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Books for

Enrich your travels with reading! Here's a hand-picked list prepared for your journey in conjunction with the book experts at Longitude.

Essential Reading

Item EXVNM41. Buy these 5 items as a set for $77 including shipping, 15% off the retail price.
With free shipping on anything else you order.

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Eyewitness Guide Vietnam and Angkor Wat

Eyewitness Guide Vietnam and Angkor Wat

by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 312 PAGES

Featuring innovative site diagrams, local maps and hundreds of color photographs, this handy companion introduces the culture, history and attractions of Vietnam. (VNM102, $25.00)

The Eaves of Heaven, A Life in Three Wars

The Eaves of Heaven, A Life in Three Wars

by Andrew X. Pham

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

Pham recounts the story of his father's life during the French occupation, Japanese invasion and the American War, weaving such momentous events with anecdotes from his childhood and details of family, friends, food and daily life. (VNM120, $16.00)

Vietnam, A Traveler's Literary Companion

Vietnam, A Traveler's Literary Companion

by John Balaban | Nguyen Qui Duc

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 239 PAGES
  • COMING IN FEBRUARY

From rain forest and rural countryside to the cities, these 17 stories from Vietnam's finest writers explore Vietnam's landscapes, myths and changing traditions. (VNM04, $14.95)

Vietnam Map

Vietnam Map

by ITMB

  • 2005
  • MAP

A detailed travel map of Vietnam at a scale of 1:1,000,000. (VNM05, $12.95)

Angkor Map

Angkor Map

by Dawn Rooney

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2007
  • PAPER

A site plan and pocket guide to the city of Angkor at a scale of 1:40,000. (CBD16, $12.95)

 
Cambodia Map

Cambodia Map


by Gecko Maps

  • 2005
  • MAP

A full color map of Cambodia (1:750,000), featuring useful inset maps of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Angkor on the reverse. (CBD17, $18.95)

Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Map

Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Map


by Nelles

  • 2010
  • MAP

A convenient, double-sided map of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam at a scale of 1:1,500,000, with city maps of Hanoi, Vientiane, Ho Chi Minh City, Luang Prabang, and Phnom Penh. (SEA75, $13.95)

Ancient Angkor

Ancient Angkor


by Claude Jacques | Michael Freeman

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 239 PAGES
  • COMING IN MARCH

Organized geographically, this indispensable guide to the monuments, architecture, culture, religion and history of Angkor features hundreds of color photographs, site plans and maps. (CBD15, $25.00)

Culture Smart! Vietnam

Culture Smart! Vietnam


by Geoffrey Murray

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 168 PAGES

Take along this concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture. (VNM87, $9.95)

Insight Guide Vietnam

Insight Guide Vietnam


by Insight Guides | Scott Rutherford

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

A highly recommended guide to history, culture and popular destinations, featuring essays, informative maps and photographs. (VNM02, $24.99)

Lonely Planet Angkor Wat & Siem Reap Encounter

Lonely Planet Angkor Wat & Siem Reap Encounter


by Nick Ray

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 128 PAGES

This lively shirt pocket guide is jammed with personal recommendations, photographs and a pull-out map. (CBD57, $12.99)

Lonely Planet Vietnamese Phrasebook

Lonely Planet Vietnamese Phrasebook


by Nguyen Xuanthu

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 284 PAGES

A handy palm-sized guide to pronunciation, grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler. (VNM20, $8.99)

Odyssey Guide Angkor

Odyssey Guide Angkor


by Dawn Rooney

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 496 PAGES

The sixth edition of Rooney's indispensable guide to Khmer culture and history. Includes monuments, temple plans, color photographs and practical information about Siem Reap. (CBD05, $27.95)

Vietnamese, A Language Map

Vietnamese, A Language Map


by Kristine K. Kershul

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2002
  • PLASTIC CARD

This durable foldout card, featuring 1,000 words and phrases, works as a quick reference for travelers. (VNM82, $7.95)

Koto, A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam

Koto, A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam


by Tracey Lister

  • FOOD
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 260 PAGES

Arranged by region, this engaging cookbook weaves personal stories and national history with a culinary appreciation of the markets, traditions and food of daily life in Vietnam. (VNM133, $34.95)

A Traveller's History of Southeast Asia

A Traveller's History of Southeast Asia


by J.M. Barwise | Nicholas J. White

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES
  • COMING IN MARCH

A compact history of the region, including the Khmer and the various ancient kingdoms that produced Borobudur, Angkor and other architectural marvels. (SEA36, $14.95)

