Dust Child

After leaving the consulate, Phong and his family purchase iced tea from a woman on the street. She knows the man, Quang, whom Phong had paid for help with his visa application, and she shares that Quang is dishonest and that an intermediary like him is not required for visa applications. She also tells Phong and his family that American soldiers are beginning to return to Việt Nam to search for their children. They place advertisements in newspapers. On hearing this, Phong becomes even more determined to find his father. He arranges to take a DNA test so that his results will be on file in case he is successful in his search.

Dan and Linda explore Sài Gòn with their guide. Linda loves the food and takes as many photographs as she can. Dan remains distracted by his memories of the war. Back when he was still in Việt Nam during the war, he began to experience the symptoms of PTSD. When he returned to the United States, he rejected a lucrative career in commercial aviation in order to become an electrician. He didn’t want to be reminded of combat, and he wanted to solve concrete problems at work.