Vietnam by Rail Includes Rail Route Guide And 24 City Guides

by Read, Tess

• ISBN13: 9781873756447
• ISBN10: 1873756445
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-10
• Publisher: Trailblazer Publications

Summary

The first guide to railroad travel in Vietnam with a km-by-km route guide with 13 rail maps. There's information on the Reunification Express, which links Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with Hanoi, as well as information on crossing the border into China and linking with the Trans-Siberian Railway. This comprehensive country guide features 27 towns, a Vietnam language section, timetable and rail fares, as well as full historical background, cultural tips, visas needed and how to get to Vietnam. 320 pps.

Table of Contents

PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Routes and costs
Route and stopping options	9	(1)
Costs	10	(2)
Highlights	12	(2)
When to go	14	(1)
Visas	15	(126)
Getting there and away
By air	16	(1)
from Europe	17	(1)
from North America	17	(1)
from Australasia	17	(1)
from South-east Asia	18	(1)
By land to/from China	18	(1)
to/from Laos and Cambodia	19	(1)
Tours	20	(3)
What to take
Clothes	23	(1)
Medical supplies	24	(1)
Gifts	25	(1)
Other equipment	25	(1)
Money	26	(1)
Reading matter	27	(3)
Health
Vaccinations	30	(1)
Potential health problems	31	(4)
PART 2: VIETNAM
Facts about the country
Geographical background	35	(1)
Climate	35	(1)
Flora and fauna	36	(1)
History	37	(36)
Vietnam today	73	(8)
Politics	81	(1)
The economy	82	(3)
Practical information for the visitor
Documents	85	(1)
Travel permits	86	(1)
Entering and leaving the country	86	(1)
Accommodation	86	(2)
Local transport	88	(7)
Tours	95	(1)
Guides	95	(1)
Electricity	96	(1)
Time	96	(1)
Money	97	(1)
Post and telecommunications	97	(3)
Festivals and public holidays	100	(3)
Toilets and toilet paper	103	(1)
Food	104	(6)
Drink	110	(1)
Language	111	(1)
Sport	112	(1)
Nightlife	113	(2)
Emergencies	115	(1)
Etiquette	116	(3)
The media	119	(1)
Finding work	120	(1)
Learning the language	121	(1)
Crime	121	(1)
Drugs	122	(1)
Unexploded bombs	122	(2)
What to buy	124	(3)
PART 3: THE RAILWAYS
Building the railways	127	(1)
The Phu Lang Thuong to Lang Son railway	128	(3)
The Haiphong to Yunnan railway	131	(2)
The Trans-Indochinois railway (Saigon to Hanoi)	133	(4)
Life on the trains	137	(3)
Steam trains	140	(1)
PART 4: THE SOUTH
Ho Chi Minh City and the south	141	(33)
Climate	141	(1)
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
History	142	(2)
Sights	144	(7)
Practical information	151	(11)
Around Ho Chi Minh City	162	(3)
The Mekong Delta
Mytho	165	(2)
Around Mytho	167	(1)
Cantho	168	(3)
Around Cantho	171	(3)
PART 5: THE CENTRE
The central region	174	(68)
Climate	175	(1)
Central highlands
Dalat	175	(4)
Around Dalat	179	(2)
Central coast
Thap Cham/Phan Rang	181	(3)
Nha Trang	184	(8)
Around Nha Trang	192	(2)
Quang Ngai	194	(5)
Danang	199	(9)
Hoi An	208	(9)
Hue	217	(15)
Dong Ha	232	(3)
Sights of the Demilitarized Zone and its environs	235	(7)
PART 6: THE NORTH
Hanoi and the north	242	(72)
Climate	242	(1)
Ninh Binh	243	(3)
Hanoi
History	246	(1)
Sights	247	(5)
Practical information	252	(11)
Around Hanoi	263	(1)
The north
Haiphong	264	(4)
Halong Bay	268	(5)
Cat Ba National Park	273	(1)
Kep	273	(1)
Lang Son	274	(2)
Around Lang Son	276	(1)
The north-west
Lao Cai	277	(1)
Sapa	278	(2)
Around Sapa	280	(8)
PART 7: ROUTE GUIDES
Ho Chi Minh City to Thap Cham	288	(1)
Thap Cham to Nha Trang	289	(1)
Nha Trang to Quang Ngai	290	(1)
Quang Ngai to Danang	291	(2)
Danang to Hue	293	(2)
Hue to Dong Ha	295	(1)
Dong Ha to Ninh Binh	296	(1)
Ninh Binh to Hanoi	297	(1)
Hanoi to Haiphong	298	(1)
Halong to Kep	299	(1)
Hanoi to Lang Son via Kep (connecting with China)	300	(2)
Hanoi to Lao Cai (connecting with China)	302	(2)
APPENDICES
A: Language	304	(7)
B: Timetables	311	(3)
C: Fares	314