Sometimes the longest journey begins with great patience. When Jon Bowermaster proposed an 800-mile kayak expedition along Vietnam`s northern coastline, the country`s government initially responded, `That will be quite impossible`. Negotiation saved the day, and Jon Bowermaster and his team of five - including a Vietnamese-American woman who had fled Saigon as a child on the final day of war in 1975 - completed an unprecedented voyage, seeing Vietnam and its people in a brand new light.For many, he was the first American they had ever encountered. In chapters flowing from north to south, Bowermaster`s highly personal story and Rob Howard`s compelling images bring to life Vietnam`s vibrant edge. The enigmatic nation is enjoying an upsurge today as a popular destination for both cultural and adventure travel: In the first six months of 2007, arrivals increased more than 14 percent over the same period last year, and the dynamic growth is projected to continue. This fascinating volume, offering a fresh perspective on the land and its people, will captivate real-life explorers and armchair travelers alike with its intriguing take on Vietnam from the sea.