Recent Chinese Migration to Vietnam
Based
on fieldwork conducted in various locations in Vietnam, this article examines
the different types of Chinese migration to Vietnam since the normalization of
Vietnam-China relations in 1990.
The
article notes differ-ences between the old and new Chinese migration. Recent
Chinese migra-tion is characterized by the diversity in the composition of
migrants.
Furthermore,
recent Chinese migration is fuelled by the government’s “go-out strategy” and
is closely linked with increasing flows of investments, economic aid, trade and
culture from China
Hoa
(Hua 華 in Mandarin Chinese, lit.
"Chinese") refers to a minority group living in Vietnam consisting of
persons considered ethnic Chinese ("Overseas Chinese"). They are
often referred to as Chinese Vietnamese, Vietnamese Chinese, Sino-Vietnamese,
or ethnic Chinese in/from Vietnam by the general Vietnamese populace, Overseas
Vietnamese and other ethnic Chinese. The Vietnamese government's classification
of the Hoa excludes two other groups of Chinese-speaking peoples, the San Diu
people and the Ngái people. The Hoa constitute one group of Overseas Chinese
and contain one of the largest Overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia.
The
Hoa were highly represented in Vietnam's business and commerce sector before
the Fall of Saigon in 1975. As of 2012, they comprise a well-established middle
class ethnic group and make up a high percentage of Vietnam's educated and
upper class. As with ethnic Chinese elsewhere in Southeast Asia, the Sino-Vietnamese
are dominant in Vietnamese commerce and business. They are estimated to have
started 70% to 80% of pre-fall of Saigon's privately owned and operated South
Vietnamese economy.
At
present, Sino-Vietnamese comprise a small percentage in the modern Vietnamese
economy, now mostly Kinh-run, as many Hoa had their businesses and property
confiscated by the Communists after 1975, and many fled the country as
Vietnamese boat people due to persecution by the new Communist government. Hoa
persecution intensified in the late 1970s, which was one of the reasons for the
Sino-Vietnamese War.
Due
to historical issues, they are referred in Vietnamese as "Hoa"
instead of the main Vietnamese name for Chinese people, "Hán", in
order to avoid conflict between China and Vietnam.
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