Book Description
Sit down to a steaming bowl of pho on a bustling Hanoi boulevard. Kick back on a languorous boat ride down the Mekong Delta. Swim at a secluded highlands waterfall. Welcome to Vietnam. Endless attractions and adventures await. Make your own connection to this beguiling country with our inspirational, best-selling guide. • CONNECT WITH CULTURE - History and Culture chapters offer in-depth coverage of the country's rich and dynamic heritage • BE INSPIRED - new highlights, itineraries and planning sections help you plot your path • DISCOVER THE FAR-FLUNG with comprehensive coverage of regional Vietnam's mountain villages, unspoiled beaches and remote forests • STAY IN STYLE with recommendations of Vietnam's best accommodation options, from family-run guesthouses to five-star hotels • GET AROUND with detailed and cross-referenced maps, including a full-color country map

From the Publisher
Destination Vietnam Prepare for sensory overload, as Vietnam is one long trip of sights, sounds and smells. The sights are spectacular, thanks to a rich civilization that has left its temples and traditions throughout the land, and a lucky hand with nature, which has dealt Vietnam breathtaking mountains, a killer coastline and sublime scenery. A place of blessed beauty, Vietnam is blanketed from top to toe with a patchwork of emerald-green rice paddies, timelessly tended by farmers in conical hats. There is no volume control on the soundtrack to Vietnam - it is the story of a people on the move, the bustle of the cities as they rush towards the future. The buzz of bikes, the cries of sellers, the hum of voices and the clink of beer glasses collide head-on with the tinkle of the past in the pagodas, the swish of the scythe or the haunting music that accompanies sadness or success. Vietnam's cuisine is a cracker, a wonderful world of pungent herbs and secret spices, a treasure chest of 500 different dishes. Overstimulating perhaps is the smell of nuoc mam, a fish sauce that is as compulsory for the Vietnamese as ketchup. And don't forget the xeo (rice wine), which is as varied as Scotch. 'Nam to a generation, the long history of war continues to weigh heavily on the consciousness of all who can remember, but here the Vietnamese side of the story is told at poignant sites throughout the country. Fiercely protective of their independence and sovereignty, the Vietnamese are graciously welcoming to those who come in peace. In short, Vietnam is defiantly different...hardly surprising, as it has had to defy so many to get to where it is today.