Vietnam 1950s, political tensions run high. People are caught between the Communist surge and the corrupt colonial powers. An American man, Pyle (Audie Murphy), arrives in the midst of this turmoil and falls in love with Phuong (Giorgia Moll), a native woman. However, Thomas Fowler (Michael Redgrave), a journalist from England, is already in love with her, even though he's married. Fowler has no desire to choose a side in the Vietnamese conflict, but is forced to do so because of his jealousy and his wish to eliminate Pyle. This brings on many political and personal problems for all involved.