“However, though it will be a story that will often hop back and forth in time—in and around said conflict—this is not a story about war—it’s a story about falling in love. And it all takes place in the year of 1975.”

In introducing the lead characters of Tong and Quang, the Playwright also introduces the story as a love story. Vietgone focuses on the budding love between these two characters, exploring the ways that the Vietnam War, the fall of Saigon, and life as refugees in America shape and influence their relationship.

“It’s just the thought—the idea of marrying you, being your bride, committing myself to you, it makes me want to…well…kill myself.”

When Tong says this to Giai, she’s beginning to acknowledge and explore the ways in which she values her own independence. She understands that Giai loves her, but she also questions how marrying him would impact her independence and therefore hesitates to commit.

“THU. Quang, do you not know anything about children?

QUANG. Well, no. It’s not like I’ve really had the chance.”

One of the greatest sources of Quang’s pain and his desire to return to his children is the fact that he doesn’t know them because of the time he spent fighting in the war. When Thu visits him and tells him that his gifts for the children would be inappropriate, the impact of his inability to spend time with them really sinks in.