Lonely Planet Vietnam (LONELY PLANET VIETNAM)

Rating:
Summary: Interesting to read but also ask around for information
Review: The section on hill tribes were interesting but more coverage on Danang (it's historical background and marble mountains) would have been helpful. The information on Hanoi was not comprehensive; we thought the Youth Hotel was a good deal even though it was not particularly recommended in the guide; but it does have useful email addresses of tour companies and they reply quite promptly with prices and package information. It is actually a much better armchair travelling guide than Fodor's Vietnam guide but the Fodor's guide has some excursions not listed in the Lonely Planet and is systematic. Lonely Planet also has a Hanoi guide with maps, helpful if the cyclo driver is travelling in the wrong direction.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent guide to an excellent country
Review: This guide book is the best out there for anybody traveling to Vietnam. Most of the information was current except for some of the out of date information on Saigon(aka Ho Chi Minh). The Vietnamese are more relaxed about tourists then the book lets on. The format is also excellent because you don't have to read the book cover to cover to find what you are looking for. Skip some of the other guides because they are just not as detailed and easy to read when you are traveling.

Rating:
Summary: Packed with information, but could be more selective.
Review: Vietnam is changing so quickly that it must be very difficult for the guide books to keep up. In general, Lonely Planet did a good job, but I often felt that they wasted precious space in an effort to be cute. Some of the little anecdotes were so dumb, and it is frustrating to think about what information they left out in order to print them. Also, the book was a little misleading about the tourist track in Vietnam. It is MUCH more difficult than the book says to get around on your own. You have to book practically everything through travel cafes. Also, EVERYONE uses the Lonely Planet guide, so everyone goes to the same places. I didn't look at the Rough Guide, but one by Ian Flemming looked very good. A little competition is needed because Lonely Planet is getting a monopoly on the tourist industry!