From 7 to 11 September 2026, VGU Library came alive with books, ideas, creative activities, and meaningful conversations as the VGU Sustainable Book Fair 2026 brought the VGU community together for a week of reading, learning, sharing, and sustainable action.
Held at the VGU Library, the five-day event offered a variety of activities for students, faculty, staff, and visitors, from a book fair and book exchange to workshops, exhibitions, talks, games, and community activities.
With the theme of sustainability at its heart, the Book Fair encouraged everyone to see books and learning not only as sources of knowledge, but also as ways to connect with people, explore new ideas, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
A Week Full of Books and Ideas
Throughout the week, the Book Fair 2026 featured more than 6,000 book titles, covering a wide range of subjects and interests. Visitors could explore books from ThaiHaBooks, Alphaboooks and Kim Dong along with merchandise.
The Book Consignment Booth and Book Exchange Corner encouraged the VGU community to give pre-loved books a new life by sharing, selling, and exchanging them with new readers.
Alongside the book fair, the “UMI. Universe. Humanity. Intelligence.” Touring Exhibition, presented in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut and Max Planck Society, invited visitors to explore questions about humanity, intelligence, science, and the future.
Opening Session: Celebrating Books and Our Reading Community
The official opening took place on 9 September, bringing students and members of the VGU community together for an afternoon of music, celebration, and fun.
The program featured musical performances, opening remarks, games, gifts, and the Book Lover Awards, recognizing members of the VGU community who actively engaged with the Library’s resources.
Official opening of the Sustainable Book Fair 2026 by Dr. Thomas Aulig, Vice President of Vietnamese-German UniversityIntroduction and official opening of the touring exhibition “Universe. Humankind. Intelligence.” by Mr. Arik Jahn, Deputy Director, Head of Language Department, Goethe InstitutMr. Marc Noffke, Teacher of German Language of Vietnamese-German University created a game to help students gain a better understanding of the touring exhibition content and receive gifts
The celebration also included fun “Guess the Book” game, giving students a chance to test their book knowledge and win exciting gifts.
The event was not only a celebration of the Book Fair, but also a reminder that a library can be a place to connect, participate, and have fun.
Top book lovers 2026Top e-resource users 2026A big thank you to our wonderful partners
♻️ Turning Old Paper into New Stories
Sustainability took center stage through the Recycle Paper Workshop, held on 9 September in collaboration with 2030 Youth Force Vietnam.
Participants had the opportunity to learn how used paper can be transformed into something new through a hands-on paper recycling activity.
Under the message:
“Biến giấy cũ thành câu chuyện mới – Sống xanh từ những điều giản dị.” Turn old paper into a new story – Live sustainably through simple things.
The workshop showed that sustainable living can begin with small and practical actions.
🔋 Small Actions, Green Choices
Another sustainability-focused activity was the Battery-for-Plant Exchange, organized with the support of HSBC.
Members of the VGU community could bring used batteries for proper collection and exchange them for small green gifts such as plants and tote bags.
The activity connected environmental awareness with everyday action, encouraging participants to think about responsible disposal and sustainable habits.
👩🎓 Welcoming New Students to the Library
As part of the Book Fair program, VGU Library also welcomed new students through a Library Orientation session on 11 September.
The session introduced freshmen to the Library and helped them become familiar with its spaces, services, resources, and opportunities for learning and research.
It was a chance for new students to discover that the Library is more than a place to borrow books — it is a space where they can study, collaborate, explore information, and develop lifelong learning skills.
📖 “The New Literacy: Reading and Learning in the AI Age”
One of the highlights of the VGU Sustainable Book Fair 2026 was the talkshow “The New Literacy: Reading and Learning in the AI Age,” held on 11 September 2026 at the VGU Ceremony Hall.
The session brought together two distinguished speakers with extensive experience in publishing, education, and community development
Dr. Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of ThaiHaBook Joint Stock Company.Dr. Đặng Hoàng Giang, Deputy Director of the Centre for Community Support and Development Studies (CECOD) in Hanoi.
The two speakers shared their perspectives on reading, learning, books, and the changing meaning of literacy in the age of artificial intelligence. The discussion encouraged participants to reflect on how we read, learn, think, and engage with information in a rapidly changing technological environment.
Beyond the talkshow, participants also had the opportunity to meet the speakers, have their books signed, and take commemorative photos with them. The book-signing session created a warm and personal connection between the speakers and the VGU community, making the event a memorable experience for many readers.
The session was a meaningful reminder that while technology continues to transform the way we access information and learn, books and reading remain an important part of how we develop knowledge, ideas, and connections with others.
VGU Library would like to sincerely thank our students, faculty, staff, partners, speakers, publishers, supporting organizations, volunteers, and everyone who joined us throughout the week.
Your participation helped make the Sustainable Book Fair 2026 a meaningful celebration of books, learning, and sustainability.
