Vietnam - Existing product research

Exisiting Vietnam Guides:

The Rough Travel Guide to Vietnam 

The rough guide to Vietnam is the essential guide to one of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations. It gives an introduction that is aimed to help the user choose where to go and what to see, it is inspired by photos, but still remains heavily text based. Navigation on the ground is aided by the book by colourful map. The maps are keyed with locations that are rated in more detail in the guide book itself.

Product details:

Author

Rough Guides

ISBN-13

9781409371861

Series

Rough Guides, Rough Guide

Format

Paperback,

Publishers

Rough Guides Ltd , Rough Guides

Publication date

19 Feb 2015

Edition

Edition Number 8; 8th edition

Pages

520

Product dimensions

136 x 199 x 24mm

Weight

498g

Influence:

This book is a good reference to use because of its style, being highly image based it gives an interpretative nature to the book for the user to choose which parts of the country they wish to see. This is something I want to try and achieve in my book. As the book is aimed towards being focused on the person choosing their own path and creating their own journey through Sapa. Although I want to make my book more editorial in style in order to suit the visual literacy that goes along with the target audience, also being aimed towards a younger market I believe that a more image based product would sell better. Younger audience also don’t want to tend to read into detail when looking at places to visit, being part of the demographic I am aiming towards I can vouch for saying that I would rather be given an inkling of what the place is like and then further investigate myself making my own opinion on the place itself rather than having an in depth description given to me; that may not coincide what I think of the place.

Front Cover

Back Cover and inside

Lonely Planet's guide to Vietnam:

Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people & culture, food & drink, arts & architecture, environment Free, convenient pull-out Ho Chi Minh City & Hanoi map (included in print version), plus over 86 maps Covers Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Halong Bay, Mui Ne, Hue, Danang, Nha Trang, Dalat, Sapa, Siem Reap & the temples of Angkor (Cambodia) and more The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Vietnam, our most comprehensive guide to Vietnam, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled.


Product Details:

ISBN-13

9781743218723

Series

Travel Guide, Lonely Planet Travel Guide

Format

Paperback,

Publishers

Lonely Planet Publications, Lonely Planet Publications

Publication date

3 Aug 2016

Edition

Edition Number 13; Revised

Pages

520

Product dimensions

123 x 192 x 23mm

Weight

430g

Influence: 

Lonely planet is one of the most popular providers of travel guides worldwide. The maps and images through are there to tailor your own journey around Vietnam, this is why looking at this book as it is something that needs to be subjective for people to interpret in the way that they want. This guide book also focuses on the idea of living like a local and stripping back to the bare minimum ‘typical tourist’ activities. Lonely planet being so established is trusted by travellers to give the most accurate information and routes to explore the places in the best light. Yet the actual presentation of the book itself contradicts this, as can be seen within the first page. The sections are separated through colours and although it appears to be designed to a grid, the stock that it has been produced on is lacking in quality. I believe this is something I want to take into consideration when creating my book as I don’t want the quality of the book to change people’s opinion of the content, making it seem untrustworthy. The book also seems heavily text based while imagery breaks in between, I want to move away from this idea with book to make it seem less instructional and more inspirational.

Guidebook General Visual Styles: 

Wallpaper City Guides

Under stylish pantone covers, these pocket size books are a revelation in informing the audiences travels guiding them to the hippest nightlife, buzziest hotels and coolest retail, as well as cultural influential art gallery visits and creative spaces showcasing the best in local design and contemporary architecture. They are sized for travel, a consideration I need to take into mind when creating my book. They’re researched rigorously and curated by an extensive network of experts. A mix of influence from in house designers, and local’s correspondents, it has the perfect influence of design inspiration and coming off the tourist track.

The books also contain stunning original colour photographs, this is also something similar to my book, as the content is coming from the authors own personal experience. Therefore the layout is also a similar editorial style from the one that I want, giving a balance through inquisitive visuals and small amounts of informative text.

Target Audience:  the books are aimed towards a younger market with a higher than average disposable income. This is not only because of the design of them, but also the format of the books themselves. The activities of the book are aimed towards people who have the money available to be able to do such as travelling making the book less accessible to a wider audience.

Wallpaper Guide Layouts:

Wallpaper City Guide

The large-scale imagery captures the beauty of the location and puts the focus on the place itself, with small amounts of informative text, which visually supports the emphasis on the building itself. 

Wallpaper City Guide

The contrast of the neutral and woody tones from the image make this interior shot stand out and become memorable, especially with the contrast against the art on the walls. Making the audience was to see the scene themselves and embrace the creative environment.

Wallpaper City Guide

Contrast and juxtapose is used here again within a harsh difference of tone between the interior brutalist style in comparison to the outer gothic lighter structure, enhanced by the natural skyline.

Wallpaper City Guide

The tones are complete opposites making the spread almost awkward to look at therefore enticing the audience to further read into the relevant information below.

Wallpaper City Guide

Another large-scale image from a unique angle gives the sense of depth for the user, making them almost feel as if they are in the building itself, therefore allowing the user to almost experience the place they are being led to before they go. This is an interesting concept playing on human inquisitive nature to want to experience the setting themselves.