YA Historical Vietnam story told from child's viewpoint

Fiction/ Nonfiction: True to life fiction or non-fiction
Plot: It's the story of a boy and his family traveling on a river to escape (?) from Vietnam (?) and the struggles they face. I believe there is a two brothers element. I think there are many mentions of rice. I know that sounds odd and vague.
When you think it was written or when you read it: I read it in grade school as an advanced reader. That was somewhere around 1985.
Book's intended audience: Young readers with education in mind
Anything you remember about the title, author, cover or size of book:
I seem to remember it was assigned reading for us in Library class, and was a mass market paperback. About 300 pages.
Any help you can provide is much appreciated! I've gone as far as tracking down the librarian herself with no luck!

Okay, this is just a possible: I own this book but haven't read it so no promises, but my first thought was Little Brother by Alan Baillie - it's YA about Vietnam and won an award in 1986, and my cover has two boys running alongside a river on it...

Melannen - I really think that is it! Grabbed a copy and I should have it Wednesday. I am soooo excited! I'll post here again to confirm. So appreciative. This has been a mystery to me for so long.

Thanks!

Tami Martin

Although you think you already found it - if that doesn't turn out to be the right one, I thought that your description sounded a lot like A Boat to Nowhere.

I agree it is Little Brother. It was assigned in my school too, probably in English, to read. Good book! I don't think it is that thick though!