In Tours of Vietnam, Scott Laderman demonstrates how tourist literature has shaped Americans’ understanding of Vietnam and projections of United States power since the mid-twentieth century. Laderman analyzes portrayals of Vietnam’s land, history, culture, economy, and people in travel narratives, U.S. military guides, and tourist guidebooks, pamphlets, and brochures. Whether implying that Vietnamese women were in need of saving by “manly” American military power or celebrating the neoliberal reforms Vietnam implemented in the 1980s, ostensibly neutral guides have repeatedly represented events, particularly those related to the Vietnam War, in ways that favor the global ambitions of the United States. Tracing a history of ideological assertions embedded in travel discourse, Laderman analyzes the use of tourism in the Republic of Vietnam as a form of Cold War cultural diplomacy by a fledgling state that, according to one pamphlet published by the Vietnamese tourism authorities, was joining the “family of free nations.” He chronicles the evolution of the Defense Department pocket guides to Vietnam, the first of which, published in 1963, promoted military service in Southeast Asia by touting the exciting opportunities offered by Vietnam to sightsee, swim, hunt, and water-ski. Laderman points out that, despite historians’ ongoing and well-documented uncertainty about the facts of the 1968 “Hue Massacre” during the National Liberation Front’s occupation of the former imperial capital, the incident often appears in English-language guidebooks as a settled narrative of revolutionary Vietnamese atrocity. And turning to the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, he notes that, while most contemporary accounts concede that the United States perpetrated gruesome acts of violence in Vietnam, many tourists and travel writers still dismiss the museum’s display of that record as little more than “propaganda.”

Tied in to Ken Burns' forthcoming (2017) TV series on Vietnam, to which the author is a major contributor, the reissue of a Pulitzer finalist memoir of a Vietnamese family in the 20th century

This groundbreaking study offers a major reinterpretation of American strategy during the first half of the Vietnam War. Gregory A. Daddis argues senior military leaders developed a comprehensive campaign strategy, one not confined to 'attrition' of enemy forces. This innovative work is a must for a genuine understanding of the Vietnam War.

A U.S. Army helicopter pilot's candid first-hand account and photos of his Vietnam experience in the air and on the ground at the height of US troop strength and then again when he returned for a second tour of duty at the very end of the war. It is a non-political description of what life was really like for him and others who served in Vietnam. There is no embellishment or any second-hand stories from anyone else about their experiences in Vietnam. The author describes a first tour in the Central Highlands supporting an Infantry Division as a pilot in an Assault Helicopter Company flying the UH-1H (Huey) and later during his first tour as an OH-6A Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) pilot assigned to an Infantry Brigade. The book includes a description of combat assaults, the Cambodian Invasion, ground an air tactics, people he met and worked with, helicopter operations, rescues, combat in the air and on the ground, leadership, unit life and living at four different locations, everyday camp life and conditions, as well as many vignettes as to things both good and bad he witnessed during his first tour. The author continues his book with a history of his second tour around Saigon while assigned to an Air Cavalry Troop and how much the war and other things had changed from his first tour. Events recounted include the Air Cavalry Troop mission and life at Bien Hoa, the cease fire and post-cease fire support missions, moving to Saigon and experiences living there, meeting his former enemy, the prisoner of war exchange, being shot down after the cease fire began, and being on the final flight out of combat troops that closed out the war for America. He closes with his overall reflections on his wartime service. A must for those who want to know what it was really like to be there without the hype, politics, or hidden agenda that usually is part of any Vietnam War story.

This is a true account of my tour in Vietnam during 1967 to 1968. I was assigned to the 1/26 Marines stationed at the KheSanh Combat Base. I spent time on Hills 881 south, 861, and 950. I am a survivor of the 1968 Tet Offensive at KheSanh

