The document summarizes the history of Vietnamese immigration to the United States. It describes the small Vietnamese population in the U.S. prior to the Vietnam War. It then discusses the major waves of Vietnamese refugees fleeing the country after the fall of Saigon in 1975 and the communist takeover, the difficult journeys many took to reach refugee camps, and their initial settlement in the U.S., often taking low-skilled jobs. It also notes some discrimination Vietnamese immigrants faced upon arrival but have since achieved higher education and income levels.

1. VIETNAMESE IMMIGRATION
Presented by:
Angelica - editor
Pedro - researcher
Steven - director
Vicky - artistic director

2. LLIIFFEE IINN TTHHEE OOLLDD WWOORRLLDD

3. TTHHEE UUNNIITTEEDD SSTTAATTEESS IINN 11996644
ONLY 604 VIETNAMESE PEOPLE IN
THE UNITED STATES.
THEY WERE MAINLY:
- STUDENTS
- LANGUAGE TEACHERS
- DIPLOMATS

4. THE VIETNAM WAR
(1956 - 1975)
(1956 - 1975)
AGENT ORANGE
- DESTROYED RAIN FORESTS
- DESTROYED CROPS
- HEAVILY DAMAGED FOETUS
CHROMOSOMES
- CAUSED A VARIETY OF
DISEASES

5. THE VIETNAM WAR
(1956 - 1975)
(1956 - 1975)
AGENT ORANGE
- DESTROYED RAIN FORESTS
- DESTROYED CROPS
- HEAVILY DAMAGED FOETUS
CHROMOSOMES
- CAUSED A VARIETY OF
DISEASES

6. THE VIETNAM WAR
(1956 - 1975)
(1956 - 1975)
AGENT ORANGE
- DESTROYED RAIN FORESTS
- DESTROYED CROPS
- HEAVILY DAMAGED FOETUS
CHROMOSOMES
- CAUSED A VARIETY OF
DISEASES
AMERICAN BOMBS
- 8 MILLION DROPPED
1965 - 1973
- MANY DID NOT DETONATE
- STILL A THREAT

7. THE VIETNAM WAR
(1956 - 1975)
(1956 - 1975)
MASSACRES
- PINKVILLE (CODENAME)
WAS THE LARGEST
RECORDED MASSACRE OF
VIETNAMESE CITIZENS
- MANY MORE, SMALLER
SCALE MASSACRES
OCCURRED, BUT WERE NOT
RECORDED

8. “THE FALL OF SAIGON”
THE END OF THE WAR
THE END OF THE WAR
APRIL 30, 1975
- THE NORTH TAKES OVER
THE SOUTH
- INTENDED TO PERSECUTE
ANYONE IN SUPPORT OF
SOUTHERN VIETNAMESE

9. ““TTHHEE FFAALLLL OOFF SSAAIIGGOONN””
“ON THOSE LAST DAYS OF APRIL, [THERE WAS] A
LOT OF GUNFIRE AND BOMBING AROUND THE
CAPITAL. PEOPLE WERE RUNNING ON CHAOTIC
STREETS. WE GOT SCARED… WE WENT TO AN
AMERICAN BUILDING WHERE A LOT OF
AMERICANS AND THEIR VIETNAMESE ASSOCIATES
WERE READY TO BE PICKED UP BY AMERICAN
HELICOPTERS.”
- VIETNAMESE REFUGEE

10. TTHHEE FFIIRRSSTT WWAAVVEE ((11997755))
- MOST ONLY FLED IN FEAR
TO ESCAPE NORTHERN
TROOPS
- MOSTLY MILITARY
PERSONNEL AND THEIR
FAMILIES
- EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS
- 36% OF HOUSEHOLD
HEADS GRADUATED FROM
HIGH SCHOOL
- 16% AT LEAST WENT TO
COLLEGE
- MANY KNEW ENGLISH

