This informational book on Vietnam includes: location, landscape and climate, wildlife, people, communities, customs, school and work, play, food, and celebrations before a timeline, Vietnam facts, glossary, with factsurfer.com website, and index. The information given is good solid information. It is what is not given that makes this a problematic book for young people.

The location maps show Vietnam both up-close and on a worldwide scale. The climate lists the monsoon months, but the inset lists the temperatures for only four months which do not correspond with the months specifically named for the monsoon seasons. This would be confusing for younger readers.

The biggest problem with this book is the use of Vietnamese words without their definitions half of the time. This often takes place on the photos. On page 13, there is a river scene with many boats being rowed by people standing . The word or phrase “SOC TRANG” is inset on the photo, is SOC TRANG the river or the boat people or the mode of transportation? On page 16, there is a row of five traditionally dressed young ladies walking with the word “AO DAI” inset on the photo. Is AO DAI their clothing style? I do not blame author Emily Rose Oachs for this confusion because most often the authors do not choose the photos put in their books.

The timeline is also a bit confusing because the events listed are most often not directly above their place on the timeline. It lacks adequate space on the line, squeezing in six events at the very end and four other events spaciously displayed.

And lastly, there is a centuries old building on the front cover of the book and repeated on the title page which is not identified anywhere in the book.