Food of Vietnam (H): Authentic Recipes from the Heart of Indochina

I found the recipes not very easy to follow, but if you are already somewhat familiar with Vietnamese cooking techniques (salad dressing, etc) it is a good reference cook. I also found the recipe for Husband and Wife cake, which is very rare among cookbooks. This book is definitely not for beginners.

Perhaps this is not the best cookbook I've ever seen, but the best cookbook for Vietnamese food. It provides rich detailed pictures with each recipe, spells out all the required ingredients that you need before getting started, and even provides alternative ingredients or methods where appropriate. The introduction does a good job of explaining the unusual ingredients (with pictures)used in Vietnamese food for those who are unfamiliar with this cuisine. I have found that, if I follow the recipes exactly and source all the right ingredients, the dishes turn as good (or sometimes better) than the food I eat on my many trips to Vietnam.I have been using the book for about a year now, but unlike the first reviewer, I have not had any problems with the construction of the book itself. Perhaps she bought one of the many poorly made illegal copies on the streets on Saigon(?)

I am buying a copy of this book for my mother, aunts and culinary friends. The pictures are beautiful- of the food and of the country. The recipes are easy to understand and authentic- it reminded me of my mother's cooking... And she is an excellent chef. I highly recommend this book to all who are interested in preparing Vietnamese food.

I am currently attending college and cooking is not my forte! However, I love Vietnamese food and wanted a book with pictures to help guide my limited culinary skills. This book is the one!! The bright, colorful, and detailed pictures help the novice chef to determine whether he/ she is on the right track. The recipes are easy to follow and I actually had fun cooking! Take it from me, I'm Vietnamese and the recipes are authentic!