The British Vietnamese Diaspora

Abstract

This chapter contextualises the experience of the Vietnamese diaspora in Britain with reference to the broader international Vietnamese diaspora. It provides the context and background to the book by focusing on the early conditions of migration and settlement of Vietnamese refugees in Britain. Their migratory trajectories and the conditions underpinning their reception and incorporation are explored in relation to other national contexts in the USA, Australia and Canada. This is taken up to the present day in relation to the subsequent generations born in these host nations. The first section of the chapter outlines the experiences and social composition of Vietnamese refugees arriving in Britain, this will include a discussion of the political and migratory context underpinning the refugee experience, and the key factors (arrival, reception, cultural and demographic issues) shaping their early resettlement. By analysing the unique characteristics and experiences of the Vietnamese in Britain, the chapter provides an explanation for the issues affecting the community today and considers the implications for the young British-born Vietnamese. This analysis will show how the Vietnamese in Britain have been located at the periphery of society as a consequence of their migratory and ethnic origins and relations under the British colonial legacy.