Did the film makers hold back cultural customs to create drama?

Surely they would have known that any vietnamese who leaves their family to have a better life is expected to give back money to help them out. ESPECIALLY that vietnamese woman who went with her to Vietnam, and apparently reunites families often. With this information, I'm sure Hiedi wouldn't have been upset, but now all she sees is her family being a bunch of money grubbers, and it's sad because I'm sure they genuinely cared for her, it's just normal for them to expect money.

Do not speak- unless it improves on silence.