The Rough Guide to Vietnam, 3rd Edition

by Dodd, Jan; Lewis, Mark

• ISBN13: 9781858285504
• ISBN10: 185828550X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-01
• Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.

Summary

The Rough Guide to Vietnam is the ideal companion for exploring Southeast Asia''s most intriguing destination. A full-colour introductory section includes photos of the country''s highlights, from the waterborne markets of the Mekong Delta to the faded elegance of Hanoi. Lively coverage is given to towns and attractions and opinionated reviews give an up-to-the-minute impression of the country''s best-known sights. There is practical advice on exploring everything that may concern the independent traveller, from negotiating Vietnam''s borders to dining in street kitchens. The Contexts section includes enlightening articles on Vietnamese history, religion, music and film."The Rough Guide to Vietnam is strongly recommended" The Daily Telegraph

Table of Contents

Introduction	x
PART ONE BASICS	1	(60)
Getting there from Britain & Ireland	3	(4)
Getting there from the USA & Canada	7	(4)
Getting there from Australia & New Zealand	11	(2)
Overland routes to Vietnam	13	(1)
Visas and red tape	14	(2)
Insurance	16	(1)
Health	17	(6)
Information and Maps	23	(3)
Costs, money and banks	26	(2)
Getting around	28	(7)
Accommodation	35	(3)
Eating and drinking	38	(7)
Mail, telecommunications and media	45	(4)
Opening hours and public holidays	49	(1)
Festivals and religious events	50	(3)
Shopping and souvenirs	53	(2)
Police, crime and harassment	55	(2)
Directory	57	(4)
PART TWO THE GUIDE	61	(360)
Ho Chi Minh City and Around	63	(57)
Ho Chi Minh City	65	(3)
Arrival	68	(2)
Moving on from Ho Chi Minh City	70	(2)
Information	72	(1)
City transport	73	(2)
Accommodation	75	(5)
City sights	80	(17)
Eating	97	(9)
Nightlife and entertainment	106	(3)
Shopping	109	(2)
Listings	111	(3)
Saigon Water Park	114	(1)
The Cu Chi Tunnels	114	(2)
The Cao Dai Holy See at Tay Ninh	116	(3)
Travel details	119	(1)
The Mekong Delta	120	(47)
My Tho	123	(5)
Ben Tre	128	(1)
Cai Mon	129	(1)
Cao Lanh	130	(2)
Vinh Long	132	(4)
Tra Vinh	136	(2)
Sa Dec	138	(1)
Can Tho	139	(5)
Soc Trang	144	(1)
Bac Lieu	145	(1)
Ca Mau	146	(2)
Long Xuyen	148	(2)
Chau Doc	150	(5)
Ba Chuc	155	(1)
Rach Gia	156	(3)
Phu Quoc Island	159	(3)
Hon Chong Peninsula	162	(1)
Ha Tien	163	(3)
Travel Details	166	(1)
The Southern and Central Highlands	167	(29)
Bao Loc	170	(1)
Da Lat	171	(13)
Buon Me Thout	184	(3)
Yok Don National Park and Ban Don	187	(2)
Plei Ku	189	(1)
The Jarai villages	190	(2)
Kon Tum	192	(1)
The Bahnar villages	192	(3)
Travel details	195	(1)
The South-Central Coast	196	(41)
Vung Tau	198	(8)
Long Hai	206	(2)
The Con Dao Archipelago	208	(1)
Phan Thiet	209	(1)
Cape Mui Ne	209	(4)
Ca Na	213	(1)
Phan Rang	213	(4)
Nha Trang	217	(12)
Qui Nhon	229	(3)
Sa Huyhn	232	(1)
Quang Ngai	233	(1)
Son My Village	233	(2)
Travel details	235	(2)
The Central Provinces	237	(78)
Hoi An	240	(11)
Pagodas and beaches around Hoi An	251	(1)
The Cham Islands	251	(1)
My Son	252	(3)
Da Nang	255	(9)
Monkey Mountain	264	(1)
China Beach	264	(1)
The Marble Mountains	265	(1)
Non Nuoc Beach	266	(1)
Hai Van Pass and Lang Co	266	(1)
Hue	267	(14)
The Royal Mausoleums	281	(10)
Thuan An Beach	291	(1)
Bach Ma National Park	291	(1)
Quang Tri	292	(1)
Dong Ha	293	(1)
The DMZ	294	(1)
Hien Luong Bridge and Vinh Moc Tunnels	295	(1)
Con Thien Firebase and the Truong Son Cemetery	296	(1)
Khe Sanh	297	(2)
The A Luoi Valley - and Hamburger Hill	299	(1)
Dong Hoi	300	(1)
Phong Nha Cave	301	(1)
Ngang Pass	302	(1)
Vinh	302	(2)
Kim Lien	304	(2)
Thanh Hoa	306	(1)
Ninh Binh	307	(1)
Tam Coc-Bich Dong	308	(1)
Hoa Lu	309	(1)
Phat Diem	310	(1)
Cuc Phuong National Park	311	(1)
Nam Dinh	312	(1)
Keo Pagoda	313	(1)
Travel details	314	(1)
Hanoi and Around	315	(54)
Hanoi	317	(3)
Arrival	320	(1)
Information	320	(2)
Moving on from Hanoi	322	(2)
City transport	324	(1)
Accommodation	325	(5)
City sights	330	(15)
Eating	345	(9)
Nightlife and entertainment	354	(2)
Shopping and markets	356	(3)
Listings	359	(3)
The Perfume Pagoda	362	(1)
Thay Pagoda (the Master's Pagoda)	363	(1)
Tay Phuong Pagoda	364	(1)
The craft villages	364	(2)
Co Loa Citadel	366	(1)
Soc Son Temple	367	(1)
Travel details	367	(2)
Ha Long Bay and the Northern Seaboard	369	(21)
Haiphong	371	(5)
Cat Ba Island	376	(2)
Cat Ba Town	378	(2)
Cat Ba National Park	380	(1)
Ha Long Bay	381	(3)
Bai Chay and Hong Gai	384	(4)
Mong Cai	388	(1)
Travel details	389	(1)
The Far North	390	(31)
Visiting minority villages	393	(1)
Trekking practicalities	394	(1)
Lao Cai	395	(2)
Sa Pa	397	(3)
Villages around Sa Pa	400	(1)
Hoang Lien Son and Mount Fan Si Pan	401	(1)
Bac Ha	402	(2)
Lai Chau	404	(1)
Dien Bien Phu	405	(2)
Son La	407	(3)
Mai Chau	410	(1)
Hoa Binh	411	(1)
Thai Nguyen	412	(1)
Be Be National Park	413	(1)
Cao Bang	414	(1)
Pac Bo Cave	415	(2)
Lang Son	417	(2)
Travel details	419	(2)
PART THREE CONTEXTS	421	(74)
The historical framework	423	(20)
Religion and beliefs	443	(9)
Vietnam's ethnic mosaic	452	(9)
Music and theatre	461	(8)
Environmental issues	469	(6)
Books	475	(7)
Vietnam in the movies	482	(6)
Language	488	(4)
A glossary of words and acronyms	492	(3)
Index	495