, understanding and reading culture.

I have always believed that books are a source of light.

A good book can illuminate a person’s mind. An enlightened individual can transform a family. And when many families embrace reading and learning, they can help transform an entire society.

Perhaps that is why I wanted Thai Ha Books to be founded on the day with the most daylight of the year — as a reminder of our mission to bring the light of knowledge to humanity.

But there was another equally important reason.

In 2004, Vietnam officially acceded to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. This marked a major turning point for Vietnam’s publishing industry. For the first time, we truly entered the international copyright arena.

I realised that if Vietnam wanted to develop a sustainable reading culture, we had to publish books responsibly, respect authors, uphold copyright and integrate with the wider world.

Therefore, when I established Thai Ha Books, I was thinking about much more than selling books. I envisioned building a knowledge-based enterprise operating according to international standards.

An organisation that would respect copyright, promote reading culture, connect the knowledge of humanity with Vietnamese readers, and eventually bring Vietnamese books to the world.

And we established the first COPYRIGHT BOOKSHOP in Vietnam — perhaps even the first of its kind in the world!

Many people regard publishing as a business. And they are right.

But to me, publishing is also an act of service.

Behind every book lie the intellect, hard work, experiences and, sometimes, the entire life of its author. Without respect for knowledge, a nation will struggle to make meaningful progress.

I have travelled to many countries, visited countless libraries and attended numerous international book fairs. And I have observed that strong nations tend to be nations that read extensively.

The Japanese read widely. The Germans read widely. Jewish communities have a strong tradition of reading. They regard books as an essential part of national development.

These experiences have strengthened my belief that, for Vietnam to develop sustainably, we must cultivate a reading culture.

And perhaps Thai Ha Books was born from such a simple belief.

A belief that the light of knowledge can make us better human beings.

A belief that books are not merely to be read, but to be lived.

A belief that when a nation learns to love books, that nation has a future.

That is why 22 June 2007 was not simply the founding date of a publishing company.

It was the day a “river of light” began to flow.

Quietly.

Steadily.

And full of hope.

It has flowed for the past 19 years.

It continues to flow today.

And it will keep flowing for generations to come.

On the occasion of Thai Ha Books’ 19th anniversary, we are announcing the establishment of several new centres, particularly the VIETNAMESE BOOKS 2045 CENTRE.

By 2045, Thai Ha Books will be 38 years old, approaching its 40th anniversary, while Vietnam will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Dr Nguyen Manh Hung