In this exquisitely wrought tale, young Van finds a walking stick at the foot of a huge teak tree. Blessed by Buddha, it becomes his talisman, his lifelong link to the past, and the support he will need to carry him into the uncertain future. For when the winds of change blow, not even the deep forest of Vietnam remains safe. With the walking stick and his indomitable spirit, Van leads his family to safety and new land. Though the years pass in peace, the ever-present tap tapping of the brass-tipped walking stick is Van's constant reminder of the customs, voices, and land he will always remember with love.

When the stick's long odyssey is finally over, it is Van's granddaughter who carries it home and places it at Buddha's feet.