11. SSEECCOONNDD WWAAVVEE
NEW COMMUNIST POLITICAL, ECONOMICAL, AND
AGRICULTURAL POLICIES
- SEIZED AND
REDISTRIBUTED FARMLAND
- CLOSED ETHNIC-CHINESE
VIETNAMESE BUSINESSES
- FORCED RELOCATION FROM
URBAN TO RURAL AREAS
- “REEDUCATED” AND
TORTURED EVERYONE
INVOLVED WITH SOUTHERN
TROOPS

12. SSEECCOONNDD WWAAVVEE
OTHER PUSH FACTORS
- HIGH POVERTY RATES;
NEED TO FIND BETTER
WORK
- PARENTS WANTED SONS
TO ESCAPE DRAFT
- DISCRIMINATION AND
PERSECUTION

13. SSEECCOONNDD WWAAVVEE
ETHNIC-CHINESE VIETNAMESE
- WERE CHINESE THAT WERE
VIETNAMESE CITIZENS
- 40% OF SECOND WAVE
- FACED HOSTILITY FROM
VIETNAMESE SOCIETY FOR
DECADES
- TARGET OF DISCRIMINATION
BY COMMUNISTS

14. SSEECCOONNDD WWAAVVEE
THOSE WITH EDUCATION
- SMALL NUMBERS
- DOCTORS
- LAWYERS
- PROFESSORS, ETC.
- KNEW ENGLISH
THOSE WITHOUT
- FISHERMEN
- FARMERS
- STOREKEEPERS
- FROM RURAL AREAS, VILLAGES,
AND SMALL COASTAL CITIES
- MOST DIDN’T KNOW ENGLISH
- HIGHLY IMPOVERISHED
- IMMIGRATED WITH FAMILIES

15. TTHHIIRRDD WWAAVVEE ((8800’’SS AANNDD 9900’’SS))
- TRYING TO ESCAPE WAR
BETWEEN VIETNAM AND
CHINA
- MOSTLY CHILDREN AND
TEENAGE BOYS
- PRISONERS OF WAR

16. TTHHEE VVOOYYAAGGEE

17. EESSCCAAPPIINNGG TTHHEE CCOOMMMMUUNNIISSTTSS
- AIRLIFTED BY THE
AMERICANS
- FLED ON MILITARY CARGO
SHIPS
- LESS THAN TEN HOURS’
NOTICE
- MOST DIDN’T KNOW
WHERE TO GO; FOLLOWED
CROWD

18. EESSCCAAPPIINNGG TTHHEE CCOOMMMMUUNNIISSTTSS
“WHAT WAS THE ONE EVENT DURING THE TRIP [EVACUATION] YOU
WILL NEVER FORGET?”
- INTERVIEWER
“IT WAS WHEN ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE
TRYING TO GET ON THE PLANE AT THE AIRPORT.
I SAW PEOPLE JAMMING THE DOOR AND WOMEN
AND CHILDREN COULD NOT GET ON. THE
SHELLING CAME CLOSER AND THEN THE PLANE
TOOK OFF WITH PEOPLE STILL HANGING AT THE
DOOR.”
- VIETNAMESE WOMAN EN ROUTE FROM
PHILIPPINES TO US

19. EESSCCAAPPIINNGG TTHHEE CCOOMMMMUUNNIISSTTSS
“OPERATION NEW LIFE”
- REFUGEES TRANSFERRED TO
US BASES
- GUAM
- THAILAND
- WAKE ISLAND
- HAWAII
- PHILIPPINES
- AWAITED PROCESSING
- SENT TO FOUR REFUGEE CENTERS
IN US:
- CAMP PENDLETON (CA)
- FORT CHAFFEE (AK)
-EGLIN AIR FORCE (FL)
- FORT INDIANTOWN GAP (PA)

20. TTHHEE ““BBOOAATT PPEEOOPPLLEE””
- EXTREMELY UNSAFE,
CROWDED FISHING BOATS
- MAIN MODE OF
IMMIGRATION
FROM SECOND WAVE ON
- LARGE STORMS
- STARVATION
- DEHYDRATION
- 2/3 ATTACKED BY PIRATES;
EACH BOAT AVG. 2 TIMES

