The 2025 Southern China Book Fair will take place from August 15 to 19 at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, under the annual theme "Bay Area Book Festival · Discover the World · Share the Future."
During the Fair, the Vietnam Pavilion (Guest of Honor Country) will arrange special events at Hall 10.2, Area B of the Canton Fair Complex.
The Vietnam Pavilion is co-organized by South under the Nanfang Media Group (Nanfang Daily). As Vietnam is the Guest of Honor Country at the 2025 Southern China Book Fair, the Vietnam Pavilion follows the curatorial theme of "Preserving Cultural Origins, Connecting Through Literature". In terms of exterior design and spatial layout, the Vietnam Pavilion blends tradition with modernity to showcase the distinctive cultural identity of Vietnam.
The facade of this pavilion draws inspiration from Văn Miếu (the Temple of Literature) in Hanoi, a landmark building that embodies traditional Chinese architectural styles and cultural connotations. This design reflects the unique national image of Vietnam and highlights the profound, long-standing cultural ties between China and Vietnam. The color scheme of the Vietnam Pavilion is dominated by the red and yellow of the Vietnamese national flag. Its interior design features various natural elements, such as tropical plants, rainforest motifs, ethnic textiles, raw wood, and thatched materials. Together, these elements create an immersive reading space that invites visitors to explore and experience Vietnamese culture in a fresh, creative way.
In terms of curation, the Vietnam Pavilion aligns with the international theme of the 2025 Southern China Book Fair, "Dialogue Between the Bay Area and the World". It presents over 100 outstanding Vietnamese publications, including literary works by Vietnamese writers, Vietnamese-language translations of Chinese literary works, and academic research by international scholars on Vietnamese culture and history. Many of these titles will be introduced to Cantonese readers for the first time.
The Vietnam Pavilion has also collaborated with the Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History to present the photo exhibition "Comrade Ho Chi Minh in Guangzhou", partnered with the Consulate General of Vietnam in Guangzhou to present a short film commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam, and worked with Vietnamese publishers to curate the themed book exhibition "Chinese Literature in Vietnam".
In the Vietnam Pavilion, the cultural and tourism exhibition area showcases Vietnamese artworks and the traditional costume áo dài, and offers the latest travel information. Among these artworks, one highlight is a national gift from Vietnam, a special embroidered artwork known as "painting within painting". When viewed directly, it features lotus and kapok motifs. When projected, it reveals Hanoi's iconic Khuê Văn Các (Constellation of Literature Pavilion) alongside Guangzhou's landmark Canton Tower (known as "Little Waist"), symbolizing the friendship between Vietnam and Guangdong. Here, visitors can also explore the Vietnamese Marketplace to watch live demonstrations of how Vietnamese local delicacies are made, and even enjoy tasting them on site, such as Vietnamese drip coffee, Bánh Mì (Vietnamese baguette), and spring rolls. Strolling through the Vietnam Pavilion, visitors can discover the historical roots of China-Vietnam friendship, experience the vibrancy of modern Vietnam, and enjoy an immersive cultural journey full of sights, stories, and interactive activities.
During the book fair, South will host a variety of cultural exchange activities at the Vietnam Pavilion. Renowned scholars specializing in studies about Ho Chi Minh will jointly host a special lecture titled "Comrade Ho Chi Minh in Guangzhou", sharing their research insights. Vietnamese publisher and writer Nguyễn Lệ Chi (阮丽芝) and Vietnamese writer Đỗ Quang Tuấn Hoàng (杜光俊煌) will present a themed talk, "A Decade of Chinese Literature in Vietnam". There will also be a reader meet-up for the book "Across the Country" ("Vắt Qua Những Ngàn Mây" in Vietnamese). Vietnamese fashion designer Vũ Anh Tuấn (武英俊) will present a runway show of the traditional costume áo dài. Together, Vũ Anh Tuấn (武英俊), Vietnamese writer Vũ Thế Long (武世龙), the Vietnamese coffee brand Trung Nguyên, and a popular Vietnamese restaurant in Guangzhou, will jointly host a showcase of Vietnamese lifestyle and culture, "Fusion Vietnam: áo dài, Bánh Mì, spring rolls, and drip coffee". For five consecutive days, the Vietnam Pavilion will present a series of exciting activities, offering a true feast of culture for all visitors.
During the book fair, South will also launch a special co-branded folder and bookmark set, titled the "IP Guangdong X Southern China Book Fair". Readers who participate in the stamp-collecting activity hosted by the Organizing Committee of the 2025 Southern China Book Fair can receive the whole set by collecting stamps from ten pavilions, including the Vietnam Pavilion and the Southeast Asian Pavilion.
Event Schedule for Vietnam Pavilion (Guest of Honor Country)
Editor | Zhang Xuanzhen (intenr), Wei Shen, Huang Qini, James, Shen He