Angkor and the Khmer Civilization

Angkor and the Khmer Civilization


by Michael Coe

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 240 PAGES

This illustrated survey of the society, culture and monuments of the Khmer civilization includes 130 well-integrated engravings, maps, tables, site plans and photographs. (CBD39, $24.95)

Fire in the Lake

Fire in the Lake


by Frances FitzGerald

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 496 PAGES

A classic historical, political and cultural portrait of a nation at war, this powerful book won both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award. FitzGerald, a staff writer at the New Yorker and a reporter in Vietnam, presents a vivid image of a revolution. (VNM12, $18.99)

Shadows and Wind

Shadows and Wind


by Robert Templer

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 398 PAGES

A British journalist based in Vietnam, Templer cuts through myth and legend to offer a lively, opinionated portrait of contemporary Vietnam. (VNM43, $17.00)

The Civilization of Angkor

The Civilization of Angkor


by Charles Higham

  • HISTORY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 207 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

A concise history of the origins, development and rise of the kingdom of Angkor by a leading archaeologist. It's an up-to-date, accessible overview of the civilization from prehistory through the fall of Angkor in 1431. (CBD26, $24.95)

The Fog of War

The Fog of War


by Robert S. McNamara | Errol Morris

  • HISTORY
  • 2004
  • DVD

Morris keeps a tight focus on the haunted and candid Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in this riveting examination of the U.S. in Vietnam. The 95-minute film won an Oscar in 2003 for best documentary. (VNM83, $14.94)

Understanding Vietnam

Understanding Vietnam


by Neil Jamieson

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 428 PAGES

Jamieson's ambitious primer addresses politics, social history, village life, structural renewal, literature and the arts, illuminating the Vietnamese worldview with insight and depth. It's a terrific introduction to Vietnam. (VNM01, $27.95)

Vietnam Now, A Reporter Returns

Vietnam Now, A Reporter Returns


by David Lamb

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

An insightful portrait of contemporary Vietnam by a Los Angeles Times foreign correspondent and National Geographic writer. Lamb interweaves stories of Vietnam today with his own experiences and memories as a young reporter for UPI during the war. (VNM47, $17.00)

Vietnam, A History

Vietnam, A History


by Stanley Karnow

  • HISTORY
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 768 PAGES

This blockbuster book by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author is history at its best: masterfully researched, well written and comprehensive. (VNM10, $22.00)

Vietnam: Journeys of Body, Mind, and Spirit

Vietnam: Journeys of Body, Mind, and Spirit


by Nguyen Van Huy | Laurel Kendall

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 303 PAGES

A marvelously illustrated portrait of culture and society in contemporary Vietnam, featuring informed essays by diverse contributors with accompanying color photographs. (VNM66, $50.00)

Angkor

Angkor


by David Stanford

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 112 PAGES

Stanford conveys the scale, majesty and wonder of the temple complex in hundreds of color photographs. With accompanying essays and chapters on not only Angkor Wat but also Angkor Thom and other select temples, including the ancient Thai capital at Ayutthaya. (CBD66, $29.95)

Angkor Cities and Temples

Angkor Cities and Temples


by Claude Jacques | Michael Freeman

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2000
  • HARD COVER
  • 319 PAGES
  • COMING IN MARCH

One of the nicest books of its kind, this is a gorgeous, oversized portrait of the monuments, temples and exquisite sculptures of Angkor. Claude Jacques, who directed much of the site excavation, writes with authority about individual temples, inscriptions and Khmer culture. (CBD18, $80.00)

Angkor, Heart of an Asian Empire

Angkor, Heart of an Asian Empire


by Bruno Dagens

  • ARCHAEOLOGY
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 191 PAGES

An excellent guide to the site, this shirt-pocket encyclopedia of discovery features hundreds of color photographs, illustrations and maps. (CBD01, $15.95)

Art & Architecture of Cambodia

Art & Architecture of Cambodia


by Helen Ibbitson Jessup

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

Jessup includes not just Angkor Wat and Banteay Srei but also lesser-known recent discoveries in the surrounding jungle in this illustrated overview in the World of Art series. (CBD41, $16.95)

Sanctuary, The Temples of Angkor

Sanctuary, The Temples of Angkor


by Steve McCurry

  • ARCHAEOLOGY
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 144 PAGES

A selection of 100 stunning color photographs of the monks and the monuments of Angkor, the extraordinary carvings, and the forest surrounding the temples by a popular Magnum photographer. (CBD28, $35.00)

