They say “a secret’s only a secret once you’ve told someone”. So I have a confession to make, jip, I have a crush on Luke Nguyen, I’d record his cooking programmes, he filled my disc space, which was awkward to explain. So when we decided to visit Vietnam I rushed out to the nearest Book Store, Exclusive Books and bought his “The Food of Vietnam”, he slept next to me for days.   We have so much in common, our itineraries are virtually alike, I love his recommendations, he tells of good eateries, street food, aunties who made the best sweets and rice paper sheets. He gives advice on who makes the best street food in the cities he visited.   How I’m going to find them is another story of course!   We’ve made reservations on the same Junk he used (same Company). Shortly I’ll be breathing the same air and walking in his footprints. Bliss!   I love the book, great recipes, well written with gorgeous photographs.   If you’re into Vietnamese cooking this is the one to have.

Globetrotter’s "Vietnam" and "Lonely Planet’s Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia" were the first guide books I bought. They were both informative and I could get a picture of our route, but, I do think they’re more suited to a younger, backpacking crowd, who are adventurous and don’t mind roughing it too. The Lonely Planet does have a very good detachable map which we’ll take along.  

Eyewitness' "Vietnam and Angor Wat" is my preferred travel guide. There is a designated space for my Eyewitness collection on the bookshelf; I gaze adoringly at them almost every day, as I re-live past holidays.   I’m also quite impressed about all the places I’ve been to.   A friend recommended “Catfish and Mandala”, it’s in my backpack and I’ll be reading that on the train to Sa Pa.

Eyewitness: Vietnam and Angkor Wat

Once one has the books one needs to watch the movies too so of course I did “Indochine” with the beautiful photography and Halong Bay where we do the Junk trip.   I’ll be in a red traditional Vietnamese dress and pantalons, with the silk chiffon scarf in a week or, so gazing off into the sunset on a Junk.   The other movies I watched were “Good Morning Vietnam” which I cried through remembering our Robin Williams, the kind eyes and the sweetest smile.   Apocalypse now has gone to cult status I’m sure and was well worth a second viewing.   I curled up next to my beloved, draped my huge Indian silk pashmina over us, sipped red wine and loved “Three Seasons” a love story. The mood has been set and we’re almost winging our way there.

P.S should you know Luke, tell him he’ll always be welcome in my kitchen, there’s a hook for his apron and a willing kitchenhand (I don’t look so good without my apron on but I’m willing to make a sacrifice)! I have the romantic music to set the mood and lots of Cape wines and Champagne, we don't make shabby beer here either!