The Embassy of Israel in Vietnam and 2017 Vietnam Miss Universe H’Hen Niê open a friendly library for the pupils of the Minh Son primary school at the Bac Me district of Ha Giang province on 18 January 2022. The friendly library, donated by the Israeli Embassy and H’Hen Niê, is based on the “Room to Read” model and includes a 3-year project, which aims to attract students to reading books and building a reading habit for students in remote areas. A similar library project also takes place in Niem Tong primary school in Meo Vac district.

During the period of 3 academic years, from 2020-2021 to 2022-2023, local pupils will enjoy a friendly reading environment, with high quality reading materials suitable for different age groups and they will be encouraged by trained staff to practice reading both at school and at home. As part of the project, the library room has been refurbished and equipped with a 10,000 books, alongside basic equipment such as tables, chairs, bookshelves, educational products and decorations. Additionally, representatives of the school board, teachers and staff will join a training course on library management, so that they have the necessary tools to maintain it and instruct the pupils.

Minh Son and Niem Tong are two remote communes of Ha Giang, with limited access to cultural goods for primary students.

The Embassy of Israel in Vietnam sees great importance in education and educational activities. It has had numerous activities related to books and reading culture. It has introduced around 10 Israeli books published in Vietnam and hosted children reading sessions in the yearly Israeli children festival in Hanoi.

H’Hen Niê is the global ambassador of the NGO Room to Read. She and the organization raised funds to build friendly libraries, support education and grant scholarships in Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long among others.