Discover 5 Must-Read Books for Adventurous Travelers

“The more you read, the more you know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go.” – Dr. Seuss. Below are 5 must-read books for adventurous travelers that anyone can read and refer to before hitting the road.

Explore 5 Books Tailored for Wanderlust Souls

The most precious thing in life, perhaps, is youth, and nothing is more meaningful for youth than books and journeys. When your feet are strong enough, your heart and mind are vibrant and enthusiastic, don't hesitate anymore, hit the road, and you might find the meaning of your life somewhere out there.

The following books not only take you to new and exotic lands, colorful cultures, but also inspire young enthusiasts of exploration.

1. Pack Your Backpack and Go

Born into a Vietnamese heritage, graduating from Berkeley University in the US in June 2012, Hùng John decided to return to his homeland to embark on a cross-Vietnam journey without carrying any money for 80 days. Readers will join him on the roads of Vietnam, experiencing joy, beautiful landscapes, friendly people, tasting fear in the pitch-black darkness, facing homelessness, and solitude in a foreign land.

The determination and courage of this twenty-year-old not only helped him find profound meanings in life but also conveyed valuable messages to young people: “Appreciate the simple, peaceful life you have while also venturing out to broaden your horizons, to learn valuable lessons from nature and human life in unfamiliar lands.”

I Am a Donkey

More experienced and worldly than Huyền Chíp or Hùng John, Dr. Nguyễn Phương Mai, a multicultural communication expert, and lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam, also chose the dusty travel path to refine herself and test her diverse cultural knowledge beyond the pages of books.

“Before each journey, I try to rid myself of all prejudices, all preconceptions. I empty my mind of expectations, of judgments. I risk to leave my heart wide open, vulnerable. And I set off on the road like a blank sheet of paper, with a longing to be filled, to be changed,” Phương Mai confided when she published the book “I Am a Donkey” – Volume 1 of the series “Setting off with a bare heart,” recounting her journey to nearly 80 countries.

In each country, Phương Mai always opts for hitchhiking, staying with locals, venturing into unforeseen territories. This is the best way to immerse oneself in indigenous culture, to understand life and people deeply where she goes. People like Phương Mai have redefined a way of travel for Vietnamese youth, a way to bring the true essence of “traveling” back, as she puts it: “Like a rolling stone – To avoid moss, to feel refreshed like a bird flying over deep valleys.”

4. The Islamic Path

'The Islamic Path' is the second book by Nguyễn Phương Mai in the series 'Embarking on a Journey with an Open Heart'. This book is truly worth reading on many levels, serving as a travel guide with a hint of adventurous spirit while resembling an academic book with insightful research and analysis on culture and religion.

As the title suggests, this time Phương Mai takes readers on a journey back to the past, tracing through historic cities, magnificent cathedrals, ancient relics, then connecting them, comparing them with the present.

Through this book, readers can somewhat unravel the mysteries surrounding ethnic and religious conflicts that have persisted for centuries in the Islamic world.

5. Six People Across the Globe

Published in 1971, yet what 'Six People Across the Globe' brings has never become obsolete. James Albert Michener's work has sold nearly 80 million copies worldwide and garnered numerous prestigious awards (Pulitzer Prize, Franklin Prize, etc.), remaining on the New York Times bestseller list for six consecutive months.

They are six young friends, four Americans, one Norwegian girl, one British girl, each with a unique background. Vietnam War, Middle East conflicts, racial discrimination, Islamic faith, and the ghosts of the past have washed them ashore to the City of Sun (a city in Spain by the Mediterranean Sea), and from here, they embark on an adventurous journey to the southern nights of Spain tearing at their souls, bullfighting battles on the edge, Portuguese fortresses defying time, haunting African jungles, life's storms, and heartbreaks... Finding no corner to hide, they face life together in a quest for new values...

Unlike the younger generation in Vietnam, traveling for young Western or Jewish people is almost a rite of passage or a Gap Year activity (a one-year break, usually after high school, for community service to gain life experience). At a certain age, armed with knowledge of history and culture acquired in school, they set off to travel the world. Traveling is not just for relaxation and exploration but also a way of learning, a way of thinking through reality, to truly understand the essence of the world and seek one's own values.

'Six People Traveling the World' is truly an excellent book for young Vietnamese, those who are still somewhat passive due to being confined by circumstances, and traditional doctrines.

According to Traveltimes.vn

***

Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook