In Vietnam, the practice to collect and read old books for a long time exists, considered by a certain number of people an incomparable pleasure. Because, the tradition wants that a good book preserves in him " gold and jade " that the family will become prosperous by gathering the greatest possible number of books of value. Thus, formerly, each family kept at it at least 1 or 2 canonical books or accounts, and of the hundreds sometimes.
Mr.Vu Pham Khai (1807-1871), Mandarin at the Court of Huê, had gathered a significant collection of invaluable books, as well as the manuscripts of the candidates to the contests of mandarinat. Bachelor CAD Xuân Duke (1842-1923), Mandarin with Su quan, having acquired several old rare books, and fearing to lose them, had made them transcribe in 5 volumes.
After the beginning of the 20th century, the writing of the romanized Vietnamese becomes usual, which facilitates the impression of the books. In these modern times, the books of natural science and social prove to be essential for humanity.
Of course, Hanoiens take into high account the studies and the books. And the examples of the conscientious well-read men are innumerable. It there has 60 years, M.Hoang Xuân Han, bought, classified and preserved thousands of old books of which several now remain single specimens. For its part, M.Trinh Hung Vietnamese soldier, domiciled to the 61 Ngô Thi Nhâm, joined together during 30 years a collection from 5000 to 6000 pounds which pile up everywhere at his place, even in the corridor, the living room, the room to be slept... In addition to works of search on the economy and the company, Mr. Hung gathers also documents of the PCV through his Congresses, since the period of Resistance while passing by anti-American resistance. He keeps in particular the lithographed manuscript entitled " Leninism " , published before 1930 by the Communist Party of Indo-China and the dictionary Vietnamese-French "Tu Vi An Nam Pha Lang Sa" printed paper form in 1877 in Tân Dinh-Saigon.
If the books of M.Hung are freely scattered at his place, those of M.Phan Trac Canh, domiciled to the 5 street Bat Dan, are carefully classified according to headings': literature, history, ethnic groups, archaeology, language Han Nôm, re-examined... Years during, it was put in search of rare and sought collections, of which " Van hoa tung biên " published in Hanoi of 1951 to 1954, " Cham Pa " in 18 volumes, " ethnos group Khmer in the South " in 3 volumes, " the Vietnamese village " in 12 volumes... On its rack, are present still books of value like " Year Nam chi luoc " of Lê TAC (of the Trân dynasty, 13è-14è century), " the 80 years history against the French domination " of professor Trân Huy Liêu, " history of Vietnam " of professor Dao Duy Anh...
Recently, with the market economy, the modern development of printing works involves an increased publication of the books and the appearance of many bookshops. The majority of the shops of old books are transformed into stores of various goods, because of the benefit. However remain, that and there, in Hanoi of the shops of old books which one can count on the fingers of a hand. But they are well stocked, and the price is reasonable, the books are varied in kinds which one cannot find elsewhere even in modern bookshops or libraries. The shop in the street Ba Triêu, for example, became an address of confidence of the students and researchers who frequently come there to excavate in the medium of the thousands of books of all kinds of the shop.
The presence of the shops of old books with Hanoi forms part of the cultural life of rich Hanoiens of a studious tradition.
CVN