The Best We Could Do Characters

The author, illustrator, and central protagonist of The Best We Could Do is a Vietnamese American writer and artist who sets out to uncover her family’s roots and trace their history in Việt Nam. She… read analysis of Thi Bui

Thi Bui’s mother. Although her name is Hằng, Bui consistently calls her “Má” (the Southern Vietnamese word for “Mom”), and she calls herself “Mẹ” (which is a “weighty, serious, more elegant word” from the… read analysis of Má

Nam Bui, or Bố (“Dad”) to the author, Thi Bui, is born in the early 1940s in a village near Hải Phòng, in the north of Việt Nam. During the first half of… read analysis of Bố

Thi Bui’s husband, who moves with her and their young son to California in 2006. The author does not reveal much about him, but he comforts her while she is in labor and develops… read analysis of Travis

Má and Bố’s first daughter (besides Quyên, who dies in infancy), and Thi Bui’s eldest sister. Born in 1966 in the Mekong Delta when Má is 22, Lan remembers much about her… read analysis of Lan

Thi Bui’s second-oldest sister, whose name (as she is frequently forced to explain) is “pronounced BICK.” She is born in Sài Gòn in 1968 and spends most of the first month of her… read analysis of Bích

Thi Bui’s younger brother, who is born in 1978 in Malaysia, near the Pulau Besar Refugee Camp. Because of their age difference from their older sisters Lan and Bích, Thi and Tâm… read analysis of Tâm

A violent, dastardly man who spends his early life following his father (Bố’s grandfather) to the village of Bố’s grandmother (who is not his actual mother) and then to Hải Phòng… read analysis of Bố’s Father

A girl from Bố’s grandmother’s village, who marries Bố’s father and then runs away to Hải Phòng with him and his father (Bố’s grandfather). However, Bố’s father turns out to be… read analysis of Bố’s Mother

A “dapper gentleman” of unknown origins who shows up in a village near Hải Phòng some time before World War II with his son (Bố’s father). He convinces the village chief to… read analysis of Bố’s Grandfather

The daughter of a village chief in a rural area near Hải Phòng, who marries Bố’s manipulative and violent grandfather at a young age. She is not actually biologically related to Bố (whose… read analysis of Bố’s Grandmother

A prominent engineer who works for the French government in colonial Cambodia and Việt Nam. Despite his job, he still resents French colonialism and recognizes that the French treat native Vietnamese people as second-class citizens… read analysis of Má’s Father

A rigid and cold woman who, during Má’s youth, spends most of her energy socializing and organizing elaborate dinners. As a result, Má never has much of a relationship with her, and this influences… read analysis of Má’s Mother

Má and Bố’s first daughter, who falls sick and dies in infancy for unknown reasons possibly relating to adulterated baby formula. Her death devastates Má and Bố, who never fully forgive themselves for it… read analysis of Giang Quyên

The OB/GYN who treats Thi Bui as Bui goes through labor and gives birth to her son. Although she is matter-of-fact and nonthreatening, she also does not empathize with Bui’s fear about childbirth and… read analysis of The Doctor

Works with the doctor in the hospital where Thi Bui gives birth. She is cold, clinical, and impersonal—she gives Bui’s son a checkup and transports Bui with him to another room, then leaves them there… read analysis of The Nurse

A prominent general in South Việt Nam’s army who is infamous worldwide for shooting a Việt Cộng member in a photo frequently referred to as “Saigon Execution.” In fact, he was shooting… read analysis of The General

The pilot of the boat that takes Thi Bui’s family to safety. When their boat runs aground on an island in the Mekong Delta and is nearly caught by a government patrol, Mr. Châu… read analysis of Mr. Châu

Má’s sister, who moves to the United States three years before Thi Bui and her family, then sponsors their visas and houses them in Indiana. In retrospect, Thi thinks Ðào and her family were… read analysis of Ðào