21. TTHHEE ““BBOOAATT PPEEOOPPLLEE””
"WE ENCOUNTERED PIRATES ON OUR
JOURNEY. THEY LOWERED A DINGHY
FROM THEIR SHIP TO COME TO OUR BOAT,
AND THEY RAPED THE WOMEN AND
YOUNG GIRLS. THEY INTENDED TO SINK
OUR BOAT.
WE HAD TO GIVE THEM ALL OF OUR
MONEY AND JEWELRY. AFTER THE
PIRATES LEFT,
[WE] SAILED FOR A WHILE,
THEN SAW A MALAYSIAN OIL TANKER.

22. TTHHEE ““BBOOAATT PPEEOOPPLLEE””
"IF WE HADN'T SEEN IT,
WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DROWNED,
BECAUSE THAT NIGHT THE WIND AND THE
CURRENT WERE VERY STRONG, AND OUR BOAT
WAS SMALL,
LIKE A SMALL FISHING BOAT. THERE WERE 126
PEOPLE ON BOARD, LYING NEXT TO ONE
ANOTHER. MANY CHILDREN BECAME SEASICK.
THEY VOMITED.
THEIR EYES WERE ALL WHITE.
[WE] THOUGHT THEY WERE DEAD."
- LE THI SEN

23. TTHHEE ““BBOOAATT PPEEOOPPLLEE””
- FLEEING TO ASYLUM CAMPS
IN:
- MALAYSIA
- THAILAND
- SINGAPORE
- INDONESIA
- PHILIPPINES
- HONG KONG
- WAITED FOR ACCEPTANCE FROM
FOREIGN NATIONS
- OFTEN WAITED YEARS
- 40-60,000 PICKED UP BY
AMERICAN NAVY SHIPS;
TRANSPORTED TO GUAM AND
PHILIPPINES

24. WWHHYY TTHHEEYY CCAAMMEE

25. WWHHYY TTHHEEYY CCAAMMEE
- UNITED STATES
SUPPORTED SOUTH
VIETNAM
- ONLY COUNTRY TO ACCEPT
VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANTS
AT THE TIME
- SAFETY
- FREEDOM
- MORE OPPORTUNITIES
- GREATER ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL STABILITY

26. WWHHYY TTHHEEYY CCAAMMEE
- PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY
COULD RETURN TO
VIETNAM
- 1977 SURVEY:
41% OF HOUSEHOLD
HEADS PLANNED TO
MOVE BACK TO VIETNAM

27. WWOORRKK AANNDD SSEETTTTIINNGG

28. VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANT POPULATION IINN UUSS ((11998800 -- 22001122

29. SSEETTTTLLIINNGG IINN TTHHEE SSTTAATTEESS
- MOSTLY SETTLED IN
WARMER STATES
- 40% IN CALIFORNIA
- 7.2% IN TEXAS
MAIN CITIES (IN ORDER OF POPULATION
- LOS ANGELES, CA
- LONG BEACH, CA
- SANTA ANA, CA
- SAN JOSE, CA
- SUNNYVALE, CA
- SANTA CLARA, CA
- HOUSTON, TX

30. TOP DESTINATION STATES FOR VIETNAMESE IIMMMMIIGGRRAANNTTSS ((22000088--22001122))

31. TOP METROPOLITAN AREA DESTINATIONS FOR VIETNAMESE IIMMMMIIGGRRAANNTTSS ((22000088--22001122))

32. HHOOUUSSIINNGG
- COMPETED WITH
AMERICANS FOR LOW
INCOME HOUSING
- LIVED IN PROCESSING
CAMPS
- LARGER FAMILIES: ABOUT 5
- SUBURBS, URBAN AREAS

