Since I am a Vietnamese, I am speaking from a Vietnamese perspective. Unless you can read Vietnamese, this is the best book that you can find written about Vietnam in recent years. I find that Mr. Templer's knowledge about Vietnamese literature, politics, culture is extraordinary. He quotes a lot of Vietnamese poems and literature that are unknown to a regular Vietnamese unless he/she is highly educated. His stories reflect the truth of what is happening in Vietnam right now unlike the info that are published by the Vietnamese government. When I read those books, I feel like they are talking about life in another planet. So if you want accurate info on current Vietnamese life, then you should read Robert Templer's book.

An excellent book from any point of view. I highly recommend it.

I'd recommend this book for anyone visiting Vietnam -- it gives you real insight into the country and covers so many aspects of the society there. It is packed full of stories about what is happening in Vietnam today and what has happened there since the war. There are so many books about the war and so few about the Vietnamese people. If you visit Vietnam this is the best way to familiarise yourself with the country, the people and the culture before you go. A great read, packed full of new information.

I bought this book before I went to Vietnam on vacation and if provided me with far greater insights into the country than any other book I've read on Vietnam. So many books are just about the war but this one goes deep into Vietnamese life and culture, explaining so much about the place. You end up learning so much about the country. I was particularly impressed by the chapters on food, literature and religion that explained so much. A great book on Vietnam. I thoroughly recommend it.