Soldier, Lily, Peace and Pearls

When Saigon falls, the Thieu family attempt unsuccessfully to flee Vietnam and
are imprisoned by the victorious communist forces. The Khmer Rouge exile
Quan’s family to a collective farm. Three years later, Quan and sister, Hue, now
orphans are liberated from the farm when the Vietnamese army invades
Cambodia. In Saigon, Han saves the life of a patient, who turns out to be a
hi-level communist official. The official frees Han’s huband, Voang, from prison
and helps the family escape. In Pulau Bidong refugee camp in Malaysia, the Thieu family meet and adopt
Quan and Hue. When Quan is forced to kill a drunken camp guard to save the
lives of Hue and Han's daughter, Minh Chau, his chances for re-settlement with
the Thieus in Canada are dashed.
Mathieu Hibou, a university student, helps the Thieu family integrate into
Canadian society. The Thieus still hope in vain that the Quan and Hue will join
them, but Quan must again defend his sister against a sexual predator. Quan and
Hue flee Pulau Bidong for Bangkok where he joins a drug-smuggling Triad to
survive. When the Triad sends Quan to Canada, the Thieus convince him to
abandon his life of crime. At this point, you are a third of the way through the plot. If you like what you
have read so far, I hope that you will order of a copy. It really is a very good
read.