Vientiane, Oct. 6 -- Home to more than 500 Vietnamese-language books, the Vietnamese Bookcase at Phat Tich Pagoda in Vientiane has become a familiar destination for students of the pagoda's free Vietnamese classes, serving as a bridge nurturing a love for the Vietnamese language, culture, and knowledge among the Lao community.

Nearly ten years ago, when free Vietnamese classes at Phat Tich Pagoda were first held on a regular basis, learners expressed the need for additional study materials. In response, Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, a Vietnamese expatriate living in Laos, initiated the idea of establishing the "Vietnamese Bookcase".

Huyen told the Vietnam News Agency that the collection initially featured fewer than 100 books, mostly contribute...