Tell me about this strange name that's hard to pronounce
that I've carried since I was born
Tell me about the old empire and the slant of my almond eyes
that say better than I do what you don't dare say
All I know of you are images of the war
a Coppola movie, angry helicopters
One day, say hello to your soul
say hello to you, Vietnam
my hair and my little feet
that have carried me since I was born
Tell me about your house, your street
tell me about this unknown
the floating markets and wooden sampans
All I know of my country are photos of the war
a Coppola movie, angry helicopters
one day, say hello to my soul
say hello to you, Vietnam
the temples and stone Buddhas for my fathers
the women bent over in the rice fields for my mothers
in prayer, in the light, see my brothers again
touch my tree, my roots, my land
one day, say hello to my soul
say hello to you, Vietnam
say hello to you, Vietnam