Ron Emmons - Frommers Vietnam: With Angkor Wat

Frommers Vietnam with Angkor Wat, 4th Edition

by Ron Emmons

About the Author

Ron Emmons taught English in Africa and the Americas before moving to Thailand, where he now works as a freelance writer/photographer. He is the author and photographer of Portrait of Thailand and Walks Along the Thames Path (New Holland, UK), as well as writer of Spiral Guide to the Dominican Republic (Automobile Association, UK). Ron has also made major contributions to several other guide books, such as Top Ten Bangkok (Dorling Kindersley, UK), the Rough Guide to Vietnam, and National Geographic Traveler Vietnam.

Published by:

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774

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ISBN 978-1-118-11997-6 (paper); ISBN 978-1-118-22464-9 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-23798-4 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-24199-8 (ebk)

Editor: Anuja Madar

Production Editor: Eric T. Schroeder

Cartographer: Guy Ruggiero

Photo Editor: Richard Fox

Production by Wiley Indianapolis Composition Services

Front Cover Photo: Sea kayaking near the rocky islands of Halong Bay Vietnam Andrew Woodley / Alamy Images

Back Cover Photo: Angkor, Cambodia BBBar / Alamy Images

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5 4 3 2 1

List of Maps

Suggested Itineraries

Hanoi

Hanoi: Old Quarter

Walking Tour: The Old Quarter

The Northern Highlands

Sapa

Northeastern Coast

Haiphong

North-Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam

Hue

Danang

Hoi An

Central Highlands

Dalat

South-Central Coast

Nha Trang

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Mekong Delta

Cambodia

Phnom Penh

Siem Reap

Angkor Wat

Note About Maps

This guide contains dozens of maps of varying sizes and complexity. If you find it hard to read a map on your device, use the zoom function to enlarge. You can also download and/or printout PDFs of all of the maps in this guide. Go to www.frommers.com/go/ebookmaps and click on the title of your guide.

How to contact Us

In researching this book, we discovered many wonderful placeshotels, restaurants, shops, and more. Were sure youll find others. Please tell us about them, so we can share the information with your fellow travelers in upcoming editions. If you were disappointed with a recommendation, wed love to know that, too. Please write to:

Frommer's Frommers Vietnam with Angkor Wat, 4th Edition
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
frommersfeedback@wiley.com

An Additional Note

Please be advised that travel information is subject to change at any timeand this is especially true of prices. We therefore suggest that you write or call ahead for confirmation when making your travel plans. The authors, editors, and publisher cannot be held responsible for the experiences of readers while traveling. Your safety is important to us, however, so we encourage you to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Keep a close eye on cameras, purses, and wallets, all favorite targets of thieves and pickpockets.

Frommers Star Ratings, Icons & Abbreviations

Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating system. In country, state, and regional guides, we also rate towns and regions to help you narrow down your choices and budget your time accordingly. Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of zero (recommended) to three stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and regions are rated according to the following scale: zero stars (recommended), one star (highly recommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars (must-see).

In addition to the star-rating system, we also use eight feature icons that point you to the great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that separate travelers from tourists. Throughout the book, look for:

special finds those places only insiders know about

fun facts details that make travelers more informed and their trips more fun

kids best bets for kids, and advice for the whole family

special moments those experiences that memories are made of

overrated places or experiences not worth your time or money

insider tips great ways to save time and money

great values where to get the best deals

warning travelers advisories are usually in effect

The following abbreviations are used for credit cards:
AE American Express
DISC Discover
V Visa
DC Diners Club
MC MasterCard

Travel Resources at Frommers.com

Frommers travel resources dont end with this guide. Frommers website, www.frommers.com, has travel information on more than 4,000 destinations. We update features regularly, giving you access to the most current trip-planning information and the best airfare, lodging, and car-rental bargains. You can also listen to podcasts, connect with other Frommers.com members through our active-reader forums, share your travel photos, read blogs from guidebook editors and fellow travelers, and much more.

Chapter 1: The Best of Vietnam

Clinging to the coast of Southeast Asia like a rearing dragon, Vietnam is a fiercely independent country, as anyone familiar with its history will know. Its unique culture is evident in the dress, cuisine, and manners of its hospitable people, and the countrys varied topography creates the ideal backdrop for an unforgettable adventure.