The eyes of the West have recently been trained on China & India but Vietnam is rising fast among its Asian peers. A breathtaking period of social change has seen foreign investment bringing capitalism flooding into its nominally communist society booming cities swallowing up smaller villages & the lure of modern living tugging at the traditional networks of family & community. Yet beneath these sweeping developments lurks an authoritarian political system that complicates the nations apparent renaissance. In this engaging work experienced journalist Bill Hayton looks at the costs of change in Vietnam & questions whether this rising Asian power is really heading toward capitalism & democracy. Based on vivid eyewitness accounts & pertinent case studies Haytons book addresses a broad variety of issues in todays Vietnam including important shifts in international relations the growth of civil society economic developments & challenges & the nations nascent democracy movement as well as its notorious internal security. His analysis of Vietnams police state & its systematic mechanisms of social control coercion & surveillance is fresh & particularly imperative when viewed alongside his portraits of urban & street life cultural legacies religion the media & the arts. With a firm sense of historical & cultural context Hayton examines how these issues have emerged & where they will lead Vietnam in the next stage of its development. ...

This monumental narrative clarifies analyses & demystifies the terrible ordeal of the Vietnam war. Free of ideological bias profound in its understanding & compassionate in its portrayal of humanity it is filled with fresh revelations drawn from secret documents & from exclusive interviews with the participants
- French American Vietnamese Chinese: diplomats military commanders high government officials journalists nurses workers & soldiers. The Vietnam war was the most convulsive tragedy of recent times. This is its definitive history.
...

Whether you want to experience the hustle & bustle of Hanoi feel the eeriness of the Plain of Jars gaze at the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat or head down the Mekong on a slow boat you can do all this & more with Footprint's totally revised & updated 4th edition Vietnam Cambodia & Laos Handbook. With in-depth coverage of all three countries this guidebook is perfect if you are planning a trip to this stunning region. Extensive thoroughly researched information which will help you plan your trip as well as advise you on the ground. * Including an extensive planning section & suggestions for getting off the beaten track * Eating sleeping & drinking listings for every budget * Features information on how to get there & how to get around plus carefully planned itineraries to help you have the best possible experience whether you're travelling for one week or one month * The heart of the guide is divided by country with each section offering an overview map local information on how to get around with transport & street maps where relevant * Each section has an overview map local information on how to get around with transport & street maps where relevant a short history of the region thorough advice on what to see & do & a directory of key local information on banks embassies internet cafes medical & services * Full-colour mini atlas to help you get your bearings & plan your journeys From the vivid rice paddies of Vietnam to Phnom Penh the fascinating modern day capital of Cambodia to laid-back Laos & its picture-postcard gilded temples Footprint's fully updated 4th edition will help you get to the heart of this exquisite region & charming people. ...

This brand new edition is rich in detail & information; with a scale of 1:1.5 M & containing special maps & city plans. It also covers places of interest major & minor roads
- down to partially surfaced roads & cart tracks
- rail networks airports & National Parks. It also features distance indicators legend in 4 languages & relief shading with spot heights & names of mountain ranges. The hard-wearing high quality paper ensures durability for prolonged use.

...

The Mekong. It s an exotic name guaranteed to fire up the imagination. Riding high on the global hotlist the region is home to such iconic sights as Angkor Wat Halong Bay & Luang Prabang. Nick Ray Lonely Planet Writer Our Promise You can trust our travel information because Lonely Planet authors visit the places we write about each & every edition. We never accept freebies for positive coverage so you can rely on us to tell it like it is. Inside This Book...11 expert authors 4909 km of winding river 180+ temples 56 weeks of in-depth research Inspirational photos Easy-to-read layout In-depth background 3D plans of inconic sights Comprehensive planning tools At-a-glance practical info ...

The myriad colours textures & rhythms of Vietnam are captured in this collection of compelling colour images. Landscapes cityscapes fishing villages customs culture commerce cuisine & the friendly & optimistic people of this vibrant region are portrayed in striking detail. Featured sites include the terraced mountainsides of Sapa the Phung Hiep floating market the World Heritage Sites of Hue & Halong Bay & the Thien Mu Pagoda. Lush deltas pristine forests bustling markets serene temples & breathtaking sunsets on white sand beaches reveal the many facets of this complex & captivating nation. ...

Collins Vietnamese Gem Dictionary offers learners extensive & up-to-date coverage of Vietnamese & English in a compact portable format. This Vietnamese dictionary is designed for all levels of language learner whether at home at school or at work. It is the ideal text for anyone who needs a wealth of reliable information in a portable format. o Collins Vietnamese Gem Dictionary contains all the everyday words & phrases used in todays Vietnamese & English that you will need to know. o An easy-to-use & reliable dictionary. o A two-way dictionary: Vietnamese-English & English-Vietnamese. o The clear colour layout ensures that you can quickly find the information you need. ...

Get talking & bring home souvenirs that no one can match. Open the phrasebook & make this trip your own. Lonely Planet phrasebooks give you a comprehensive mix of practical & social words & phrases in more than 120 languages. Chat with the locals & discover their culture
- a guaranteed way to enrich your travel experience.
...

Since the United States & Vietnam normalised diplomatic & trade relations in 1995 Vietnam has become a popular destination with its vibrant cities spectacular coastline & diverse ethnic cultures. This dictionary & phrasebook is an essential aid to all who wish to communicate in Vietnamese at home & abroad. A pronunciation guide presents the Vietnamese tones; a basic grammar teaches sentence structure; & the phrasebook offers insight into Vietnamese etiquette cuisine & cultural practices. Special sections for travelling with children are among the phrasebooks unique features. ...

On a clear day you could see America from Edinburghs Castle Rock
- or so said Alice Munros great-great-great-grandfather James
...