handbook vs vade mecum

handbook and vade mecum both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
handbook	Yes	No	No	No
vade mecum	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, handbook and vade mecum are synonyms defined as:

handbook and vade mecum: a concise reference book providing specific information about a subject or location

Other synonyms of handbook include enchiridion.

handbook (noun)	vade mecum (noun)
a concise reference book providing specific information about a subject or location	a concise reference book providing specific information about a subject or location