In the late 1980s, against the backdrop of a rapidly changing Vietnam, Dear Hongrang tells the story of two childhood friends bound by a promise they could never keep—and the decades-long ripple of that broken vow. Hongrang, the quiet son of a fisherman, and Lan, the spirited daughter of a schoolteacher, grew up in the small coastal village of Nha Phu. On the eve of Hongrang’s departure for military service, Lan gives him a sealed letter, instructing him to open it only when he feels truly lost. He tucks it away in his pack and leaves, unaware that this small gesture will shape the rest of his life.
Years pass, and Hongrang returns to find the village transformed by modernization, its shoreline dotted with resorts where fishing boats once floated. Lan is gone—moved to the city under mysterious circumstances—and nobody will tell him why. Haunted by unanswered questions, Hongrang opens the letter for the first time, only to find it contains not a love confession, but a cryptic message hinting at a family secret tied to his late father. Determined to uncover the truth, he follows a trail of faded photographs, old war records, and whispers from people who would rather forget the past. Every discovery pulls him deeper into a web of betrayal, sacrifice, and the lingering scars of war.
In the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City, Hongrang finally finds Lan, now a journalist exposing corruption. She greets him with warmth, but also guarded distance. Through fractured conversations, they piece together what happened in the years apart: Lan’s family was forced from the village after uncovering illegal land deals between the government and foreign investors—a scandal in which Hongrang’s own uncle was involved. The realization that his family played a role in destroying hers tests the limits of forgiveness. Still, their bond remains unbroken, and together they decide to confront those responsible. But as Lan pushes forward with a dangerous exposé, threats mount, and Hongrang must choose between protecting her or helping her reveal the truth, knowing it could cost them both their lives.
The climax comes during a typhoon that batters the coast, mirroring the chaos in their lives. Hongrang and Lan return to the village to retrieve documents hidden for decades, braving floodwaters and violent opposition. In the final, emotionally charged scene, Lan mails her finished article while Hongrang repairs the old fishing boat his father left behind. As the storm clears, they stand together on the dock, uncertain of what the future holds but united in their fight for justice. The camera lingers on Hongrang holding the now-weathered letter, tucking it back into his pocket—not as a reminder of loss, but as a symbol of the promise they finally kept.
