Astrologic and soothsaying books are rampant in HCM City’s bookstores. Despite high prices they are selling well.

Superstitious books are sold on the pavement.

There are many kinds of astrologic and soothsaying books, from books printed by publishing houses to illegally-printed books and copied books available on pavements, in alleys and pagodas in HCM City.

Many superstitious books disguised as scientific books and published by prestigious publishing.

The market was stirred up when Labour Publishing House introduced Kim Oanh Ky in late 2008. According to the publisher, the author of this book is Thai Kim Oanh, who specialized in soothsaying and astrologic books in Saigon before 1975.

In the past, this book was printed in four parts but the Labour Publishing House issued a four-in-one book, priced at 90,000 dong. This book instructs readers how to cast coins, define good days and good hours, guess the future and avoid bad luck.

However, the publishers say they only issued a brief book of Kim Oanh Ky six or seven years ago. Other books distributed later in the name of the Labour Publishing House are not printed by the house, but are, in fact, illegal books.

While there are laws relating to superstitious publications, these kinds of books are still sold publically. Nguyen Van Khanh from the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the department reminded publishers about this.

“Superstitious books, especially books printed before 1975 must be censored before publication,” Khanh said.

Le Tam