Banyan Moon starts and ends with the ocean. When Ann is a child, none of the women in her family know how to swim. Hương thinks of the ocean as something both alluring and dangerous; it reminds her of Vinh. When Ann is growing up, swimming is an act of rebellion. Minh ousts Crystal from Ann’s life after the two girls swim in the creek at night. After Minh’s death, Hương chooses to learn how to swim so that she can do something for herself. The ocean—and swimming more broadly—represents the tension between hiding from one’s fears and conquering them. The ocean can be dangerous, as Hương learns when she gets caught in a riptide. Nonetheless, learning to swim helps Hương realize that it is not too late for her to grow as a person and embrace life instead of remaining afraid.

The story of Chú Cuội is central to Banyan Moon. When Minh brings her children to America, the story provides a tenuous link to their home country as they navigate Immigration and Cultural Alienation. The ending of the story foreshadows the Banyan House burning down.