Customer Reviews

National Geographic Traveler: Vietnam

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book has great color photos and is great to bring along as a sightseeing guide. It even has maps and diagrams of some major sights, which are really useful if you don't have a tour guide. It doesn't have as much info on hotels and restaurants (only a few are listed for each city, and all are in a separate index in the back of the book - not in the main section for each city). It also doesn't have much in the way of practical info (i.e. where to find an internet cafe or postoffice, public transportation info, airline office locations, etc.) I took this book and Let's Go Vietnam with me on a recent trip. I preferred to bring this book with me when I went sightseeing, but I wouldn't have been able to get by without the practical info I got from Let's Go.

Vietnam has never looked so good. The writing is superb, giving the reader a rich history and an insider's view of Vietnam today. The photography is what you would expect from National Geographic, each photo telling a story about the place it was taken. In all, the book is the best of the lot of Vietnam travel books. I recommend it for your trip to Hanoi, Saigon or anywhere in between.

doesn't have enough indepth information, just simple references for the most part. thought I'd give it a try to compare to Footprints, Eyewitness, etc. It's more armchair reading than in-country helpful. Beautiful pictures, of course!

Traveler Vietnam is eye candy for would be travelers. Its evocative photos capture the beauty, intesity and diversity of the countryside, people and towns. The author, who happens to live in Hue, provides insider details and in depth history often missing from other guides. However, I use this book as a companion to my Footprint guide because it doesn't provide enough practical information on accomodations, finding your way around and getting off the beaten path. I'd love to find a guidebook that also explains the various cons and tourist traps that travelers fall into. The Internet (Travel Fish in particular) seems to have more varied information about these sorts of things.

Nothing wrong with this book if your pursuits are intellectual. If you are planning a trip to Vietnam it is not very helpful. I also bought Frommers which is much more useful.

When you are planning a family trip to Vietnam, this book is a very precious tool. I gives you accurate information for a traveller with special needs like me,a thing very difficult to find in other books, more dictated for the needs of backpakers...