'The Sympathizer' stars on 'different perspective' of Vietnam War

Actors Sandra Oh and Hoa Xuande join TODAY to discuss their roles in the new HBO spy series “The Sympathizer” and talk about how the show provides a different vantage point of the Vietnam War. “The Western audience has yet to see a piece about the Vietnamese perspective,” Oh says. Xuande also talks about waiting nine months before landing his part!
» Subscribe to NBC News: / nbcnews
NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news brands that deliver compelling, diverse and engaging news stories. NBC News Digital features NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, Nightly News, Meet the Press, Dateline, and the existing apps and digital extensions of these respective properties. We deliver the best in breaking news, live video coverage, original journalism and segments from your favorite NBC News Shows.
Connect with NBC News Online!
Breaking News Alerts: link.nbcnews.com/join/5cj/bre...
Visit NBCNews.Com: www.nbcnews.com/
Find NBC News on Facebook: / nbcnews
Follow NBC News on Twitter: / nbcnews
Get more of NBC News delivered to your inbox: nbcnews.com/newsletters
#TheSympathizer #SandraOh #HoaXuande

[@alyanadhirahr]

Hoa Xuande is so charming and electric!

[@lynnbach71]

He's adorable, love his accent!

[@chubbygummies6210]

@@lynnbach71to me, he looks like young Dustin Nguyen

[@hanhphung3156]

Is Hoaxuan Vietnamese or Korean?

[@dullday9919]

​​@@hanhphung3156 he is an Australian raised by Vietnamese parents

[@lynnbach71]

The name sounds Viet.

[@TrungNguyen-uf8cv]

Even more rare with the persepective of South Vietnam Republic

[@MrLantean]

Many Vietnamese people especially in South Vietnam do not like the communists. Many are actually from North Vietnam and they fled when the Communists took over after IndoChina becomes independent after the French got defeated at Dien Bien Phu. Their dislike or hated of communists were rather personal. Many people in North Vietnam were accused of treason during their collaboration with French while others had their wealth and property got confiscated and distributed to the poor. Many were executed while others were sent to reeducation camps. Many managed to fled south to South Vietnam. Also the fall of South Vietnam was due to widespread corruption of the government. The US during the Cold War supported any regime even if they were corrupt and oppressive as long as they were anti-communists. That type of mentality resulted the fall of South Vietnam.

[@HaiNguyen-mj5pd]

The show is so good! Both the main character and supporting characters were so good. The Synthesizer and Shogun are best two shows by far this year!

[@pnayxkay]

First saw him in Ronny Chieng: International Student. What a journey, glad he's doing well.

[@CruzR1111]

Oh I knew I recognised sin from somewhere. Thanks. Love seeing an Asian Aussie doing well. ❤

[@altran1125]

they are humble

[@bernardmungin5940]

Anything Sandra Oh does is amazing!! I am definitely watching this!

[@lsamoa]

Ikr? I've never seen anything with her in it that wasn't absolutely great

[@vanng5689]

9 months to audition. Thats how hard Asian has to work to get the job. Its was since the 80s that I've watch all the films about the Cowboys and only now nearly 40 years later do i get to watch films about the Indians. Never too late though as Vietnam has so many good stories to tell!

[@lytieulong1966]

I just finished watching the first 4 episodes. They’re so good. I did cried couples of time. And, it was so painful to think back 49 yrs ago, the Fall of Saigon. 😥😥😥😥 We had no choice and we had to leave everything behind to find the word “Freedom”. According to the United Nations of High Commission for refugees there was approximated about half million boat people died at sea. And, one of them was my brother!!

[@lsamoa]

I'm so sorry for your loss. What you and your country went through is unspeakable. May there only be bright days forward for you all.

[@RobertSmith-rj9md]

Sandra is THE BEST xx

[@deekay13]

Hoa Xuande looks like Taemin here!

[@imimhappynow]

same here! he's so handsome

[@Cheap.Adventures]

I'm looking forward to this one. I heard it's a great show.

[@tintintravelers]

Oh I can't wait!!

[@leoma7802]

The lead actor is so great❤ Both of them work so well

[@erictheisen3203]

Awesome!!

