The Rough Guide to Vietnam (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

by Jan Dodd (Author), Mark Lewis (Author), Rough Guides (Author) "It's not possible to sec everything Vietnam has to offer in one trip - and we don't suggest you try..." (more)
Key Phrases: seventeenth parallel, cai luong, nam giao, Nha Trang, Tran Phu, Dong Khoi (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Rough Guide to Vietnam is ideal for people who want to travel independently and discover more about this incredibly diverse country. It includes lively reviews of the best places to eat, from street kitchens to the upmarket restaurants of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and practical advice on activities, from home-stays in ethnic minority villages to boat trips around Ha Long Bay and visits to its national parks. There are extensive, user-friendly descriptions of Vietnam’s many sights, including Hué’s Imperial city, temples and pagodas and Vietnam’s impressive colonial architecture, as well as its deserted beaches and the waterways of the Mekong Delta.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 616 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides; 5 edition (September 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843536161
• ISBN-13: 978-1843536161
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #128,780 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #12 in	Books > Travel > Asia > Vietnam
  #60 in	Books > Travel > Guidebook Series > Rough Guide
  #71 in	Books > Travel > Asia > Southeast

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 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)

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).

17 of 17 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 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.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great travel guide to vietnam, June 26, 2007

By	shutterbug Thi (Orlando FL USA) - See all my reviews

As someone who is Vietnamese, I think that this is a great book for both Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese readers. In addition to being extremely detailed, it also has a great section with colored photos about Vietnamese cuisine that I think is great for those who may not be familiar to this country's unique flavors. Furthermore, at the very beginning, it has a top ten list of places to see in Vietnam for those who want to narrow down their trip to the most essential places.