The story in the film is about the love between a man and a woman from the same village, Hoan and Can, who have two children together. But this love affair encountered many difficulties and pressure from family and social customs, forcing Can to leave his hometown and go to the mountains. As for Hoan, she was also prevented by her husband's family because they were afraid of having to redistribute their land. The film shows viewers the relationships and behaviors of Northern farmers in the context of the 1960s.
To pay off her family’s debts, Mị is forced to marry the son of her Hmong village’s ruthless patriarch. When the constant abuse and beatings become unbearable for the young girl, she plans to escape with a stranger held captive by her husband.
A government minister from Hanoi has a car accident on the way to a wedding in a remote village. The county hospital does not have the authority to operate on a minister. The county commissioner would like the operation done in the county for the prestige it would bring, but will not authorize it without the approval of the whole county committee. The hospital director has filled his quota, so does not want to take the risk of an operation. Since a telephone call to Hanoi has to be booked two days in advance, the minister's wife cannot be contacted, nor can a helicopter be arranged to move the minister to Hanoi.
The plot of the film revolves around revolutionary soldiers who come from different classes, but all share the same patriotism. They had to overcome many life-and-death challenges and enormous adversities in order to mobilise the masses to prepare for an uprising and seize power from the Japanese fascists, in a situation where the country fell into the tragedy of famine.
During the war, a woman learns that her husband is an army deserter.
