Country of Focus: Việt Nam

The COF Vietnam programmes at AFCC will be an occasion to celebrate this milestone and highlight the history of children's literature in Vietnam, publishing opportunities in the market, as well as a special showcase of the best picture book illustrations.

Participants will get the chance to meet the best of Vietnam's children's book writers and illustrators at the COF showcase. At the COF booth in the AFCC Book Fair, participants will be introduced to outstanding Vietnamese children's books, special and creative publications as well as reading devices.

Eleven Vietnamese publishers and contributors will be represented, including the HCM City General Publishing House, Thế Giới (World) Publishing House, Kim Đồng Publishing House and Đinh Tị Books.The five COF conference programmes include the opening session that will take an in-depth look into the current market of children’s books in Vietnam; and a session by the Việt Nam Women's Publishing House on how how they have developed the Sci-tales book series, which aims to bring the element of fun into the learning process. 

In addition, three will be three programmes by creators of three Vietnamese children’s books – Finding Mommy Elephant, The Call of the Wild, and My Daddy is a Runner – who will share their inspirations, the process of creating stories and also practical advice on the diverse range of interactive activities that parents and children can engage in.

The COF programmes will culminate on the COF Việt Nam Night on 27 May, where we will celebrate our partnership with an evening of cultural performances and readings. To further promote cross-cultural understanding, five titles from each country will be translated and distributed through reading initiatives to children. These books will be launched on the Việt Nam Night.