Rapper joins handover of Hope Library in Vietnam's mountainous school

Vietnamese rapper Den Vau joined nearly 400 students, most from the Tay and Nung ethnic groups, at the handover of a new library replacing an old storage room at a school in the northern mountainous province of Lang Son. Van Thuy Primary and Secondary School in Chien Thang Commune held the Hope Library handover ceremony on Aug. 21. The school previously had no dedicated reading room, with teachers and parents converting an old kitchen into a book storage area and setting up an outdoor reading corner under a corrugated-iron roof.Students lined the path to welcome guests, cheering as Den Vau arrived. The rapper joined reading and interaction activities and brought 100 books to contribute to the new library.A longtime book lover, Den Vau said he hoped books would open new paths for children, particularly those in highland areas. Den Vau talks with children in a classroom at Van Thuy Primary and Secondary School in Chien Thang Commune, Lang Son. Photo by Hope Foundation At the event, Den Vau recommended "Almanach of World Civilizations", which he first read in primary school. He encouraged students to read widely, study carefully and learn from their teachers.He also visited the library, joined organizers in decorating the space and asked students questions about books and characters.He later visited classrooms, handed out gifts, signed books and notebooks, and took photos with students and teachers. Students at Van Thuy Primary and Secondary School in Lang Son Province join a quiz session with rapper Den Vau. Video by Phuong LinhDen Vau has participated in various community and charity projects. In 2023, he donated all revenue from his music video to support highland children. Last September, he donated computer systems to two school points in Hung Yen and Quang Ninh, and in October contributed VND200 million (US$7,667) to support storm victims.He was among the top 10 recipients of the National Volunteer Award in 2023 and received the Golden Apricot Award in the Artist for the Community category that year. In March 2024, he was named one of the 10 Outstanding Young Vietnamese Faces by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.Den Vau, 37, whose real name is Nguyen Duc Cuong, is from Ha Long, Quang Ninh. Before becoming a singer, he worked as a garbage collector for seven years. He rose to prominence with songs including inspiring ones about family values and youth aspirations. Rapper Den Vau at the Hope Library handover ceremony at Van Thuy Primary and Secondary School, Lang Son. Video by Ngoc NgocThe Hope Library was built in two months after construction began in May. The 60-square-meter facility was funded by contributions from VnExpress and FPT Online staff, with additional support from Hope Foundation, FPT Corporation and Vuihoc Company.The library has bookshelves, tables, chairs, fans and lighting, as well as a digital library with 15 tablets, headphones and Vuihoc online-learning accounts.The project continues the "VnExpress 25-Year Bookcase" program launched for the newspaper’s 25th anniversary and starts the "FPT 38-Year Library" project marking FPT’s 38th anniversary. The program aims to build or renovate 38 libraries nationwide, add at least 38,000 books, hold 38 workshops on AI, technology and digital skills, and equip all libraries with digital systems.