This title is quite significant to the story as well as the chapters that follow it basically provide us with reasons for their lengthy and tough journey for freedom. It also gives us background knowledge of the families explored in the book as well as an insight into the personalities of a number of the characters.

The title itself, "Diamonds and Teardrops", is described almost perfectly in conjunction with communism by Toan's Grandfather," Communism... at a distance it appears as a diamond, but up close it is a teardrop..." Communism, at a distance it appears as a diamond, this is telling us that communism looks perfect from the outside, everyone ding their own thing, nothing going out of place, everyone obeying orders. But up close it appears as a teardrop, this means that communism, although it seems perfect from the outside, if you look into it closer and...