Ho Chi Minh City book street sales surpass $600,000 in six months
Ho Chi Minh City book street sales surpass $600,000 in six months
The book street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City yielded VND15 billion (US$672,748) in turnover in the six months since opening, according to its management board.
Twenty stalls on the street, which was opened on Nguyen Van Binh Street, District 1, on January 9, generated the revenue during the last six months, with 240,000 copies having been sold.
Five publishers earned over VND1 billion ($44,846) while the rest pocketed from VND200 million ($8,969) to 500 million ($22,423).
According to statistics by the management board, the street welcomes around 2,500 visits every weekday and 4,500 visits on weekends, resulting in a total of around 500,000 visits for the last six months.
The book street, which has become a cultural and tourism destination of Ho Chi Minh City, is also a place for publishers and distributors to promote their brands and get updated on reader demand.
However, Le Hoang, deputy head of the management board, said that the street also faces some problems in its structure and activities, including a lack of programs and types of book.
Book revenue has decreased by 30 percent to 50 percent in recent times while some stalls are trying to make up for losses, he added.
