Through the lives of Vietnamese children, we are given an insight into life in this troubled country. In Vietnam all children have to go to school, but some also work before or after school to bring in extra money for the family. Half the students attend school from nine until one, while the other half go from one until five. At lunchtime the school provides a bowl of rice with some meat and vegetables. In many places, life has remained virtually unchanged for over 500 years. We also take a look at Vietnam's history and culture, with an emphasis on the importance of education and learning, the importance of the market and village, and how this culture has been shaped by Chinese and Western influences.