A Dragon Apparent, Travels in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam

A Dragon Apparent, Travels in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam


by Norman Lewis

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 358 PAGES
  • FAVORITE
  • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

A classic account of travels and adventure during the last years of French Indochina, strong on atmosphere and including wonderfully detailed descriptions of local cultures and archaeological treasures. First published in 1951. (SEA40, $33.95)

Catfish and Mandala, A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam

Catfish and Mandala, A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam


by Andrew X. Pham

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 344 PAGES

Much more than the story of a road trip, this book combines the author's family history with his many and often-gritty adventures by bicycle through foreign lands including Mexico, Japan and, notably, Vietnam. (VNM50, $16.00)

Dispatches

Dispatches


by Michael Herr

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 296 PAGES

Robert Stone introduces this Everyman's Library edition of Herr's impressionistic, affecting memoir of his time as a war correspondent in Vietnam, called by the New York Times the best book yet to be written about the war. (VNM03, $24.00)

Ho Chi Minh, A Life


by William Duiker

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 695 PAGES

Dissident, revolutionary and communist, Ho Chi Minh returned from exile to lead North Vietnam's defiant break with colonial France. Duiker charts Ho Chi Minh's long march from son of a scholar in the rural provinces to idealist student in heady 1920s Paris to determined revolutionary. A scholarly, definitive biography. (VNM45, $19.99)

The Cat from Hue, A Vietnam Story

The Cat from Hue, A Vietnam Story


by John Laurence

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 864 PAGES

Journalist John Laurence's detailed and haunting account of Vietnam War combines his first hand experiences as a correspondent with a historical overview of the war. The cat in the title is Meo, a Vietnamese stray he adopted along the way. (VNM67, $21.99)

The Gods Drink Whiskey

The Gods Drink Whiskey


by Stephen T. Asma

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

Asma writes with verve and wit in this eye-opening account of his yearlong stint teaching at the Buddhist Institute in Phnom Penh. His account is both an overview of Theravada Buddhism and a down-to-earth portrait of contemporary Cambodia. (CBD46, $14.99)

The River's Tale, A Year on the Mekong

The River's Tale, A Year on the Mekong


by Edward Gargan

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

A personal, probing chronicle of a 3,000 mile journey on the river from its source in China through Tibet, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (SEA33, $15.95)

The Sacred Willow, Four Generations in the Life of a Vietnamese Family

The Sacred Willow, Four Generations in the Life of a Vietnamese Family


by Duong Van Mai Elliott

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 506 PAGES

This vivid family saga, beginning with the author's great-grandfather, captures the life and momentous history of Vietnam over the last 100 years. (VNM39, $24.99)

A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain

A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain


by Robert Olen Butler

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 249 PAGES

Winner of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize, this collection of 15 short stories captures the spirit of Vietnam through a juxtaposition of American and Vietnamese perspectives and settings. (VNM21, $14.00)

Paradise of the Blind

Paradise of the Blind


by Duong Thu Huong

  • LITERATURE
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 270 PAGES

Duong Thu Huong's popular novel captures the live of three women in an extended family -- and the struggle for economic well being in the throes of failed land reform in the 1980s. (VNM30, $13.99)

The Quiet American

The Quiet American


by Graham Greene

  • LITERATURE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 180 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

A classic, this is the most famous Western work of fiction on Vietnam. Greene writes of a love triangle between a war correspondent, his Vietnamese consort and an optimistic young American during the last days of French rule. (VNM08, $16.00)

A Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia

A Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia


by Charles M. Francis

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2008
  • HARD COVER
  • 392 PAGES

This field guide and handbook features 72 full-color plates, detailed range maps and authoritative text on the ecology, behavior, taxonomy and conservation of 500 species. (SEA62, $55.00)

Birds of Southeast Asia

Birds of Southeast Asia


by Craig Robson

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 304 PAGES

This authoritative, masterfully illustrated guide, featuring 140 color plates covering 1,270 species throughout the region, also includes Malaysia, Burma, Borneo and Indonesia. (SEA49, $35.00)

The Quiet American


by Phillip Noyce

  • 2003
  • DVD

Michael Caine stars as a British journalist stationed in Vietnam in the 1950s who becomes friends with a seemingly harmless American (Brendan Fraser). (VNM59, $29.99)

More Recommendations

Here are some other groups of books that might be of interest

Longitude provides recommended reading for travelers in partnership with the leading tour operators and travel programs for hundreds of destinations worldwide. We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.