In 2018, veteran restaurateur, author, foodie and all-around travel junkie Paul Kennedy embarked on a life-changing journey to Vietnam. His main goal was to explore the nation's rich cuisine and food culture, which had always fascinated him from afar, but which he could never quite understand fully.

This book is the result of five years spent traveling the length and breadth of the country, experiencing Vietnamese food up-close as no other food writer has before.

In 24 essays, 60 recipes and 100 photographs, Kennedy shares his experiences with you through:

• Engaging stories about tantalizing local foods and drinks--such as the unparalleled Nam Dinh City bahn mi and fresh bia hoi beer-- and palate-challenging local delicacies--like bitter melon and the foul-smelling durian
• Intriguing myths, rituals and beliefs--such as the legendary sword-snatching golden turtle of Hoan Kiem Lake and the outlawed "Coconut Religion"
• Information on Vietnamese herbs, condiments and ingredients--from fish sauce to rice paper wrappers to fresh basil, green onions and sawtooth coriander
• Recipes for classic street food dishes like Rice Paper Pizza, Banh Mi Sandwiches and Steamed Coconut Rice Cakes with Toasted Shrimp Flakes
• Iconic restaurant and homestyle dishes like Spicy Lemongrass Chicken, Crispy Pan-Fried Trout and Baby Basket Clam Rice
• Unusual drinks and desserts like Egg Coffee, Mango Margaritas, Coconut Cream Martinis, Tofu Pudding and Vietnamese Layer Cake
• Plus many other unique flavors, recipes, food discoveries and dozens of cultural observations from the author while living in Vietnam