Good luck good luck, traveling and experiencing a culture is always the most magical thing on earth. It is not something you can read from a book or hear from others. I am from Asia, and also travel a lot. Haven't been to Vietnam but most of other Asian and european countries. Maybe can start by learning some of their key phrases in their language. In addition to lonely planet, I love books from eyewitness travel a lot, there are more photos and easy-to-understand history.
Definitely try amazing local food! You will be surprised by the diversity of food here in Asia, all different even among closeby countries. I am working on my first kickstarter project too, and it is about sharing a special Chinese culture with others - Tea - have a look:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/15 ... inese-drea . Perhaps you can provide a special and secretive element to offer your supporters something you will only discover after the trip?