Initiated in 2012, OIF’s Francophone Book Space project aims to strengthen the public library network in Francophone countries by sponsoring French books.

Can Tho is one of eight localities in Vietnam selected to implement the "French Book Space" project by OIF and the National Library of Vietnam. Similar spaces are also opened in the localities of Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Nghe An, Khanh Hoa, Lam Đong, Ben Tre, and Binh Duong. Accordingly, nearly 10,000 books (equivalent to 180,000 euros) by authors from French-speaking countries have high literary value, contributing to increasing the document capital of beneficiary libraries. The “French Book Space” is a very meaningful project and an important place for those who want to find and read French book materials, thereby improving their French language ability and knowledge.

The “French book space” at Can Tho city Library displays 727 books in French, of which about 50% of the books are in the fields of social sciences, economics, education, languages, exact sciences, applied sciences, health, agriculture, arts, sports, literature, and reference books; the remaining 50% are children’s books. Specifically, the project has the participation of classic works such as “Le corps de maêre” (The secret of mother) by Fawzia Zouari, La Théo des Fleuves (The Theory of Rivers) by author Jean-Marc Turine who has won OIF’s “Prix des 5 Continents'” or the comic series loved by many generations of children, namely “Les Schtroumpfs”, “Spirou et Fantasio”, “Une aventure d’Astérix”… The “French book space” at Can Tho City Library will be a place to provide information and knowledge for people in Can Tho city about the beautiful country, people, and culture of France and the Francophone community in the world; at the same time, contributing to propagating and promoting the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and France.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho, over the years, Can Tho city has always maintained a good curriculum to strengthen French in schools. Currently, there are 22/276 elementary, middle, and high schools across the city that teach French, accounting for about 8%. Besides, Can Tho University is also a place that actively pays attention to professional training and skills for students related to French.

As the hub of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho City has actively integrated into the world in many fields. As a result, many domestic and foreign projects are invested in and implemented in Can Tho. Therefore, the use of foreign languages, including French is becoming more and more popular and essential to managers, experts, researchers, teachers, and students in Can Tho city.

Can Tho city is also home to many outstanding activities of the Francophone community such as the Francophone Festival in the Mekong Delta region (2015, 2019); cooperation activities on Francophone training; awarding Vietnamese - French scholarships; Francophone job seminars; cultural activities, performances of works in French, and bilingual Vietnamese – French. In particular, in 2016, Can Tho city successfully hosted the 10th Vietnam-France Cooperation Conference, actively contributing to promoting the partnership between Vietnam and France in the future. These events also affirmed the vitality of French in the Mekong Delta in particular and in Vietnam in general.