Chapter Twenty-Three – Lan: Family, Grief, and Love in Sài Gòn
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Early in the morning, Lan waters orchids in her family’s yard, daydreaming about Vivi’s face in a blossom. Her brother Triết startles her, and they bicker playfully while Má watches. Triết announces he got an internship with a Vietnamese airline based in Sài Gòn—he is not leaving home. Lan, who had been bracing for his departure, feels relief but also guilt for worrying Má. Má reassures Lan that Triết is family and tells her to let Má do the worrying. The family decides to take the day off for ngày giỗ, the death anniversary of Lan’s father (Ba). Under the mango tree, they set up an altar with offerings: fruits, a bowl of thit kho, and white orchids. Lan lights incense and bows three times, silently telling Ba that she is writing again, that she has met someone, and that they miss him. Her phone chimes with texts from Vivi. Lan calls her and walks through the neighborhood. Vivi says she misses Lan and credits Lan with helping her fall in love with Sài Gòn. Lan reflects that because of Vivi, she herself has learned to see her home as special.
Key Events
- Triết’s job announcement: He reveals an internship with a Saigon-based airline, calming Lan’s fear he would leave.
- Má’s reassurance: Má tells Lan not to plan for catastrophes and that she will take care of the family.
- Ngày giỗ preparation: The family sets up Ba’s death anniversary altar under the mango tree with fruit, food, and orchids.
- Lan’s incense offerings: She bows three times with personal messages about grief, writing, and meeting someone.
- Phone call with Vivi: Vivi expresses her love for Lan and for Sài Gòn, and Lan admits the city feels less lonely with her.
Character Development
- Lan: Her fear of abandonment (both Triết and Vivi leaving) is openly acknowledged. By the end of the chapter she accepts comfort from Má and from Vivi, showing growth in trusting relationships. She also feels less sad about Ba’s death, linking that healing to her connection with Vivi.
- Triết: Remains a stabilizing presence; his decision to stay reinforces his role as family.
- Má: Demonstrates emotional wisdom by taking charge of worry, allowing Lan to lean on her. She also honors Ba’s memory in a communal, celebratory way.
- Vivi: Though only heard through a phone call, her words deepen the emotional bond and show her own transformation—she now loves Sài Gòn because of Lan.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Grief and Celebration: The ngày giỗ ritual blends mourning with remembrance. Lan moves from forgetting the date to actively honoring Ba through offerings and stories.
- Incense as a Map: The smoke from incense is described as a “smoldering, hazy map” for souls to find their way—a metaphor for connection between the living and the dead.
- The Mango Tree: A living witness to family history; Lan wonders if it will outlive her and remember them. It also holds Trung Thu lanterns from past celebrations.
- Home as a Discovery: Lan realizes she has learned to appreciate her neighborhood and city because Vivi’s perspective showed her its value. This reframes Sài Gòn from a place of loneliness to one of meaning.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 23 is a turning point for Lan’s emotional arc. It confronts her deepest fear—losing people she loves—and shows her finding reassurance from both family and a romantic partner. The death anniversary ritual anchors the chapter in cultural tradition while allowing Lan to express gratitude for her father’s influence on her writing and her life. The phone call with Vivi moves their relationship forward, solidifying Lan’s feeling that Sài Gòn is less lonely with Vivi in it. This chapter also sets up the upcoming contest application as something Lan now looks forward to with hope rather than anxiety.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Lan feel less sad about her father’s death this year?
She says it is because of Vivi: seeing her every day, working on the contest application together, and having someone to look forward to. Vivi’s presence makes Sài Gòn less lonely and gives Lan a reason to feel hope.
2. How does Lan’s fear of abandonment manifest in this chapter?
She starts making mental checklists of what to do when Triết leaves, assuming the worst. Triết calls her out on this pattern, saying she plans for catastrophes so it is easier to run. Má later tells Lan she does not need to worry because Má will take care of the family.
3. What is the significance of the incense ritual?
Lan remembers Ba telling her that incense smoke creates hazy maps for souls to find their way. The act of bowing three times with personal stories—rather than prayers—honors Ba’s memory and connects Lan’s present life (writing, meeting someone) to her past love for him.