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| The Rough Guide to Vietnam 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Jan Dodd, Mark Lewis
Publisher: Rough Guides
Category: Book
List Price: $21.99
Buy New: $11.89
You Save: $10.10 (46%)
New (42) Used (9) from $11.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 107954
Media: Paperback
Edition: 5
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 616
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.1 x 1.1
ISBN: 1843536161
Dewey Decimal Number: 915.970444
EAN: 9781843536161
ASIN: 1843536161
Publication Date: September 18, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 6-9 of 9 | | « PREV | | |
Didn't get me lost.....and that is saying something September 6, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I traveled in North and Central Vietnam for about 2.5 weeks in Feb 2007 with friends and they had the Lonely Planet guide, I had the Rough Guide. I found that the Rough Guide had a bit more detailed information about food, culture and sights. It was most apparent when we went to see the ruins of a Chiam village near Hoi An (My Son).
I loved the hot tip on the used book trade in Hoi An too. Great trades available in hotels and shops.
I am plannng to do Cambodia and Laos in February, and I am planning on bringing a Rough Guide (if available).
Covers the entire country in great depth, but has a few irksome qualities July 3, 2007
31 out of 33 found this review helpful
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).
 great travel guide to vietnam June 26, 2007
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
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.
As good as it gets February 14, 2007
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
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.
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