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

He’s good in this& hope he has more roles in future

[@NguyenKhangDo]

I Love This Flims

[@kelvmwangangi4001]

WHAT A SHOW👏👏👏

[@VanVo-fw5dx]

I watched the first episode. It is great!! I am looking forward watching the entire series

[@artgelo9328]

I'm at EP3.... Sooooo goooood

[@mottahead6464]

Hoa Xuande is a star.

[@jasont4620]

He gives me a young Dustin Nguyen vibe

[@vivianjones9749]

Dustin Nguyen was in the Showtime series Warrior. He still looks great

[@lsamoa]

@@vivianjones9749 I had to pause Warrior when he appeared on screen so I could jump up and clap hands like a teenager haha

[@JLamstudio]

Oliver Stone’s HEAVEN & EARTH from 93 told the war from a Vietnamese peasant woman’s perspective. Amazing film everyone should see

[@giaungoc7319]

Fim is verry good ❤

[@brucesamia6353]

Great series

[@khiemtran7226]

Another Australian star like Heath Ledgers

[@janechoy2073]

I love that RDJ plays all the American characters because it flips the stereotype back on them - all white people look the same, especially the villains.

[@lsamoa]

Ikr? It's so funny. I love this show.

[@ezio_auditore5425]

Funny you mention that, If you watch the finale there's actual a much more personal reason as to why RDJr plays every white dude....finale is amazing BTW. It's emotional.

[@lsamoa]

@@ezio_auditore5425 Why would you go and drop a spoiler like that on people who didn't ask for it? 😡 Smh.

[@NPC8474]

Cool! This show looks interesting and has good ratings on rotten tomatoes.

[@rofalmatt]

Hoa Xuande Is from Australia with Vietnamese background

[@TashiTrainer]

I did the call back but he is a better a choice

[@trungvo2084]

The rock is west because the tears through his eyes. Soul of rock! The Việt Nam war was a set up...!

[@hanoiboy9839]

It is the view seen by Viet Kieu. The show is forbidden on HBO in VIETNAM. Another Hollywood story.

[@schnitzel_crumbs]

Why is it forbidden in Vietnam? I’m not familiar with the nuances

[@fleur_and_flower]

​@schnitzel_crumbs Vietnam does not like people being critical of its Communist government (in much the same way China does). Dissidents (journalists and writers alike) have been arrested and detained for who knows how long. Vietnam also ranks 178 out of 180 (so almost at the bottom) countries in regards to freedom of press in 2023, so you can get an idea how much censorship the country deploys. It doesn't like discussion that can influence the masses against the state (such as talks of democracy) or have them questioning their decisions. It's why the book that the show is based on is banned from publication in Vietnam. However, the book itself isn't really about the North vs. the South. In fact, it criticizes the US's involvement in the war (it is not the hero it likes to believe it is) and even portrays a Southern general as incompetent and bumbling (the South has its own share of failures). Its portrayal of the war is much more gray, rather than black and white that either side likes to believe. I can't say much about what the commenter above you knows about the story of the book itself (especially since Vietnam and the US both suffer from painting themselves in a good light when it comes to their portrayal to the outside world), but those are my two cents on the matter.

[@joanneduclos3550]

This show would be so much better without the people waving in the windows. How distracting!

[@lsamoa]

Nah it's cute. That girl with her phone spelling "I love you Sandra", how adorable is that

[@hongphucnguyenbuiphuchands6480]

god help us to help all vietnamese have full of democratic freedom

[@Kwhorre]

Did the journos not address him by his name??

[@user-ks3bk1ub2n]

진짜 태민 닮았네 ㅋㅋㅋ 태민이 선이 부드러운 느낌이라면 hoa는 좀 더 스포티한 느낌

[@nastyladd]

He really is a dude playing a dude, disguised as another dude

[@lephuckhanhtuong6124]

He is not a communist spy, he is a nationalist.

[@Curtnguy3929]

Ha ha

[@user-pw6ps1uh1x]

재밌나요?

