The son of a Vietnamese war bride and an American military serviceman, William spent much of his early life caring for his severely disabled older brother John. Following John's death, William returns to Vietnam in an effort to make peace with the past. Travelling south on the storied Reunification Express, he journeys from the capital Hanoi to the picturesque trading port of Hoi An. Along the way he reflects on his ultimate goal: laying John's ashes to rest at the family temple in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).