The narrator is a half-French, half-Vietnamese intelligence officer working for the South Vietnamese army. While serving as a trusted aide to his commander, he secretly operates as an undercover Communist spy. Educated in the United States, he uses his deep understanding of American culture to maintain his cover and gather information. He views the world from multiple perspectives, a trait that makes him an excellent spy but frequently causes internal conflict.

Bon is a fiercely loyal anti-Communist patriot who fights for the South Vietnamese cause. He shares a profound childhood bond with his friends, sealed by a blood oath they took as boys. Following a devastating family tragedy during the evacuation of Saigon, he struggles to adapt to life as a refugee in Los Angeles. He works as a janitor and later a bouncer, seeking a renewed sense of purpose through military resistance.

Man is a highly intelligent North Vietnamese revolutionary who remains in Vietnam after the fall of Saigon to help establish the new regime. He is a blood brother to his childhood friends, sharing a lifelong bond forged in their youth. He holds significant authority within the Communist hierarchy and communicates secret orders and revolutionary doctrine through coded letters.

The General is a high-ranking intelligence officer in the South Vietnamese Special Branch. After fleeing his homeland, he attempts to maintain his authority and status by opening a liquor store in Los Angeles. He refuses to accept defeat and secretly organizes a counterrevolutionary force of ex-soldiers. He is highly suspicious of those around him and works tirelessly to secure funding and political support for his cause.

The Crapulent Major is an affable, food-loving South Vietnamese officer. He settles in California with his wife and their newborn twin sons, working quietly as a gas station attendant. Despite his friendly demeanor and apparent harmlessness, he becomes the target of extreme paranoia within the refugee community.

Sonny is an educated, idealistic Vietnamese refugee who edits a local newspaper in California. He writes articles with strong political convictions, occasionally frustrating the military leaders in his community. He is outspoken and confident in his progressive viewpoints. His journalistic choices increasingly draw unwanted attention from powerful figures.

Ms. Sofia Mori is a fiercely independent Japanese-American woman. She rejects traditional expectations regarding marriage and embraces a modern perspective on romance. She forms connections with educated Vietnamese refugees, offering them insight into the Asian-American experience. Her progressive attitude provides a sharp contrast to the conservative values of the military refugees.

The Auteur is a wealthy, self-important Hollywood film director creating a movie about the Vietnam War. He views himself as an expert on the conflict despite his lack of firsthand experience. He hires cultural consultants but strongly resists any feedback that contradicts his cinematic vision. He represents the Western tendency to commercialize and distort Asian narratives.

Lana is the eldest daughter of a prominent South Vietnamese military family. Having studied at UC Berkeley during the fall of Saigon, she fully immerses herself in American youth culture and rock music. She actively rebels against her parents' strict traditional expectations through her fashion and behavior. Her independence fascinates the men who remember her as a quiet child in Vietnam.

Madame is a traditional, conservative South Vietnamese woman. She manages her family's public image and opens a Vietnamese restaurant in America to generate funds for her husband's political causes. She maintains strict cultural standards and strongly disapproves of her daughter's Americanized lifestyle.

Claude is an American CIA operative closely involved in Vietnamese affairs. He facilitates military and intelligence operations, maintaining connections with anti-Communist forces both during the war and after their relocation. He operates with a cool, professional detachment regarding the chaos around him.

The Department Chair is a white American academic who considers himself an absolute authority on Asian cultures. He decorates his office with artifacts and speaks to his employees with heavy condescension. He views individuals of mixed heritage as interesting case studies rather than complex people.