As the new school year kicks off in Da Nang, parents are experiencing unprecedented difficulties in acquiring textbooks for their children. Many have reported waiting in long lines at bookstores, only to find that the supply is insufficient to meet the demand.

One father, Minh Truong from Cam Le district, expressed his frustration, stating, "I've never had such a hard time buying books as this year. I've visited dozens of bookstores over the past few weeks but still haven't managed to get enough books for my child, even though classes have already started." The scene at Da Nang Bookstore in Hai Chau district has been chaotic, with hundreds of parents flocking there after hearing that new stock had arrived.

Parents have been making multiple trips each day, waiting for hours to secure the necessary materials. The most affected are those looking for textbooks for primary and secondary levels. Another parent, Nguyen Ba from Son Tra district, shared that he and his wife have been searching various bookstores for weeks. "We heard that Da Nang Bookstore had received new textbooks, so we've come here several times, but we could only find an English workbook for my first grader. We still haven't found enough books for my fourth grader," he lamented.

Staff at the bookstore have noted that the supply of textbooks is uneven, with some subjects having plenty while others are nearly out of stock. In fact, at times, newly opened boxes of books have sold out almost immediately. Despite the long wait, many parents leave empty-handed, unable to find the books their children need.

In response to the shortage, the Da Nang Department of Education and Training has instructed schools to utilize all available resources, including library books and older textbooks, and to promote the use of electronic textbooks. The overwhelming demand has forced parents to wait in line for extended periods, inching forward to pay for their purchases.

With the scarcity of textbooks, some parents have turned to photocopy shops as a last resort. However, there are concerns regarding the legality of photocopying entire textbooks, leaving many unsure of their options.