Vietnam opened its doors to tourists in the late 80s and, while at first a destination frequented by backpackers and war veterans, its appeal has grown ever since. Blessed with a long coast sprinkled with casuarina-lined beaches, the country now attracts sun-lovers and surfers, with resorts and spas sprouting all along the coast.

Part of the award-winning Eyewitness series, this sumptuously illustrated guide leads readers to it all, from the floating markets of the Mekong Delta in the south to the hill towns inhabited by the Hmong minority in the north, and the best beaches to be found in between. A full chapter is dedicated to Angkor in neighboring Cambodia, with the astounding temples illustrated in glorious detail. Whether zipping around old Hanoi in a pedal-powered cyclo or dining on the exquisite local cuisine, the Eyewitness Guide to Vietnam and Angkor Wat is indispensable.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Packed with photographs, illustrations, and maps
• Cutaways and floor plans of all the major sights
• 3-D aerial views of the city’s most interesting districts
• Huge selection of hotels, restaurants, stores, and entertainment venues
• Specially devised walking tours

This brand new edition Insight Guide to Vietnam features a wealth of inspiring full-colour photography, including double page spreads of some of the most outstanding views. The top ten sights are identified to show you the very best of this diverse country and to help you plan your trip priorities. An Editor’s choice section highlights the most unique experiences Vietnam has to offer, along with personal recommendations on what to see and do. An in-depth Places section covers the entire country region-by-region, with all the principal sites cross-referenced by number to the accompanying full-colour maps. Additional maps inside the front and back covers enable instant orientation and easy navigation. Colour-coded sections cover history and interesting features on everything from art and culture to the local people. A comprehensive Travel Tips section details transport, accommodation for all budgets, eating out, activities, and an A-Z of other practical information, including useful contact numbers, to ensure your trip goes smoothly. The unique combination of insightful exploration alongside practical advice means that this guide truly is a pleasure to read before, during and after your visit.

Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Handbook, 3rd: Travel guide to Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos (Footprint – Handbooks)

A guide to show how cultural travel will change how you see the world.

Vietnam Handbook, 6th: Travel Guide to Vietnam (Footprint – Handbooks)

Winner of the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
Winner of the Whiting Writers’ Award
A Seattle Post-Intelligencer Best Book of the Year

Catfish and Mandala is the story of an American odyssey—a solo bicycle voyage around the Pacific Rim to Vietnam—made by a young Vietnamese-American man in pursuit of both his adopted homeland and his forsaken fatherland.

Andrew X. Pham was born in Vietnam and raised in California. His father had been a POW of the Vietcong; his family came to America as “boat people.” Following the suicide of his sister, Pham quit his job, sold all of his possessions, and embarked on a year-long bicycle journey that took him through the Mexican desert, around a thousand-mile loop from Narita to Kyoto in Japan; and, after five months and 2,357 miles, to Saigon, where he finds “nothing familiar in the bombed-out darkness.” In Vietnam, he’s taken for Japanese or Korean by his countrymen, except, of course, by his relatives, who doubt that as a Vietnamese he has the stamina to complete his journey (“Only Westerners can do it”); and in the United States he’s considered anything but American. A vibrant, picaresque memoir written with narrative flair and an eye-opening sense of adventure, Catfish and Mandala is an unforgettable search for cultural identity.

Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam

Situated on the eastern coast of the Indochinese peninsula, Vietnam stretches 1,000 miles from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. A socialist republic, it opened its doors to travelers only a few years ago and now offers an intriguing mix of traditional charm and emerging development. Traveler Justine Shapiro starts her journey by celebrating the New Year at the TET Festival in Ho Chi Minh City. From there she ventures up the coast taking in the unspoiled beaches of Lang Co and the city of Hué. After a bicycle tour of the capital, Hanoi, she ends her journey in the remote highlands near the Chinese border. Along the Way – · Descend into subterranean tunnels once inhabited by the Viet Cong. · Sail beautiful Halong Bay. · Take a day trip down the Perfume River on a converted barge. · Drink the juice of a snake to ward off sickness. · Ride the Reunification Express.

Nobody knows the Greater Mekong like Lonely Planet. Our 2nd edition will take you on a boat down the mighty Mekong, visiting hill-tribes in Thailand, trekking Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan, exploring Angkor’s temples in Cambodia, whizzing through the jungle canopy in Laos and kicking back on palm-fringed beaches in Vietnam.

Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.

In This Guide:

Detailed advice on a everything from food and drink to transport and health
Full-color chapter on the Ancient Wonders of the Greater Mekong
Unique Green Index to help make your travels eco-friendly

Lonely Planet Vietnam Cambodia Laos & the Greater Mekong (Multi Country Guide)

This authoritative guide to all the major sights you’ll want to see in Vietnam—and many lesser known surprises as well—leads readers from the ancient capital of Hanoi, a lovely city of parks and lakes, to the now-silent battlefields where first France and then America met defeat, to booming Ho Chi Minh City (once Saigon) and the steamy waterworld of the Mekong Delta.

Northern highlights include magnificent coastlines and tiny villages tucked away in the mountainous jungle. North-Central Vietnam echoes with wartime memories, evoked by a visit to Vietnamese tunnels or a drive along the DMZ. Historic Hue offers a centuries-old citadel and the fabled Nguyen tombs; farther south, the Central Highlands boast national parks like Cat Tien, home to rhinoceros, crocodiles, and many species of monkeys. Ho Chi Minh City offers urban sophistication: skyscraping hotels, boutiques full of Western-style goods— and the sobering Museum of Ho Chi Minh City and Reunification Palace commemorating the North’s victory in 1975.

Accompanying the lively text, photographs capture Vietnam’s dazzling beaches, spectacular mountains, emerald rice paddies, ancient pagodas, and vibrant cities, with four-color maps to guide you along the way. One chapter details the nation’s history and heritage; a second brims with practical information, including advice on how to get around, a selection of activities and entertainments, and an extensive listing of handpicked hotels and restaurants. Suggested walks and drives reveal the many faces of this culturally rich, beautiful land—a treasure trove of pleasures unlocked with a key called National Geographic Traveler: Vietnam.

In this insightful travelogue, American war veteran Phil Karber takes you on a journey down the roads, rivers and rails of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. He writes insightfully about the political effect of the Vietnam War on the people and places, adding a whole new perspective on the region’s history and culture. Accompanied by a friend, London artist Simon Redington, they follow the Mekong River from China to Saigon, to the infamous Tiger Cages on Con Son Island, and to the city sidewalks of Hanoi, where the author lived for five years. Along the way, the stories will capture your imagination and transport you to a beautiful region, undaunted by war and poverty. Indeed, this book brings to life the harsh realities of the region’s history, culture, politics and people. Together with its unforgettable images of locals, veterans and expatriates, this transcends normal expectations of travel literature.