The young Vietnamese couple Bien and Thien have come to Berlin illegally. They are prepared to lead a life of complete subservience for work and apparent security. They have gone into hiding with their older relatives Nga and Nam and now have to work for them. While Thien is forced to sell illegal cigarettes on the street for Nam, Bien takes care of the household for the homesick Nga. Nga's recurring violent outbursts and threatening territorial disputes between the cigarette dealers make life difficult for the two young Vietnamese day after day. When they secretly try to earn their own livelihood - this leads to the inevitable escalation between the two couples.