Rating: 
Summary: I love it~!!!!
Review: i received this book as a gift and it is the best gift i ever had! I am very busy and never have time to try to cook vietnamese meals. Thanks to "The Vietnamese Cookbook" i have learned many quick tricks to cook delicious vietnamese dishes and also loose weight. I can't wait for your next book Diana My Tran!!! BRAVO!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: You can be cooking Vietnamese tonight
Review: My girlfriend gave me this cookbook almost two years ago and I should have written this review sooner.I have made several recipes including the Caramel Shrimp, Shaking Steak and Onion and the Vietnamese Chicken Salad. The ingredients are relatively easy to locate in the International section of the grocery store or in Asian specialty shops. Like most Asian cooking, the preparation is the most of the "cooking time." Every recipe I have made was wonderful, with just the right balance of herbs and spices. Most of the recipies are low in fat and have a good balance of protien and carbs. I you want to learn to cook Vietnamese, you should start with this book. The photos are beautiful and will help you in the presentation of the dishes.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty but not essential
Review: Similiar to the Pleriplus book, _The Food of Vietnam_ this book has very nice photography and simple recipes. It is also pretty small at only 119 pages including index. This book also shares some of Pleriplus' flaws: 1) Not much background information; 2) Assumption that you know to cut for tenderness or prepare more difficult things like cleaning shrimp or squid; 3) Does not expand the knowledge base of cooking technique or theory for its user; 4) Recipes are modified greatly; The recipes are modified for faster time preparation. Which is very advantageous for the beginner but a purist will definitely NOT be happy with the recipes e.g., pho ba broth being made with 30 minutes of simmering or the lack of caramel use in recipes. The intent of the book is for speed which it admirably provides. Since Vietnamese cuisine is adventursome in its approach there is room on the shelf for another book that makes free with the recipes. The better book to buy is Corinne Trang's _Authentic Vietnamese Cooking_ whose recipes are sound and provides more interesting reading in general. If you are a history/culture junkie then Lonely Planet's World Food Guide to Vietnam is surprisingly good with a few recipes thrown in. Overall, a pretty book that provides speed but not much substance for the hardcore. It is, however, a nice beginner's book.
Rating:
Summary: Good for starters
Review: This book is definitely a must have for those wanting to learn how to cook vietnamese food. I have to agree that not everything is correct to the authentic foods in Vietnam but in the fast paced lifestyle here in the US afew changes don't really hurt. You still get almost the exact effect. I;m a college student and have been learning to cook a few foods from my mom over the phone so I got this book as an additional reference. I also got one for my brother which can't cook at all. The pictures help you figure out if you did it right or not(it you've never had that item before). I really like that it teaches you family meals. Not all those courses you would go to a resturant and order. With as many resturants that there are now, just go out. But its different with mom's home cooked foods. It makes a good start with the different types of Rices.
Rating:
Summary: Great Find
Review: This is a suberb cookbook for anyone wanting to venture into Vietnamese cooking. The recipes are high-taste, low-fat and most can be made in 15 minutes. I use it 2-3 times a week, including while going to Weight Watchers. I can't wait for Diana My Tran's next cookbook.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to Follow, Very Delicious Recipes, Beautiful Pictures
Review: We own several asian/vietnamese cookbooks, but this cook book is the best we've seen. The recipes are easy to follow, quick and taste as good as recipes from our most favorite vietnamese restaurant. The recipes are also easy to follow. My husband who is a novice, has cooked three dishes from the book with great success. Also the photographer is a National Geographic Photographer who has included some wonderful pictures.
Rating:
Summary: Great for a beginner!
Review: When even a clod like me can manage to cook a meal and have it taste "right" you know you have a great cookbook. They say that if you can read you can cook, so if you read The Vietnamese Cookbook, you can cook great Vietnamese food!
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