Vietnam maps hard and GPS
 

Hi there guys,

Apart from base map (and newly aquired wunderlust)...anyone got a detailed map of vietnam?

what are the best paper maps for a ho-chi-minh to hanoi jaunt?

Thanks
Joe

maps in Vietnam
 

Hi

Depending on how detailed you want the maps they can be hard to come by. seems to be something about a communist country and military threats! ;0

If you are just after basic road maps with a little of the side roads there is actually the lonely planet "cycling Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos" Also gives you some ideas of places to stop along the way.

When are you planning your trip, I will be heading back over there in about a month and can keep an eye out if you let me know what exactly you are looking for.

Cheers

Jo

things have much changed in the past years in this country.

For detailed tourism maps of VN, look for books in VN language on tourism with maps (atlas).

They usually come with tourist spots descriptions in VN language and photos, but you'll be surprised how detailed they are. Good ones show detailed provinces road map, and even tracks or paths sometimes.

To find them and before you hit the road, in HCMC or Hanoi, go to the biggest bookshops and look/ask for the word "Dulich" ("tourism" in VN). Price are around 70.000 Dongs or more, but it's worth it.

you can find detailed maps of every part of Vietnam on the biggest book store in the country which is called bahasa and loaceted on dong khoi st. just before the junction with le loi st. at the center of hcmc. when you enter the store just look yo your right and you will see the maps section or just ask any one of the shop staff they all speak good English.
a detailed map of the city is handed for free at all the big hotels front desk.
the maps are not the problem, but it takes time to adjust to the driving habits...
have fun it is a great country with lovely people.

sorry for the spelling mistake the book store name is fahasa, bahasa is indonesian...:biggrin:

hope i'm not too late

Look out for the Vietnam road atlas. Must be easy to find in a well stocked bookstore. Dunno about HCMC,but in the bookstore street adjacent to the post office in hanoi you'll find it for sure.
It's a blue A4 sized book witha white bridge on the cover. It is only slightly outdated, but still pretty accurate. We covered about 4500km in vietnam without ever getting lost, solely based on this book (no odo or gps)