33. HHOOUUSSIINNGG AANNDD EEMMPPLLOOYYMMEENNTT
- DESPITE EDUCATION OF
SOME, HAD TO GET
WHATEVER JOBS AVAILABLE
- JANITORS, LIMOUSINE
DRIVERS, ETC.
- CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO
FISHING INDUSTRY IN SOUTH
- OVER TIME, VIETNAMESE
IMMIGRANTS (SECOND
GENERATION) TOOK THE
LEAD IN EDUCATION
- INCREASE IN AVERAGE
INCOME
- LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
5-6%

34. HHOOUUSSIINNGG AANNDD EEMMPPLLOOYYMMEENNTT
- WIDER VARIETY OF JOBS
- MANAGEMENT
- ART, SCIENCE
- SERVICE
- SALES, OFFICE,
GOVERNMENT
- NATURAL RESOURCES,
CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE
- FOOD: FISHING,
SHRIMPING, FARMING
- PRODUCTION,
TRANSPORTATION, MATERIAL
MOVING
- ~10% SELF-EMPLOYED IN 1990

35. EMPLOYED IMMIGRANT WORKERS IN CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE (AGES 16+) BY OCCUPATION AANNDD OORRIIGGIINN,, 22001122

36. VIETNAMESE PEOPLE IN
SAN JOSE
SAN JOSE
- MANY ENTREPRENEURS
- 40% OF RETAIL BUSINESSES
IN DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE
- MANY VIETNAMESE CUISINE
RESTAURANTS
- HAIR SALONS
- GRAND CENTURY MALL
- LEE SANDWICHES

37. PPRREEJJUUDDIICCEESS

38. JJUUDDGGEEDD BBYY AAMMEERRIICCAANNSS
- DISLIKED BY AMERICAN
CITIZENS BECAUSE OF
COMPETITION AND MEDIA
- MEDIA ONLY FOCUSED ON
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
IN WAR; DIDN’T SHOW
VIETNAMESE PERSPECTIVE
- 1975 POLL: ONLY 36% OF
AMERICANS IN FAVOR OF
VIETNAMESE IMMIGRATION.

39. DISCRIMINATION AANNDD SSTTEERREEOOTTYYPPEESS
- DISCRIMINATION IN
WORKPLACES, COURTS,
AND BY POLICE
- TARGETS OF KU KLUX KLAN
- DENIED ACCESS TO
EDUCATION AND VOTING
- CALLED “CHINK”
- "GO BACK TO CHINA”
- BELIEVED TO ALL BE
OVERACHIEVERS IN
SCHOOL
- BELIEVED TO ALL BE
REFUGEES

40. DISCRIMINATION AANNDD SSTTEERREEOOTTYYPPEESS
T.T.NHU COMMENTED IN SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS 1988:
“MANY REFUGEES FIND THAT THEY FACE
ANOTHER TYRANNY IN THIS COUNTRY IN
THE FORM OF INSISTENCE ON POLITICAL
CONFORMITY… IT IS REMINISCENT OF
NIGHTMARISH TIMES ALREADY
EXPERIENCED IN THIS COUNTRY DURING
THE MCCARTHY ERA.”

41. LLAAWWSS

42. INDOCHINA MIGRATION
AND REFUGEE ACT OF
1975
1975
1975
PASSED BY FORD ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPORT
ARRIVAL OF VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANTS

43. REFUGEE ACT OF
1980
1980
PASSED BY CONGRESS TO HELP VIETNAMESE
IMMIGRANTS
- REDUCED RESTRICTIONS ON ENTRY
INTO US
- DEFINED REFUGEE
- CREATED OFFICE OF REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT
- SET NUMBER OF ANNUAL REFUGEE
ADMISSIONS TO 50,000 (EXCEPT FOR
EMERGENCIES)
- REFUGEE COULD ADJUST STATUS
AFTER ONE YEAR TO BECOME
PERMANENT CITIZEN
- AFTER FOUR YEARS, COULD BECOME
US CITIZEN

44. OOTTHHEERR LLAAWWSS
- GRANTED ENTRY INTO US
TO CHILDREN OF AMERICAN
SERVICEMEN AND FORMER
POLITICAL PRISONERS

45. Thank you for listening

46. BIBLIOGRAPHY