ARIZONA'S VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY
As a result of the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese people migrated to America in the mid-1970s, changing U.S. refugee policy. Since their migration here, they have become a big part of society and have adapted in multiple ways, whether it’s opening businesses, entering the workforce, or simply just maintaining their culture through tradition.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2016 American Community Survey, there was an estimated 29,629 people residing in Arizona that identified as Vietnamese, an 11.7 percent increase from 2011.
Organizations like the Vietnamese Student Association at ASU help bring together those in the Vietnamese community. They host multiple events to share their culture with others like the Boba Tea Fundraiser featured above. They also volunteer in major events around the Valley, such as the popular Arizona Asian Festival. The VSA is just one of many organizations in Arizona that works to promote the Vietnamese culture and educate others about it.
The 1970s was a time of hardship for one group in particular. A group of migrants known as the "boat people" risked their lives to escape from the communist regime in Vietnam and move to America.
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Coming to America was difficult as they faced discrimination and
and struggled with the language along with other cultural barriers. Fast forward about 40 years and the Vietnamese now make up about 13 percent of Arizona, according to the 2016 U.S. Census.
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For Vietnamese student Minh Do, his time here in America has stark contrasts compared to his life back in Vietnam.
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One big difference he has noticed is his school routine. Do says that he had the same long routine every day back home.
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One way that Do, along with other members of the Vietnamese community have maintained their cultural identity here in America is by celebrating traditional holidays that are unique to them, the biggest one being Tet.
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Tet is a three-day holiday that celebrates the New Year in accordance with the lunar calendar. Not only do they celebrate the New Year, but they celebrate everyone's birthdays as well because they do not believe in acknowledging their actual day of birth.
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Even though most Vietnamese families are close-knit and try their best at keeping their traditions alive, some of them say they struggle with maintaining their culture.
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Others like Do say that his biggest struggle has been learning the English language.
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For Do, along with others, he is still getting used to life here in the U.S.
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He says that life here in America is very different than life back in Vietnam.
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He also thinks that Americans should take more time out of their days to rest just like back in Vietnam rather than focusing on just working.