Going to a strange continent, especially for the first time, can be a daunting prospect. Asia is a beautiful and exciting place to go and a good Asia travel book is recommended. There is a wide variety to choose from, and several from well established publishers in the travel field.

Asia is a continent of vibrant cities, historic buildings, hill villages, temples, mountains and waterfalls. It can be a great culture shock for many people and it's a good idea to have a companion guide for company. Most people embrace the sights, sounds and food and want to go back for more.

The Lonely Planet Shoestring Guide series includes Southeast Asia on a Shoestring. Countries covered include Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The latest book is a revised edition from March 2008. This part of the world is a very popular destination with young backpackers from the US, UK and Australia and this is the perfect budget travel companion.

As I made the rounds as a tourist, I couldn't help but sense the palpable buzz in the air that was missing from nine years ago when I first visit Hanoi.

A must for tourist is the Old Quarter, where you will find locals mingling with tourists. Street after street is lined with shops that hawk colourful wares. You can get stunning pieces of visual art in one street and chill out in a cafe in another.