Vietnam is a country like no other, with a complex culture and a long, rich history. It's a fascinating mix of old and new, urban and rural, Communism and capitalism, with wafts of Chinese and French influence.

Australian expat Barbara Adam and her Vietnamese husband Vu Vo share their insights into this chaotic, intriguing, and often overwhelming Southeast Asian nation in their new book, Vietnam: 100 Unusual Travel Tips and a Guide to Living and Working There – published by Wandering Educators Press!

"This book is my love letter to Vietnam - a country that gave me a new life, a wonderful husband and two very funny children," said Barbara, who has been based in Ho Chi Minh City on and off since 2007. "I want to share `my' Vietnam with the world, in all its wonderful craziness, so that other people can enjoy it as much as I have."

Barbara with coffee (I'm jealous!)

The book, designed to be a companion to traditional travel guidebooks (which Barbara has also written), to help people gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam, its culture and its people.

Topics covered include weather, phones and SIM cards, Internet and Facebook access, cultural reminders, etiquette, toilets, tipping, motorbike culture, and what to wear.

Barbara and Vu, who run street food tours of Ho Chi Minh City through their business Saigon Street Eats, drew upon their extensive knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine for the mouthwatering food section, which is my absolute favorite part of the book.

For those considering relocating to Vietnam, the guide is also packed with practical information on jobs, housing costs, tax rates, visa information and social clubs.

Vietnam: 100 Unusual Travel Tips and a Guide to Living and Working There is available at Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats, which can be read on any computer or mobile device.

This book is one of the most important guidebooks I’ve ever read - and I am proud to publish it.

When traveling, getting the local perspective is critical to understanding the culture and people of a place. Barbara and Vu have this covered – they not only bring an understanding of Vietnam, its history, and culture, but also interesting things that intelligent travelers want to know – etiquette, language tips, smart suggestions for families, and, my favorite, food. I’d fly to Vietnam tomorrow just from reading the expansive food section in this book. It’s inspiring, beautifully illustrated with photos, and truly captures how much food is loved in this country.

Vu Vo said he hoped the book helped visitors better understand his country. “Our food tour business has introduced me to so many visitors to Vietnam,” Vu said. “Most visitors are fascinated by the country but only manage to scratch the surface of things with a quick visit. I hope this book helps people gain even greater enjoyment of their travels through Vietnam because they better understand Vietnamese culture and society.”

Vu and food - love this photo!

Virtual Book Tour

We’re running a virtual book tour to share more of this excellent book – check back here for interesting articles, author interviews, and book reviews.

First up:

Vietnam: 100 Unusual Travel Tips, by the author herself, Barbara Adam over at The Dropout Diaries

That Moment When A Book Makes You Want To Travel! over at Life Changing Year

Books That Will Make You Want to Buy a Plane Ticket Right Now: Vietnam: 100 Unusual Travel Tips over at Unbrave Girl

An Uncommon Guidebook over at St. Louis Eats

Expatriate Me: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Edition over at Almost Fearless

Much More than 100 Unusual Travel Tips About Vietnam over at Budget Travel Talk

Ready to Visit Vietnam? over at Family on the Loose

Guide sur le Vietnam pour y voyager ou y vivre, over at Avenue Reine Mathilde

Vietnam: 100 Unusual Travel Tips and a Guide to Living and Working There, a Q&A with author Barbara Adam, over at Walking On Travels

Unusual street food tips for Vietnam, over at Student flights

How to Enjoy Vietnam as a First-Time Traveller, over at Escape Artistes

Unusual Travel Tips for Vietnam, over at Flight Centre

The Many Faces of Pho, over at Medium

Insightful Vietnam Travel Tips from a Saigon Insider, over at GranTourismo

Footpath Feasting: Vietnam eating tips from a local expert, over at GranTourismo

Tet decorations

About Barbara:
Barbara is a former finance and political journalist who quit her dream job in the press gallery in Canberra in 2007 for working holiday in Vietnam. A year later, she met Vu and they began collaborating in life and in business. Their shared interests include their two kids, four dogs, and their street food tour business as well as Vietnam: 100 Unusual Travel Tips and a Guide to Living and Working There.

Barbara's work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Telegraph, the Age, the Australian, Lucky Peach and in 2015 she contributed several chapters to Fodor's Vietnam travel guidebook.  She also blogs at www.thedropoutdiaries.com.

She grew up in Mount Isa in outback Queensland and has lived and worked in Australia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

About Vu:
Vu was a mild-mannered marketing executive climbing the corporate ladder when he met a certain rambunctious Australian girl in Ho Chi Minh City in 2008. His life has never quite been the same since.

Vu's love of Vietnam and its food deepened as he introduced Barbara to his world. In 2012, he began sharing with a wider audience through Saigon Street Eats, which runs street food tours in Ho Chi Minh City.

More coffee!
 
When not fact-checking, photographing or leading tours, Vu potters around in his garden, growing vegetables, flowers and medicinal herbs.

Vu's parents run a small restaurant south of Ho Chi Minh City and he, his four brothers, and one sister are all passionate and opinionated foodies.