In the east village nestled next to the Dinh River, single mothers that lost their husbands to war are living, raising their children. Nhan receives the news of the death of her husband in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and is left with her two young children, in despair. But Van survives and returns home as a hero. Van is an old love of Nhan that she could not marry due to the opposition of family members. He still loved Nhan, but for Nhan and her children who had to survive in the conservative east village, he hides his feelings and refuses to meet another woman. Time flows. Hai Ying, Nhan’s daughter, marries Nghia, an old friend and lover despite their families’ oppositions, but they live a poor life without a proper housing.
Meanwhile, Nghia is conscripted to the Vietnam War. Nghia’s parents, then, accepts Hai Ying as their daughter-in-law. The cruel war consumes the lives of many young villagers including Hiep, the son of Nhan, but fortunately, Nghia returns home. However, the happiness does not last long. As they fail to conceive a child and Nghia’s father dies, Nghia is forced by his family to get married again and Hai Ying is thrown out of the house. The night before Nghia’s second wedding, Hai Ying, in immeasurable despair, decides to venture into the world by crossing the Dinh River, away from the east village, and visits uncle Van in the dead of a night that is pouring with heavy rain.