Hang is a young Vietnamese woman working as an exported laborer at a textile factory in Russia. Having grown up in the slums of Hanoi without a father figure, she frequently feels lost and burdened by the heavy expectations of familial duty placed upon her. She finds herself constantly caught between the demands of her mother's communist brother and the traditional expectations of her father's wealthy sister.

Que is Hang's mother and a humble street vendor living in Hanoi. Widowed by political circumstance, she attempts to raise Hang alone while desperately trying to maintain peace between the warring factions of her family. She firmly believes in the nobility of female sacrifice, often depriving herself and her daughter to support her brother's family.

Uncle Chinh is Que's younger brother and an ideological enforcer for the Communist Party. He views his sister's marriage into a landowning family as a political liability and drives a permanent wedge through the family hierarchy. He frequently uses Communist rhetoric to command respect and expects his sister to bankroll his meager state-sponsored existence.

Aunt Tam is Ton's sister and a prominent, wealthy figure in her rural village. She represents traditional Vietnamese values, dedicating her life to honoring her ancestors and rebuilding the wealth that state-run land reforms stole from her family. She holds a vicious, lifelong grudge against Uncle Chinh and uses her vast resources to spoil Hang, seeing the girl as the rightful continuation of her bloodline.

Hang's father is a well-regarded schoolteacher who comes from a modestly land-owning family. When the new political regime targets his family as class enemies, he becomes the victim of organized persecution. Unable to withstand the public humiliation and danger, he flees the village entirely, leaving a void that permanently shapes his daughter's upbringing.

Uncle Chinh's wife begins the story as a sickly teacher in the Communist Youth League. Despite her and her husband's loyalty to the Party, they live in extreme poverty and rely heavily on the food and resources that Que provides for them.

A woman originally from Que's home village who lives near her in Hanoi. She acts as a sounding board for Que's struggles but is frequently baffled by the severe sacrifices Que is willing to make for a brother who treats her poorly.

The corrupt vice president of Aunt Tam's village. He uses aggressive Communist rhetoric to justify his actions and defend his position, but he easily falls victim to the subtle, mocking storytelling employed by those who despise him.

A cynical graduate student operating in Moscow who recognizes Hang from her brief time at university. He is highly critical of rigid political ideologies and freely mocks the hypocrisy of officials who preach morality in public while chasing profits in private.