Book lovers will have a chance to buy rare second-hand books at a special festival to be held in the capital this weekend.

Bookshops specialising in old books in various fields, such as Sach Cu Chien (Chien's Old Books), Sach Cu Ha Thanh (Ha Noi's Old Books), Sach Vi Dan (Books for People) and Sach Truyen Via He (Pavements' Books), will put up about 20 stalls.

Rare old books such as The Oxford Illustrated Dictionary published in 1975; Tu Dien Phap Viet Pho Thong (General French-Vietnamese Dictionary) by Dao Van Tap and published by Vinh Bao Sai Gon Bookshop in 1953; and Phap Viet Tu Dien – Chu Them Chu Han (French-Vietnamese Dictionary with Explanations in Chinese) compiled by Dao Duy Anh and published by Minh Tan Paris Publishing house in 1936, will be displayed in a separate corner.

As many as 2,000 books will be given free to visitors, while many books will be sold at rates as low as VND10,000 to VND15,000.

The third of its kind, the festival will be held at the Alpha Book Company, 176 Thai Ha Street.

New musical, documentaries to celebrate Vietnam's National Day

A new film programme will air on Viet Nam Television to celebrate the 70th anniversary of National Day on September 2, next week.

The programme's highlighted films include the musical work Khat Vong Binh Yen (Desire for Peace) and documentary films Dau An Ban Tuyen Ngon (Declaration of Independence) and Ho Chi Minh Bai Ca Tu Do (President Ho Chi Minh-Song of Freedom).

Female director Viet Huong's film Khat Vong Binh Yen portrays a love story of a young girl of the Youth Volunteer Brigade and a soldier of the National Liberation Front, who both face difficulties and challenges in wartime.

The director Huong invited young singer Ha Linh and dancer Thanh Nam to play leading roles.

Both documentaries Dau An Ban Tuyen Ngon and Ho Chi Minh Bai Ca Tu Do feature historic events that occurred from 1945 to 1975.

The films will be broadcast on VTV1, VTV2, VTV3, VTV4 and VTV6 at 8.30pm on August 31, and at 2.15pm on September 2.

VNS