[@pathosderdistanz9341]

장르가 장르이다 보니 기존의 박찬욱 영화 기대 하면 약간 결이 다르지만, 특유의 화면구성과 연출과 매혹적인 미장센, 연기 지도... 화면 하나하나 재밌슴. 장면 장면 재밋거리가 있어요. 그리고 매회 마다 인상에 남는 장면과 사건, 주요 인물들 캐릭터 아주 잘 살려놨구요. 박찬욱 특유의 웃기면서 끔찍하고, 아이러니한 상황도 많음. 혹시 재밌게 보셨다면 도 재미 만점. 3화까지만 연출해서 아쉽지만......

[@kyoseong]

전 재밌게 보고 있어요

[@user-sg9om8zi8y]

Put up curtains the public on the street are too distracting and don't add to the show.

[@leluu5950]

The show is a part of tourist attractions for New York, so it is intentional to have no curtains

[@seanlee2250]

🟨🟩🟨🟩🟨🟩🟨Viet🦘🦘🦘🦘Aussie 🕊 🟨🟩🟨🟩🟨🟩🟨Nam🐉🐉🐉Korea 🕊 🟨🟩🟨🟩🟨🟩🟨Cong🟢🟢Japan 🕊 🟨🟩🟨🟩🟨🟩🟨Hoa 🦅🦅USA🕊

[@daeseongkim93]

What even is this

[@darareachphon]

so the process of auditioning for a movie is to sleep with the directors or other actors?

[@djsapien3448]

I'm old enough to remember when Viet Thanh Nguyen said that Communism is worse than US imperialism so I already know this show is gonna be some bulljive lol

[@YxYzYx]

You desperately need a library card.

[@djsapien3448]

@@YxYzYx I guarantee I have read more on the subject than you have lol

[@zPePhungz]

He said that when lol. I want evidence

[@djsapien3448]

@@zPePhungz He tweeted about it on December 13, 2019. You can search for it yourself lol.

[@YxYzYx]

@@djsapien3448 in a library or on websites? Just curious. Also, why make it a contest 😂

[@onedollah]

Why is Sandra oh here.

[@Godzilladad]

She’s in the show 😂

[@williamhartz8707]

Can "Today" morning show use curtains to block out the stupid, passerby's gawking through the windows? They look ridiculous.

[@wiynwiyn]

First I was like is that Jolie's adopted son.

[@KhanhBB75]

It's about Vietnam, then why don't they select Vietnamese actors and actresses for main roles? Why that Sadra Oh? She's not at all a good actress, same blank face in all scenes, and not good looking or gracefull as well.

[@deekay13]

Xuande is Vietnamese

[@phanhuyduc2395]

I do not care she is Vietnamese or not. I do care why choose someone look like his mom to be his love interest lol😂

[@AAparallel]

She does not play a Vietnamese person in the show. I would read the book or watch an episode to understand.

[@RippleNwhip]

In the novel, her character is not Vietnamese. Her character is the older love interest.

[@CruzR1111]

I saw the chopsticks in her hair and the American accent and thought she might be playing Japanese American.

[@user-er3ri6sc3j]

Orientals aren't suppose to be blunt.

[@KP-xi4bj]

But Asians are supposed to be blunt. Like for real? Who uses "Orientals" in this day and age?

[@Justanotherdude0]

​@@KP-xi4bjbut gladly the show The Sympathizer takes place in 1975 right?

[@diskmort]

​@@KP-xi4bj The show takes place in the 70s

[@WrongholeReagan]

@@KP-xi4bjDon’t feed the troll, even for actual racists the word “oriental” is a dated and insufficiently spiteful term. The comment was just for attention

[@hungtran635]

His name hoa xuan de

[@hottea20052001]

What a pity this show is banned in Vietnam!

[@hungo9152]

What a shame that a film about Viet Nam history but the actor and actress even can not say a Viet namese word and know nothing about Viet Nam. Crazy

[@methosb]

He is Vietnamese and speaks Vietnamese a bunch in the film. She isn't playing a vietnamese character.

[@hungo9152]

? Are you sure?

[@DuyNguyen-nz1qy]

​@@methosb không biết cái gì mà cũng nhặng lên.