The market for books and school supplies is bustling before the new school year.

With just a few days left until the 2025-2026 school year officially begins, the student book market has become bustling. In addition to ensuring adequate textbooks for schools, many publishing units also focus on launching skill books and reference books to help form reading habits and support students' comprehensive development.

This year, parents feel more secure as the purchase of textbooks goes smoothly, completely different from the confusion of last school year.

Mr. Van Kien (Phung Cong commune, Hung Yen province) shared: "Because I couldn't buy books for my child in time last year, this year I ordered them from the school to be sure." Sharing the same feeling, Ms. My Van (Giang Vo ward, Hanoi ) said: "In just one session, I bought enough books for my child. Last year, some books could not be bought in time before the first day of school, which affected my child's psychology."

Not only buying directly at school, many parents this year also proactively ordered textbooks through the bookstore's online channels, a quick and suitable form in the digital age. At Nghi Kim Primary School ( Nghe An ), Ms. Nguyen Thanh Huyen shared that from the beginning of summer, the school checked the number of students, sent textbook lists to each class and coordinated with parents to guide them in choosing the right books. "Preparing early like this helps reduce pressure when the new school year approaches," she shared.

Textbooks are printed in sufficient quantity and supplied on time.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Thanh, Chairman of the Board of Members and General Director of the Vietnam Education Publishing House, said that this year the printing of textbooks was completed very early. "By July 30, we had finished printing 100% of the textbooks and were ready to supply them to all agents, book and equipment companies as well as schools that had selected the Publisher's books," Mr. Thanh affirmed.

Not only worrying about supply, Vietnam Education Publishing House also implemented many social activities to support students in disadvantaged areas. "Immediately after the storms and floods in Son La, Dien Bien, Nghe An, we coordinated with the Department of Education to collect damage data and support all free textbooks for students. At the same time, we will reopen shared bookcases in schools, especially in remote areas and ethnic minority areas," said Mr. Thanh.

He also expressed his wish that if the law allows, the Publishing House is willing to use resources to provide free textbooks to all disadvantaged localities.

A variety of skill books to serve 2 sessions/day

In addition to textbooks, this new school year students will have more choices of skill books - an area that is being focused on to be taught in the second lesson. "We have compiled and prepared to publish books on financial education, ideal and moral education, following the example of President Ho Chi Minh, as well as a book series on AI from grades 1 to 12. These books are designed to suit each age group, with accompanying electronic learning materials and AI applications to support students and teachers" - Mr. Thanh said.

In particular, the newly launched "Financial Education" book series is considered an important milestone. Mr. Thanh emphasized: "This is the first, complete, comprehensive and comprehensive book series on financial skills education for students from grades 1 to 12. I appreciate that this book series closely follows the age of students, providing appropriate concepts, forms of expression and teaching knowledge, making it easy for students to access."

According to him, adding skill books to teaching will help students develop comprehensively, both mastering cultural knowledge and practicing necessary life skills in a rapidly changing social context.

Towards developing a reading culture

From another perspective, Ms. Kim Thoa - Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Tan Viet Books and the Tan Viet bookstore system - believes that the Government's issuance of Directive 17/CT-TTg on organizing 2 sessions/day of teaching will open up opportunities for skill books to receive more attention and investment. "Skill books with good, new and especially necessary knowledge will be able to be selected to be included in the second session program at schools, from grades 1 to 12," Ms. Thoa shared.

Tan Viet Bookstore representative also said that they will coordinate with partners to implement programs to donate books to students in mountainous areas, helping them have more opportunities to access knowledge through books.

Ms. Kim Thoa shared her simple yet determined wish: how to make it possible for every child, whether in remote mountainous areas or bustling urban areas, to have access to books: "I have a great desire to contribute to changing society's general perception of reading. This is a very normal but extremely great thing, because the cost is low but the value it brings to children is enormous."

That aspiration is also in line with the current trend of socializing education: making reading culture a habit in schools, so that books can truly become companions of the young generation.

It can be seen that, along with ensuring enough textbooks for all students, the new school year also marks a strong shift in bringing skill books and reference books closer to students. From official to private, publishing units expect books to not only be learning tools but also companions, contributing to forming reading habits and building necessary skills for the young generation.