"Viet Nam, Nu'o'c Toi" (Vietnam, My Country): Vietnamese Americans and Transnationalism

Abstract

The ways in which second-generation Vietnamese Americans perceive homeland Vietnamese society, & the influence that such representations have upon Vietnamese Americans' identities are examined. An overview of the historical factors that prompted Vietnamese immigrants to reside in certain regions of the US is provided. Vietnamese American students (N = 114) that attended various postsecondary educational institutions in the San Diego area completed surveys; in addition, in-depth interviews with students (N = 50) were conducted. Multiple findings are presented: a slight majority of participants identified themselves as Vietnamese; most respondents claimed proficiency in Vietnamese & listened to Vietnamese music frequently but did not normally read Vietnamese newspapers; & a majority of participants perceived the US as their home; & many individuals stated that they felt pressured to assimilate to American society. In addition, several respondents who visited Vietnam expressed a strong desire to help Vietnam develop economically & politically. It is concluded that Vietnamese Americans should not be connected to a single identity nor associated with a single geographic location. 2 Tables, 3 Figures, 42 References. J. W. Parker