Discover this exciting destination with the most incisive and entertaining guidebook on the market. Whether you plan to take a boat trip through stunning Ha Long Bay, trek in the mountains around Sa Pa or browse Ho Chi Minh's markets, this new edition of The Rough Guide to Vietnam will show you the ideal places to sleep, eat, drink, shop and visit along the way. Inside The Rough Guide to Vietnam - Independent, trusted reviews written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and insight, to help you get the most out of your visit, with options to suit every budget. - Full-colour maps throughout - navigate the tangle of streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter or Ho Chi Minh's Cho Lon district without needing to get online. - Stunning images - a rich collection of inspiring colour photography. - Itineraries - carefully planned routes to help you organize your trip. - Detailed regional coverage - whether off the beaten track or in more mainstream tourist destinations, this travel guide has in-depth practical advice for every step of the way. Areas covered include: Mekong Delta; Hanoi; Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An; Da Lat; Nha Trang; My Son; Mui Ne; Da Nang; Hue; Cat Ba Island; Sa Pa. Attractions include: Ha Long Bay; Cu Chi Tunnels; Lak Lake; Tam Coc; Po Klong Garai; Cao Dai Great Temple; Bahnar villages; Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark; The Citadel, Hue and Tet. - Basics - essential pre-departure practical information including getting there, local transport, accommodation, food and drink, health, the media, crime and personal safety, festivals and religious events, sports and outdoor activities, shopping, travelling with children and more. - Background information - a Contexts chapter devoted to history, religion and beliefs, Vietnam's ethnic minorities, environmental issues, music and theatre, books, movies and film, plus a handy language section and glossary. About Rough Guides: Escape the everyday with Rough Guides. We are a leading travel publisher known for our "tell it like it is" attitude, up-to-date content and great writing. Since 1982, we've published books covering more than 120 destinations around the globe, with an ever-growing series of ebooks, a range of beautiful, inspirational reference titles, and an award-winning website. We pride ourselves on our accurate, honest and informed travel guides.

Now available in ePub format. The Rough Guide to Vietnam is the essential guide to one of Southeast Asia's most enticing destinations. Roam the markets, temples, and shops of thousand-year-old Hanoi, and then slow down the pace with a trip to national parks or the remote highlands. From the rugged mountains of Ha Giang in the north to the pancake-flat Mekong Delta in the south, the honest and up-to-date appraisals in The Rough Guide to Vietnam will steer you to the best places to stay, eat, and party across every price range. Reviews take in hill-tribe homestays, quirky hostels, boutique hotels, sophisticated restaurants, and delicious street food, while informed and accessible writing covers everything from Buddhism to battlefields. This fully revised edition is full-color throughout, helping the country's tremendous food, impressive colonial architecture, and colorful customs leap from the page. Detailed color maps offer clear guidance. Travel like you mean it, with The Rough Guide to Vietnam.

The Rough Guide to Vietnam is the essential guide with clear maps and detailed coverage of one of Southeast Asia's most enticing destinations. Using expert advice explore the best attractions of Ho Chi Minh City, roam the best Vietnamese markets, shopping, temples, national parks and then slow the pace down with a trip to the paddyfields of the Red River Delta. From the rugged mountains to the west to the South China sea to the east the Rough Guide steers you in the right direction to find the best hotels in Vietnam, Vietnam restaurants, stylish Vietnamese bars, caf�s, clubs and shops across every price range, giving you clear, balanced reviews and honest, first-hand opinions. This guide covers the unspoilt islands, pristine beaches and trekking opportunities that have long made Vietnam a travel hotspot, from magical Ha Long Bay to the hill-tribes of the mountainous north. Explore all corners of Vietnam with authoritative background on everything from Vietnam's ethnic minorities to Hanoi's impressive colonial architecture, relying on the clearest maps of any guide and practical language tips. Make the most of your holiday with The Rough Guide to Vietnam

The Rough Guide to Vietnam is the essential guide with clear maps and detailed coverage of one of Southeast Asia's most enticing destinations. Using expert advice explore the best attractions of Ho Chi Minh City, roam the best Vietnamese markets, shopping, temples, national parks and then slow the pace down with a trip to the paddyfields of the Red River Delta. From the rugged mountains to the west to the South China sea to the east the Rough Guide steers you in the right direction to find the best hotels in Vietnam, Vietnam restaurants, stylish Vietnamese bars, cafés, clubs and shops across every price range, giving you clear, balanced reviews and honest, first-hand opinions. This guide covers the unspoilt islands, pristine beaches and trekking opportunities that have long made Vietnam a travel hotspot, from magical Ha Long Bay to the hill-tribes of the mountainous north. Explore all corners of Vietnam with authoritative background on everything from Vietnam's ethnic minorities to Hanoi's impressive colonial architecture, relying on the clearest maps of any guide and practical language tips. Make the most of your holiday with The Rough Guide to Vietnam

The Rough Guide to Vietnam is the ideal companion for exploring Southeast Asia''s most intriguing destination. A full-colour introductory section includes photos of the country''s highlights, from the waterborne markets of the Mekong Delta to the faded elegance of Hanoi. Lively coverage is given to towns and attractions and opinionated reviews give an up-to-the-minute impression of the country''s best-known sights. There is practical advice on exploring everything that may concern the independent traveller, from negotiating Vietnam''s borders to dining in street kitchens. The Contexts section includes enlightening articles on Vietnamese history, religion, music and film. "The Rough Guide to Vietnam is strongly recommended" The Daily Telegraph