Here, for the first time in English, is an absolutely authentic, definitive, and most distinctive collection of Vietnamese recipes. Among the somewhat unusual and fascinating ingredients (available most anywhere) are such succulents as bamboo shoots, Chinese cabbage, mushrooms, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, coconut, pineapple, shrimp, and an interesting vermicelli called "bean threads" or "long rice." And when it comes to dried lily flowers, Chinese parsley, fresh mint leaves, and citronella root, the author tells you what to substitute if you do not have them, or simply to leave them out. All this is explained in a comprehensive ten-page glossary of special oriental foodstuff.