This is the second Vietnamese restaurant in Belgium to join the project "Vietnamese bookcases in Vietnamese restaurants abroad", an initiative of Happiness Station Vietnamese Channel to bring Vietnamese culture and Vietnamese language closer to overseas Vietnamese and international friends who love Vietnam.

Vietnamese bookshelf in Hanoi station - Cameleon restaurant. (Photo: UGVB)

The launching event was participated by many Vietnamese compatriots and readers interested in Vietnamese books and culture. At the event, attendees had access to more than 100 books on various topics from culture, literature, history, inspiration stories, especially children's books, including works by authors who are Vietnamese people in Belgium, France... In addition, guests also interacted and connected with book authors and overseas Vietnamese community who share the same passion and interest in books.

Nguyen Thanh Long, representative of the Executive Committee of the General Association of Vietnamese in Belgium, refered to this bookcase as the space of the Vietnamese soul. He expressed the hope that more cultural events and exchanges would be organized in the future to connect the Vietnamese community in Brussels with the Vietnamese language and Vietnamese authors.

At the event, the General Association of Vietnamese in Belgium donated the book Hello Vietnamese (2 volumes - Set sail and Explore) to the bookshelf.

The first "Vietnamese bookshelf in a Vietnamese restaurant" was placed at Pho Sure restaurant (Ostende city, Belgium) in May 2023. Besides Vietnamese books, this bookshelf also focuses on bilingual books and foreign language books with content about Vietnam to promote and serve the needs of natives and tourists in Ostende city.

Children, the second generation of Vietnamese families in Belgium, are exploring the bookcase. (Photo: UGVB)

According to Kieu Bich Huong, the person in charge of the Happiness Station Vietnamese Channel, this project is an effort by herself and other colleagues to introduce Vietnamese culture as well as Vietnamese literature to the overseas Vietnamese community and native people in a closer and more accessible way.

Not only through book fairs, libraries, book introduction events, discussions, and exchanges, but Vietnamese books and Vietnamese literature need to be placed in spaces that are easy to access, such as in Vietnamese restaurants where readers can have a look while waiting for their food to be served.

Having a Vietnamese book corner or bilingual Vietnamese bookshelf in the restaurant is also a pride for Vietnamese restaurant owners to introduce to guests about the country, people, history, culture, tourism, art, and cuisine of Vietnam.

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