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Destination:

Vietnam


Getting Ready

topPacking List

Personal clothing items, toiletries, medication
Sunhat
Sunscreen
Sarong or shawl (to cover your shoulders should you enter temples or pagodas)
Insect repellant
Lightweight clothing for the summer months
Warm clothing for winter in Hanoi and in mountainous areas such as Sapa
Camera
Small daypack for day trips and overnight trip to Halong Bay
Appropriate shoes for trekking, cycling or walking in caves
Swimwear for Halong Bay and beaches
Sleeping sheet for train travel (can also be purchased in Vietnam)
Ear plugs and sleep mask (for train journeys)
Water bottle and helmet (for cycling trips only)

topBooks for Adults

Vietnam: Journeys of Body, Mind, and Spirit
Nguyen Van Huy (Editor), Laurel Kendall (Editor) • Cultural Portrait

A marvelously illustrated portrait of culture and society in contemporary Vietnam. The book, published in conjunction with an exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History, features informed essays by diverse contributors with accompanying color photographs.

Ancient Vietnam, History and Archaeology
Anne-Valerie Schweyer

The first part of this book presents a comprehensive history of Vietnam from the 6th to 15th centuries, highlighting the clashes between the two major civilizations which are the foundation of modern Vietnam. The second part takes the reader on a tour of over 60 archaeological sites which are a testament to this history. Maps, plans and numerous photographs will help you experience the history of ancient Vietnam both in its early beginnings and its subsequent evolution.

topBooks for Kids

Goodbye, Vietnam
Gloria Whelan • Literature • Ages 9-12

13-year-old Mai must flee her home and embark on a dangerous journey to Hong Kong when the Vietnamese government threatens to arrest her grandmother.

Children of the Dragon: Selected Tales from Vietnam
by Trina Schart Hyman (Illustrator), Sherry Garland • Literature

Six beautifully illustrated Vietnamese legends. This collection records the stories that have been passed down for generations including the pourquoi (How and Why) tale of how the tiger got its stripes and the myth of Vietnam's creation. An introduction explains the role literature and legend have played in Vietnam's 4,000 year history and notes follow each story describing its relation to the country's culture.

Water Buffalo Days: Growing Up in Vietnam
Huynh Quang Nhuong • Memoir • Ages 9-12

As a child in pre-war rural Vietnam, the author relied on his water buffalo, named Tank, for protection, income and companionship. This spare memoir tells Tank's story – and the family's – up to the first signs of war. It's a vivid evocation of Vietnamese village life.