Characters
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Hồng (Kim Hoang) Age: 16, going on 17 Favorite Vietnamese Fruit: Nhan nhuc (longans) Interests: Teasing friends, playing with siblings, figuring out brainteasers Hong is a young woman who is forced to grow up fast, so her family can survive. However, at a tender age and little experience she has much to learn. She and her mother were never close to begin with, but they are now slowly beginning to understanding one another. With the help of her family, friends, and lover, she is able to cope through the hard times and exemplify the strong will of Vietnamese women. |
| Phong (John Nguyen) Age: 19 Favorite Vietnamese Fruit: Sau Rieng (Durian), Thanh Long (Dragon Fruit) Interests: basketball, exercising, games, nhau with the homies, music, having "fun" Phong is a young soldier who grew up in Da Lat. After losing his family during the war, he joined the army to protect his country. He's a witty guy who goofs off, but when duty calls, he steps up and leads his friends and family through hard times. During a march to Sai Gon he met the love of his life. s |
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Mai (Helen Vo) Age: 16 Favorite Vietnamese Fruit: Longan Hobbies: reading, writing, cooking, eating, FOOD, boys, FOOD. Mai is very practical and into food. She loves to spend time with her best gal pals, Hoa and Hong. |
| Hoa (Linda Truong) Age: 16 Favorite Vietnamese Fruit: Jackfruit Hobbies: Friends, Hong and Mai. Boys. Fashion. Hoa is the goofy friend who is "boy crazy". She is very loyal and can often times be clueless and oblivious to the world surrounding her. Despite this, she is very loyal and always tries to lighten the mood by tossing a joke.^_^ |
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Bà Hồng Phượng (Thien-Thanh Angela Ngo) Age: 36 Favorite Vietnamese Fruit: măng cụt (mangosteen) Interests: Family, Cooking, Business, inspiring stories like Anh Hùng Xạ Điêu & Thần Điêu Đại Hiệp, Classic Novels, Bà Hồng Phượng is one of the most empathetic characters in the story. She is tragically widowed at the tender age of 35. Prior to her husband's death, Bà Hồng Phượng had a distant relationship with her children. She spent most of her time working and amassing a large family fortune as a successful entrepreneur, while her husband stayed home as their children's primary care giver. When her husband passed away, she had a falling out with her eldest daughter, Hồng. As the rest of the story unfolds, these two women grow as individuals and learn to understand each other through enduring the turmoil of war and family crises together. |
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Minh (Tu Dao) Age: 12 Favorite Vietnamese Fruit: Thanh Long (dragon fruit) Interests: bullying An, eating...alot, soccer, marbles Being the middle child, Minh finds himself juxtaposed between fighting for his mother's affection with An and acting mature. After his father died, he became the only man in the household and is forced to be mature when he isn't ready to. |
| Cô Tám (An Cao) Age: 36 Favorite Vietnamese Fruit: Sau rieng, lychee Interests: Helping others, teaching life lessons, and gambling Co Tam is a survivor. She has been through many trying and difficult experiences, but nevertheless maintains her own unique brand of positivity. Co Tam may seem like a cynic at times, but in reality, has a very sympathetic soul; she finds satisfaction in helping others and in the little pleasures in life. She never allows anyone or anything ruffle her composure. |
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Chị Hiền (Kim Vuu) Age: 22 Favorite Vietnamese Fruit: Mang Cau Interests: taking care of family and children, singing, spending quality time with Co Tam Chi Hien is a very caring person who has to come to Saigon to find work to take care of her family. She befriends Hong and Co tam and eventually her scared and timid demeanor slowly disappears. She loves to listen to Co Tam talk and taking care of Minh and An. With the desperation of the war, she must resort to giving up herself to save her husband. Throughout the story, her mind is in constant turmoil, but with the help of her new found friends she slowly heals and walks her own path in life. |
