A Danish public library just got a distinctly Vietnamese addition. During a state visit to Denmark, Ngô Phương Ly — wife of Vietnam's General Secretary and President Tô Lâm — joined Queen Mary of Denmark at BIBLIOTEKET Rentemestervej in Copenhagen to present a curated collection of Vietnamese books, timed to mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The venue is not your average branch library. Opened in 2011, BIBLIOTEKET Rentemestervej doubles as a community cultural centre, with creative workshops, public service offices and a concert hall alongside its reading rooms and children's areas. The two women toured the building, visited the kids' section and even made bookmarks together with young readers.
The 'Việt Nam Bookshelf' itself is aimed squarely at curious Danish readers. It packs in popular Vietnamese fiction plus titles covering the country's history, geography, arts, heritage and everyday customs — essentially a starter kit for anyone wanting to understand Vietnam beyond the guidebook. Ly said Vietnam stands ready to send more books to grow the collection, and framed reading as a bridge between nations: understanding a country's stories, she argued, is where lasting friendship starts. Queen Mary called the gift a way to encourage reading and help younger Danes in particular learn about Vietnam.
There was a personal thread running through the visit, too. Queen Mary recalled the Danish royal family's long connection with Vietnam, including the late Prince Henrik's time living there, and shared memories of travelling the country with King Frederik X back when they were crown prince and princess. She said she hopes to return soon — and Ly extended an invitation for the royal couple to visit Vietnam.
So what does a book donation in Copenhagen mean for travellers? Quite a bit, actually. Diplomatic anniversaries like this one tend to trickle down into concrete travel perks: expanded flight routes, cultural events, and growing mutual awareness on both ends. Denmark already enjoys a warm reputation among Vietnamese hosts, and cultural exchanges like this bookshelf make Vietnam feel more approachable for Scandinavian travellers who might otherwise default to Thailand or Japan. If you're Danish (or passing through Copenhagen), the collection is a free way to get a head start on Vietnamese history and folklore before you fly. And if the Queen's hoped-for royal return to Vietnam materialises, expect a fresh wave of attention — and likely more Danish faces — in Hanoi, Hoi An and Ha Long Bay.
