Vietem

I recommend the Socool Grand Hotel in Nang Rong. My own preference was Phanom Rung, Muang Tam and Phimai in that order. For a variety of reasons, but also Phimai was very busy and the others weren't.

Try Philip Kerr, particularly the Bernie Gunther series. Usually set in Germany during or after WWII. Weaves fiction with historical characters. Fast-paced, all-action thrillers featuring espionage, political intrigue and all the associated skullduggery. Prussian Blue is a good one to start with - a real page turner. Kerr was a great writer, he passed away not that long ago.

I found Cherry Bike to be most helpful and best value. They service bikes too. They have a good range of international brands in all sizes in stock. So, it does depend on what you are looking for.

The airport is easiest at the moment, with many parking spaces available. You can also park next to Lat Krabang station on the Rail Link, although the parking can be a bit chaotic.

Here are some more recommendations written by non-Vietnamese. If I were to pick out three for starters, they would be the Quiet American, Cu Chi Tunnels and Dragon Apparent. All for different reasons but all lending context. APPY Christian G Vietnam Oral history from all sides ASHWILL Mark Vietnam Today Culture insights BERMAN Larry Perfect Spy Double life of Pham Xuan An GREENE Graham The Quiet American The book that everyone has to read - prescient FITZGERALD Frances Fire in the Lake War from Viet perspective HERR Michael Dispatches Original war chronicle - sex, drugs and rock and roll HERRINGTON Stuart Stalking the Vietcong Inside Operation Phoenix (psyops) JAMIESON Neil Understanding Vietnam Academic treatise - sociology plus lit through history KARNOW Stanley Vietnam: A History Celebrated history LAMB David Vietnam Now Early 90's in Hanoi MANGOLD Tom PENYCATE John The Tunnels of Cu Chi Hair-raising interviews with tunnel rats O'NAN Stewart (Ed) Vietnam Reader Vietnam War anthology PAGE Tim Derailed in Uncle Ho's Victory Garden Early 90's revisit from cult photographer PERKINS Manderley Hanoi Adieu Memoir of French Indochina SALLAH Michael, WEISS Mitch Tiger Force Soldiers out of control in Vietnam SHEEHAN Neil Two Cities: Hanoi and Saigon Early 90's look-see SHEEHAN Neil Bright Shining Lie Study of war through biography of Paul Vann TEMPLER Robert Shadows and Wind Beneath surface and rhetoric WINTLE Justin Romancing Vietnam 1980s travelogue KARBER Phil Indochina Chronicles Ex US veteran's travels - insightful LEWIS Norman A Dragon Apparent 1950s Vietnam under the French, beautifully written TERZANI Tiziano A Fortune-Teller Told Me Journeys all over, having fortune told along the way

Here are a few recommendations. Overview of Sorrow of War from Wiki: The Sorrow of War, written in the stream of consciousness style,[7] opens with a depiction of soldiers on a postwar mission to collect the bones of fallen comrades for reburial. Thus begins the non-linear narrative by Kien, a North Vietnamese soldier during the Vietnam War, chronicling his loss of innocence, his love, and his anguish at the memories of war. BAO Ninh The Sorrow of War The American War from a Northern perspective CHONG Denise The Girl in the Picture Story of girl in iconic napalm picture. DUONG Thu Huong Novel Without a Name Love lost in time of war DUONG Thu Huong Paradise of the Blind Post revolution 50s hardship HAYSLIP Le Ly When Heaven and Earth Changed Places Growing up with Viet Cong HO Anh Thai The Women on the Island Post-war conflict for single women with children NGUYEN Kien The Unwanted Amerasian outcast's troubles post victory, 1980s PHAM Andrew Catfish and Mandala Early 90's, Viet Kieu cycling round country TRAM Dang Thuy Last Night I Dreamed of Peace Personal diaries found after war

If you like historical-action novels, try 'Prussian Blue' by Philip Kerr. It is one of the 'Bernie Gunther' series named after the cynical ex-Berlin cop, post WWII. Kerr manages to weave real characters (often ex-SS) and historical events into his plot-lines with convincing detail. Fast paced and laced with smart dialogue, you can hardly go wrong with any of Kerr's output. In fact, search Philp Kerr and take your pick - you might even start with the Berlin Noir trilogy or return to it after Prussian Blue has whetted your appetite.