The Rough Guide to Vietnam

My wife and I spent the entire summer of 2004 in Vietnam, and we found this guide to be the most complete. For the most part, we spent several weeks each in Hanoi, Saigon, Hoi An, and Sapa; not only did this guide provide just about everything we needed to know to get started in each locale, but as we explored on our own, it seemed like whatever we discovered was also consistently found in the guide. One key example of this guide's excellence: at the time, it was the only guide that guided travelers to the Ha An Hotel in Hoi An, by far the nicest place to stay in town (and very affordable as well). Over the weeks we stayed there, the Lonely Planet hordes were completely clueless about the place. That's the thing: Lonely Planet is great, but it seemed like 90% of travelers we saw had the LP guide tucked under their arms, so think about what that means for you--if you choose to join the LP stampede, or step to the side of it with this comprehensive guide. (By the way: we also liked the Vietnam, 5th: Tread Your Own Path (Footprint - Travel Guides), which isn't comprehensive but seemed to have great taste.)

Rough Guide has become one of my favorites. It's value is that it targets a group beyond the backpackers. Vietnam is no exception. The maps are good, recommendations we used were always good. There is plenty of practical information about getting around and still has info the the backpackers, but many suggestions for more upscale restaurants and hotels. This was our primary guidebook for 3 weeks of independent travel in Vietnam.

I would definately recommend this book to anyone traveling to Vietnam and wanting to converse with the locals. I took this book on my first trip to Vietnam, knowing only basic Vietnamese. I was able to have conversations with the people I met. The book is very easy to read, and the dictionary is English/Vietnamese & Vietnamese/English. The English/Vietnamese dictionary gives helpful phrases for each of the words too. There's also a pronounciation guide to help you say the words correctly. A must have!

As a user of Lonely Planet guide books, I am a recent convert to The Rough Guide series. I used both The Lonely Planet and The Rough Guide on a recent trip to Vietnam and found the Rough Guide won hands down.The detailed maps are easier to read and follow, the restaurant and hotels reviews are more current and objective and the historical overview offered is more incisive. The Rough Guide provided wonderful tips for sight seeing in Ho Chi Minh City and further abroad. The accounts of the last days of the Vietnam War brought to life the turmoil and chaos of a city under siege.Still a fan of The Lonely Planet series, I can clearly state I would recommend the Rough Guide as superior for Vietnam travel. I look forward to using the Rough Guide series for other travel destinations and hope the standard emulates that of the Vietnam edition.PS The Rough Guide also releases CDs of traditional music of many of the countries they write about. The Rough Guide to Salsa CD is also highly recommended.

I've been to Viet Nam twice & will return next year for an extended period. For my money, the Rough Guide is superior to the Lonely Planet. Information was more trustworthy last spring, especially regarding restaurants. Information is presented in an orderly, coherent manner. The language, historiacal & cultural information are accurate & cogent. This is the Viet Nam guide for grown-ups.