Rating: 
Summary: Don't travel to Vietnam without it
Review: I bought the Vietnam LP on advice from my roomate who never travels to a new place without one. The Vietnam LP soon became my bible in Vietnam, not to mention every other travelers that I met there as well. In fact kids on the streets of Hanoi and Saigon often sell photocopied versions of these LP's to tourists. No other tourist book is more popular there, and for good reason.
I used my LP all the time. I kept a bottle of water under one arm (Vietnam in July is hot) and my lonely planet under the other. Every question I could possibly think of LP had an answer for and a story and a map to go along with it. Honestly I can't recommend a book higher.
Rating: 
Summary: At times a very unkind and innaccurant view of Vietnam
Review: I found the author did not prepare me for the true Vietnam experience. I have just returned and believe that the Lonely Planet view of Vietnam did not give the country the justice it deserves. A very dissappointing account of possibly the worlds most beautiful treasure. I also was told in Vietnam that the author is not very popular and is not very fond of Vietnam, so my suggestion is get someone over there ASAP that can show the true passion, gentleness and flow of Vietnam. This would be the first time I have been dissappointed in a Lonely Planet publication and I always buy their books before travelling. I believe that the Rough Guide did a more accurant job of pacing travellers through this exotic fascinating country. However, I must confess I did only briefly flick through the Rough Guide owned by another vitnam travellor.
Rating:
Summary: Great Unbiased Source
Review: I have looked at many different books on Vietnam. This book is the perfect mix of practical information, background, and directory info. Most guides provide too much of only one these uses, while this book provides a good mix of them all. They do not accept advertising so it seems that there information is completely unbiased. With the April 1999 publishing date it is the most up to date guide as of this posting. An up to date guide is ESSENTIAL in Vietnam as things change daily.
Rating:
Summary: Good help to plan your trip
Review: I have recently been on my third trip to Vietnam. This time I visited Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi and did some excursions around both cities like Gu Chi tunnels and the Perfume Pagoda, close to Hanoi.On the trip my companion and I used to LP guide mainly as a source of planning ( where to stay, how to get there, where to eat) etc. The value of the guide for doing this is excellent. People critisizing should not forget that generally they pay a fortune in flight cost and other things to come to the country and than expect a full comprehensive view of the $ 15 investment. Vietnam, of course, is a country with a lot of history, not in the least of recent times and to really enjoy your trips you have to read one or two books on the subject. The LP guide is not meant for that. For going around the guide is excellent. Information is accurate and pretty comprehensive ( of course, the country changes rapidly one should not forget. The getting around sections are good, although it should be emphasized that it is not as easy as it looks to travel by yourself. If I have one critizism it is that I feel that perhaps they should extend the food recommendations. There are many, many excellent restaurants and in those recommended you see, virtually literary, the crowd sitting reading their LP's.
Rating:
Summary: Everything the traveller needs to know about Viet Nam
Review: I just got back from a three week trip to Viet Nam, and would have been lost without my trusty LP guidebook. I travelled from north to south and was never at a loss with the help of this book. Granted LP should have put in diacritics because without them, communication breaks down when you don't know the tones, but the in depth research and care that went into this book (and subsequently, all of LP's books) shines through to provide the reader with a competant, user-friendly travel guide. Plus, LP is much more gay-friendly than the other guidebook series.
Rating:
Summary: Everything the traveller needs to know about Viet Nam
Review: I just got back from a three week trip to Viet Nam, and would have been lost without my trusty LP guidebook. I travelled from north to south and was never at a loss with the help of this book. Granted LP should have put in diacritics because without them, communication breaks down when you don't know the tones, but the in depth research and care that went into this book (and subsequently, all of LP's books) shines through to provide the reader with a competant, user-friendly travel guide. Plus, LP is much more gay-friendly than the other guidebook series.
Rating:
Summary: Lonely Planet stays on top
Review: I make regular trips to Vietnam and I've used both the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet. Having seen the two latest editions, page by page, Lonely Planet is, simply, better. LP provides far more detail, more maps (all of which are much more user friendly and accurate), is loaded with contemporary information (NGOs, motor-biking etc), has better photographs, good illustrations, and entertaining side-bars. The book introduces us to the personalities and characters who run guest houses, restaurants, bars, boutiques, and so forth, and it really makes you feel like a local. The "reader from France" seems to have a personal animus against the writers and Lonely Planet. But otherwise, what could be the problem? I found this guide well researched, consistently useful, and fun to read - that's what I want when I'm on the road.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Have Guidebook When In Vietnam!
Review: I recently spent about 3 weeks in Vietnam. It was a great trip and I highly recommend visiting Vietnam to anyone who enjoys travelling in Asia. With that said, I feel that during a trip to Vietnam, the Lonely Planet book is absolutely one of the most important books to have, to read before you go, to look at while you are there, and to reflect back upon when you get home. The book was great. It was so good, that I was constantly passing it up and down the bus to other people on the trip. Everyone used it, and to my surprize there were some people that had never used a Lonely Planet book. LP is the best, and they have never let me down. There Vietnam book is no exception. If you are going to Vietnam, buy and use this book. It is a great purchase.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Have Guidebook When In Vietnam!
Review: I recently spent about 3 weeks in Vietnam. It was a great trip and I highly recommend visiting Vietnam to anyone who enjoys travelling in Asia. With that said, I feel that during a trip to Vietnam, the Lonely Planet book is absolutely one of the most important books to have, to read before you go, to look at while you are there, and to reflect back upon when you get home. The book was great. It was so good, that I was constantly passing it up and down the bus to other people on the trip. Everyone used it, and to my surprize there were some people that had never used a Lonely Planet book. LP is the best, and they have never let me down. There Vietnam book is no exception. If you are going to Vietnam, buy and use this book. It is a great purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Not the most accurate picture of Vietnam
Review: I spent this summer studying in Vietnam, and it became clear that the Vietnam in the LP is quite different than the real Vietnam I saw with my own eyes. I think the book was intended for travelling businessmen who only plan on staying in Vietnam for a few days, and have plenty of money to spend for plush hotels. This is regrettable since there is so much more to Vietnam than tourist traps, tourist-oriented restaraunts, and hotels. For example, in my first couple weeks in Hanoi, Vietnam, I followed the book's suggestions for restaraunts, only to realize they were severely overpriced, and not nearly as tasty (or exotic) as the more "local" restaraunts. Before long, I stopped going to the LP's preferred restaraunts altogether. Only when I stopped following the LP altogether did I really start to delve into Vietnamese culture, both the good and bad. Also, the LP tends to whitewash the more unpleasant aspects of Vietnam, such as being harassed by people on the street, who are more than eager to rip you off, and the grueling poverty. If one really wants to appreciate Vietnam, these less pleasant factors have to be taken into account. If you plan on just "visiting", but don't really plan on getting to know the culture, this book may be enough. However, to truly appreciate both the good and bad of Vietnam, I suggest avoiding this book, or at least not relying on it too much.
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