The guidebook gives readers fresh facts about the dos-and-don'ts of traipsing around the rugged and verdant countryside of Vietnam.

 

The latest edition of French guidebook, Le Guide du Routard Vietnam 2009 (The Guide for the Traveler in Vietnam ), is full of updated information about touring through the country.

The book, which replaces the outdated 1994 first edition, gives readers fresh facts about the dos-and-don'ts of traipsing around the rugged and verdant countryside of Vietnam .

In the book French journalist Olivier Page documents his meanderings across the country since 1994. While in Vietnam , he was never seen without his camera and notebook.

"Between 1992 and 1993, many French people started paying attention to Vietnam ," he said. "French television arrived in the country for the first time since the war at the time. Through television, the French saw a new image of Vietnam - a country of peace, opening up to the world."

He traveled twice to Vietnam to update the guide.

"Seventy-five per cent of our work involves verifying practical information on hotels, restaurants, bars, train and bus services, etc," he says.

This year, for the 2009 edition, his group checked out Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City , Hue , Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh, Da Lat, Phan Thiet and the Cuu Long ( Mekong ) Delta to make sure the guide’s information was accurate.

"A hotel or a restaurant will only be trumpeted in Le Guide du Routard if it can satisfy three criteria: it is reasonably priced, has pleasant characteristics (charm, style and architecture) and a warm welcome from the proprietor," he said.

The 2009 edition has 600 pages and twice as many maps as the earlier edition. There are no photos, only text boxes and information.

According to Page, Le Guide du Routard is the only guide to Vietnam published in French with accents on the Vietnamese words. It is targeted at French travelers on low-and middle-budgets.

Besides capturing beautiful landscapes in the north, center and south Vietnam , the writers have researched and written about historic war sites, such as Dien Bien Phu , Khe Sanh and Vinh Moc tunnel near the 17th parallel.

New entries about traditional craft villages like Bat Trang and Phu Lang, Dong Ho and Mong Phu were added.

The book mentions the construction of a new international airport project on Phu Quoc Island and its potential to raise the pulse of the sleepy island.

"I discovered the first Vietnamese wine tasting cellar in the Central Highlands City of Da Lat. This is where Vietnamese and foreign tourists can buy and taste the best wine in the region. This has not been mentioned yet in the tourist guides. I will talk about it in the next edition," he said.

Page spent two months in Vietnam last year before the guidebook was published in September.

"We have Vietnamese friends all over Vietnam , who helped us out a lot," he said.

"The book has been very useful for me in planning my trip to Vietnam in 2009," French tourist Emilie Lambert said.

According to Page, the 2010 edition will be published in September this year.

Le Guide du Routard Vietnam 2009 is published by Hachette Tourism.