"Go to the paradise of used books"

(Baonghean) - This weekend, I promised my colleague's young daughter I'd take her to the bookstore. For some reason, my motorbike led me to Nguyen Van Cu Street. It was as if I could hear my high school friends calling out: "Let's go to the paradise of used books!" I suddenly realized that some habits, some dreams, some memories have "lived with" us no matter how far we travel.

For those naive country girls who came to the city to study at Phan Thiet High School five or seven years ago, Vinh was incredibly spacious. I was one of those country girls, with my two unusual braids, riding on my dad's rickety motorbike to Vinh to enroll in school. The pothole at the intersection of Le Hong Phong and Nguyen Van Cu streets that year startled me.

I looked at the signs, the streams of cars passing by, the city dwellers—sometimes busy, sometimes indifferent—and my heart ached with longing for my hometown and my mother. My father had held my shoulders tightly at the gate of Phan High School: "Go in, and study hard!" That was the most affectionate thing my father had ever said to his daughter... I never imagined that my first encounter with the most memorable street of my high school years would be like this...

12th grade students at Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School choose their textbooks. on Nguyen Van Cu Street (Vinh City)

Then, before long, Vinh became familiar to us. But more than familiar, more than close friends, like family, were Vinh's old book stalls. During my many years studying at university far away, I would close my eyes and picture Vinh in my mind, always seeing Nguyen Van Cu Street – a paradise for young students – and book stalls that were not only places for people to seek knowledge but also to find a unique reading space, to discover stories, handprints, and handwriting... that would make you dream or be astonished when you touched them.

I once asked my friend from Vinh, whose house is right on Nguyen Van Cu Street: "When did these used bookstores appear here?" My friend replied: "I don't know exactly when the first used bookstore in Vinh City appeared. I only vaguely remember that around 1999, a shop with a sign that said 'Used Bookstore' appeared before my eyes. Since then, as a trend, the second, third, fourth... shops appeared. At that time, the shop owners gave their shops names like Huong Tho, Thong Tam... And from then on, Nguyen Van Cu Street officially became a paradise for used books."

...And now I'm searching for those old signs, saying to the little girl following me, "Let's go look at some old books!" The little girl nodded in bew amazement. Perhaps she wondered why I was looking for old books? My old bookstore paradise now only has a few left out of the dozen or so that once flourished in the past. They're nestled among the towering buildings and the rapidly expanding fashion boutiques with their vibrant, eye-catching colors.

The old, weathered signboards, faded by sun and wind, surprised me. I wondered why they still existed amidst the many changes of life. Was it because there were still many retired old men who loved books, or poor students who read for free like we did in the past? Or were these bookstores waiting for our footsteps to return one day, filled with nostalgia amidst the bustling streets? Were they trying to preserve the memories of our youthful days?

Search through each shelf to find the book you need.

While large, elegant bookstores lining many streets captivate people with the scent of printing ink, pages waiting to be explored for the first time, and the latest books with covers even more creatively designed with each publication and reprint... these seemingly quiet used bookstores create a different, more peaceful, more tranquil atmosphere. It's as if they have their own unique preferences for their "customers."

Don't think that old books don't have their own unique scent. How many times have I smiled remembering the funny folk tale of the blind man who "smelled" literature? I've also closed my eyes many times, touching the seemingly dilapidated shelves to sense: these are definitely children's books, the once-popular comic books: "Vietnamese Child Prodigy," "Doremon," "Detective Conan"... And here are the books that lead us to a world full of romance, beauty, adventure, or emotion: "The Crimson Sail," "The White Bim with Black Ears," "Robinson Crusoe"... In the far corner are textbooks and reference books from the Education Publishing House, the University of Pedagogy Publishing House... and clearly, the scent of those books is different. I think any student back then could "smell" the scent of old books...

And within that cramped space, a vast world unfolded before my eyes. I poured so many dreams and youthful fantasies into the pages of old books. And dreams of success. Along with that came the anxieties and worries of each exam...

Surely, you'll feel the same way I do when you suddenly find a precious book you've been searching for among those bookshelves. It's a feeling of happiness, discovery, and emotion. A history of my homeland, a map of ancient Vinh City...

I once picked up a half-pressed flower petal, a line of markings, careful notes from those pages. There were even addresses, dates of purchase, and bookstores. Doesn't that stir your emotions when you read those lines, the ink already beginning to fade: "Hanoi, a rainy day in August 1982"; "A gift for you, a book we both love"; "Hopefully this reference book will help T. get into university"; "Remembering the time I went to Vinh Bookstore, thinking a lot about M, September 1990"... Was it once the work of a dreamy little girl, a romantic young man, a cautious old man, or a student sleeplessly preparing for exams?

The book itself has brought to this day stories of life's journeys and messages of love. I often quietly gaze at the "handwritten notes" left on the old pages, imagining the story behind the book, and the stories of the people who held it in their hands. It's not uncommon to unexpectedly come across books with dedications written by the author themselves. Why is that? What brought it to this used bookstore?

Some books have traveled a long journey, moving from old bookstores on Lang Street in the capital to Vinh City; some were bought from scrap dealers; and others were brought in by their previous owners in exchange for books they needed... And then, on these wooden or metal bookshelves, they rest side by side, seemingly in silence.

And one more thing, I want to come back here because I want to see them again, the shop owners from the old days. Some were grumpy when we students took out books to look at and then didn't know how to put them back. Others seemed indifferent and didn't care about us.

There are also friendly and open-minded people... like Ms. Huong, Ms. Tam, Mr. Tho... who have decades of experience, some with up to 20 years selling used books. Their commonality – the people who do business in this particular field – stems from a love of books. They act as if they are indifferent, paying no attention to the poor, studious students who sit all day behind their stalls, trying to hide their faces behind the high shelves to "read for free."

Who would have thought that behind that indifferent facade lay a wealth of understanding, affection, and love? Only then did I realize that the people of Vinh City are not as hurried or aloof as I, a country child, had imagined. Behind the hustle and bustle of the city lies a profound depth, the enduring roots of human kindness...

...and a quick study.

Then, whether by chance or design, right next to the used bookstores on Nguyen Van Cu Street, there were countless snack shops catering to young people. After hours of poring over books, by the time you stepped out of the used bookstore, your stomach was already rumbling.

The aroma of fried onions in lard, the subtle sweetness of fragrant fish sauce, the chewy texture of the translucent white tapioca flour, the rich flavor of the shrimp filling, or simply the sweet and creamy taste of a cup of sweet potato dessert soup—all of these things make you want to rush straight to the famous bánh bèo and sweet potato dessert soup shops located right next door.

Now, Nguyen Van Cu Street has even more snack shops and fast-food restaurants catering to young people, offering a wide variety of dishes and even delivery within the city. There's Moc Quan, Moon, grilled food stalls, and even a pastry shop that opened right at the intersection of Le Hong Phong and Nguyen Van Cu...

And I, after years of studying at university, have finally returned to this city. In the middle of the city, I miss the city. In the middle of the city, I dream of the days gone by. Thankfully, my paradise is still there. Paradises that bear the marks of the past, and I still see the figure in white amidst the stacks of books.

Which student is sending their dreams and aspirations behind each page of those papers...? Hello, or perhaps it's also a greeting to my past self. Vinh City, thanks to this, feels so much more endearing...

Vinh - Thanh