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Book-Café speaks volumes for bibliophiles

Published: 27/01/2009 05:00

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Lookatvietnam – Despite its lack of wi-fi access, music and fast cooking, a small coffee shop owned by Nguyen The Thanh nevertheless attracts a regular and sizeable clientele for one reason: a shared passion for books.

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Bookworms from all walks of life flock to the 60-year-old’s coffee shop, which lies on the edge of the Nhat Tan dyke in Tay Ho District, where they are not only provided with a wide range of books to accompany their cups of Joe, but have the chance to share their love of literature with fellow aficionados.

” Reading books is great but what I love are all the discussions and exchanges of different points of view that come afterwards. Drinking coffee and chatting with Thanh about books helps old fogeys like me to relax and maybe learn something new,” says Le Thanh Trung, one of Thanh’s regulars.

These days, people are constantly bombarded by a barrage of information from commercial mass media, and spend less time enjoying the simple, relaxing pleasure of reading, particularly the younger generation. Many parents and educators complain that today’s youth spend all of their free time chatting on the internet, watching movies and shopping.

As the comedian Groucho Marx once noted, “I find television very educational. Every time someone turns it on, I go in the other room and read a book.” Thanh’s coffee shop is the other room, one of the rare rocks to remain unmoved by the current of globalisation’s river.

“Instead of gabbing away with each other while drinking coffee like in other coffee shops, my customers bury their noses in books. But when they do open their mouths, it’s a combination of spoken word and university debate,” says Thanh with a touch of pride.

His coffee shop draws around 15-20 people each day, including both the old and young. For Thanh, profit is not the most important thing. “People come to my shop to find a quiet place to read, where they can escape the sound and fury of modern life,” he says. It is a far cry from Starbucks or its local copycat equivalent, Highlands.

Upon entering the coffee shop, one can settle down with a book or sit with the café owner and discuss a wide range of topics. Although he never had the opportunity to pursue further education, Thanh’s love of books has made an autodidact of him, particularly in the areas of literature and history.

“I used to visit Thanh’s shop to read books and, particularly to chat with him after finishing a book. He can spend all day talking passionately with you about books,” says Tran Van Cuong, 55, who has become a frequent visitor to Thanh’s cafe.

The young and old alike flock to Thanh’s to read books or conduct research.

“I am studying a Master’s in Vietnamese literature. I come to Thanh’s every weekend where I can find many old and valuable books that are difficult to come by, even in libraries. Talking with him also helps me a lot with my research,” says Bui Phuong Lan.

A lover of books

The 60-year-old Thanh has been book-lover since he was a child. Instead of playing children’s games, Thanh spent most of his free time with his nose buried in books.

“Reading was the most fun I could imagine having as a kid. It still is,” says Thanh with a smile.

When Thanh was 10, his family faced financial difficulties, which forced him drop out of school and to begin working to help support his family. However, even poverty couldn’t hinder Thanh’s passion for literature.

“I tried my best to earn money, not only to support my family but also to buy books. I was willing to go hungry in order to feed my appetite for books,” he says.

The most avid of readers, Thanh has done his utmost to collect a wide range of books, particularly in the fields of literature, science and history. He currently owns more than 3,000 volumes and continues to add to this total.

The books have become Thanh’s most precious “treasure”. He has spent a lot of time and money on building up his collection and, to this day, Thanh often drops into bookshops, particularly the second hand stores along Lang, Nguyen Chi Thanh and Cau Giay streets to find books. He also receives books from friends and fellow book-lovers.

“A strong love for reading books is not enough to overcome the hardships of a book collector’s life. It also requires a lot of patience and determination,” he says.

Thanh now owns more than 3,000 books, of which the literary and historical tomes are his favourites. He collects not only books written by renowned Vietnamese writers but also volumes by writers from China and the West.

“Realising the valuable effects that books have allowing you to relax, broadening your knowledge, and helping you to become a friendly and patient person with an undisturbed mind, I would like to collect as many books as possible to share with other readers,” said Thanh.

He decided to open the coffee shop two years ago in order to create the perfect environment for bibliophiles and coffee-lovers alike.

“Not everybody can afford to buy books. When I was young, bookshops were not widely available and my family’s poverty often prohibited me from buying any. It upset me. That is why I decided to open this coffee shop to provide readers with better access to literature than I ever had,” Thanh says.

“I hope my books will help to encourage regular reading habits and have a positive impact on people’s characters, while improving their knowledge at the same time,” he explained.

As the great Jorge Luis Borges once wrote, “I have always imagined Paradise will be a kind of library.” Thanh would agree.

VietNamNet/VNA

Provide by Vietnam Travel

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