The Rough Guide to Vietnam [Paperback]

Mark Lewis (Author), Jan Dodd (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rough Guide to Vietnam | Publication Date: October 19, 2009

"The Rough Guide to Vietnam" is the essential guide with clear maps and detailed coverage of one of Southeast Asia's most enticing destinations. Using expert advice explore the best attractions of Ho Chi Minh City, roam the best Vietnamese markets, shopping, temples, national parks and then slow the pace down with a trip to the paddyfields of the Red River Delta. From the rugged mountains to the west to the South China sea to the east, the "Rough Guide" steers you in the right direction to find the best hotels in Vietnam, Vietnam restaurants, stylish Vietnamese bars, cafes, clubs and shops across every price range, giving you clear, balanced reviews and honest, first-hand opinions. This guide covers the unspoilt islands, pristine beaches and trekking opportunities that have long made Vietnam a travel hotspot, from magical Ha Long Bay to the hill-tribes of the mountainous north. Explore all corners of Vietnam with authoritative background on everything from Vietnam's ethnic minorities to Hanoi's impressive colonial architecture, relying on the clearest maps of any guide and practical language tips. Make the most of your holiday with "The Rough Guide to Vietnam".

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jan Dodd is an experienced travel writer and is co-author of the award-winning Rough Guide to Japan.

In 1989 Mark Lewis spent the year teaching in Singapore, since then he has travelled throughout Southeast Asia.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 632 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides; 6 edition (October 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1848360843
• ISBN-13: 978-1848360846
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Travel > Asia > Vietnam
  • #37 in Books > Travel > Asia > Southeast

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Covers the entire country in great depth, but has a few irksome qualities, July 3, 2007

By 

Christopher Culver - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Vietnam (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

I visited Vietnam in the summer of 2007, touring mainly the north of the country, and used THE ROUGH GUIDE TO VIETNAM, fifth edition. I was immediately impressed by the depth by which the Rough Guide writers covered the country. It's a big book, meaning it weighs down a bag significantly, but no matter where you want to go in Vietnam, it's here.

I cannot comment on the accommodation listings, as I travel by means of Internet hospitality associations and prefer to avoid hotels or hostels. I gave much study to the restaurants listings while on my way to Vietnam, but ultimately didn't use them. The authors give plenty of street kitchens, but travelers shouldn't have difficulty finding such fare, as it's available everywhere you look. Still, the authors do deserve kudos for including a colour section on the concept of street food, encouraging travelers to put aside their fears and partake of this very delicious Vietnamese tradition. The walking tours are easy to follow, and the maps are the clearest you'll find, as one can expect from a Rough Guide publication.

Downsides? Well, I was disappointed by two facets of this Rough Guide. The first is that recent history is completely biased towards the Communist forces fighting for independence, with no understanding of the French and American sides. Other guidebook describe in detail the horrors that ensued in the South after the North claimed victory, and the poverty that created the plight of the boat people, but I felt this guide skirts the issues. The other disappointment was that the guide shows travelers towards the fragile lands of Vietnamese minority people. When minority peoples move their markets to another village to avoid tourists, it seems insensitive for the book to send even more in. Whatever happened to the philosophy that these independent guidebooks had in days of yore, that some places shouldn't be included in the book to challenge travelers and preserve secluded spots?

As I write this, the Lonely Planet guide is quite old, leaving the Rough Guide as the easiest guidebook to find for the independent traveler (the Let's Go guide is good as well--and lighter--but has less detailed coverage).

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well-researched, reliable and valuable guide, March 29, 2008

By 

Allan M. Gathercoal "fdoamerica" (Norcross, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Vietnam (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

I was in Vietnam (Jan/Feb 2008) and I took with me Lonely Planet and Rough Guide, and the better of the two guides is, by a thin margin, Lonely Planet.

However, there is much to commend Rough Guide Vietnam. It is worth buying just for the section that covers the history, religion (13 pages) and the overall culture of Vietnam. Excellent.

This guide is well laid out; breaking Vietnam into eight sections. Each section has a page that points out the places not to be missed. Each of these sections opens with a very good history and explanation of the area. Rough Guide has an excellent selection of restaurant and eateries (better than Lonely Planet's) with enticing write-ups that tell you what to try, "Goi bo, a salad of banana flower, star fruit and pineapple" or "try stir-fried beef with lemongrass for starters, followed by fried scallops and then che baba - grandma's sweet coconut soup." This guide has a better selection of the discos and clubs than Lonely Planet and it has eight (8) pages of recommended books to consider - Super.

HOWEVER, Rough Guides hardly has any maps, and those that they have are not as good or easy to use as Lonely Planet. It has a cumbersome "price code" system for accommodations, i.e. 1= under to $10, 2= $10-15, 3= $15-30, etc., thus, you have to memorize what the numbers represent or flip back and forth to the legend. Whereby, Lonely Planet shows you the cost in dollars. What an idea! Duh. Only a few accommodations (very few) have webpages. In today's world accommodations webpages are a must. All savvy travelers today want to "see" what a hotel or hostel looks like. R.G. does not breakdown restaurants by cost (Expensive, Moderate, etc.) nor does it give you any prices ranges ($10-15 etc.). Not Good.

In short, the better of the two guides is Lonely Planet, especially if you are going to explore Vietnam and want to get away from the "tourist areas". However, if you are staying in HCMC, Hanoi or other major cities and want the best clubs and restaurants with good eatery descriptions then this is your guide. Strongly Recommended. 4 Stars.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars As good as it gets, February 14, 2007

By 

Robert Cadloff - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Vietnam (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

This is a very well-researched guide, and proved extremely useful on a recent 2 month trip to Vietnam. The food and lodging reviews were mostly spot on, with lots of useful practical information on getting to and from places. I've always liked the Rough Guides, and this one is right up there.