(VOVworld)- With a market of more than 40 million regular internet users including 22 million smart phone users, Vietnam has a lot of opportunities to develop the e-book market. But since it was first launched 5 years ago, the e-book market has remained stagnant.

There are only a few companies participating in Vietnam’s e-book market including the Youth Publishing House, the City Publishing House and Phuong Nam Book Company. With prices accounting for only 15 to 30% of printing books and being available on multiple media and easy access, e-books have become popular among young readers. But, in the last five years, the e-book market has not prospered. Nguyen An Tiem is Deputy Director of the Press-Publication Department of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communications and Education: “We have plans for e-book market development but have not implemented them effectively. Vietnamese people still favor printing books. We have not had incentives to promote this market. E-payment for e-books has not become popular among Vietnamese people”.

It costs about 50 USD to digitalize a book. Those who have a big book store need to spend between 100,000 and 150,000 USD to publish e-books but their revenues are equivalent to 30% that of printing books. There are also e-books without copyrights in the market making it difficult for registered companies. Chu Hoa is Director of the Publication, Printing and Issuing Department says promoting the e-ebook market is an obvious trend amidst current technological developments: "We need to prepare get ready for the future. It will be difficult book publishers if they only focus on printing books. They need to work out a strategy on promoting e-books”.

Nguyen An Tiem is Deputy Director of the Press and Publication Department: “Vietnam’s slow development of the e-book market will obstruct its international cultural integration. In the near future, we need to be more resolute in promoting e-books. We need to mobilize all sectors and especially the public in this process”.

It’s important to strengthen the management of the e-book market, improve quality, reduce prices and diversify forms of payments to further develop the e-book market.