Vietnamese Americans: History, Education, and Societal Context

Authors

Stacy M. Kula, Azusa Pacific UniversityFollow
Vinh Q. Tran, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow
Iraise Garcia, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow
Erika Saito, National UniversityFollow
Susan J. Paik, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow

Abstract

While Asian Americans are often depicted as one high-achieving group, there are in fact a wide diversity of Asian American populations that each have their own history and acculturation experiences in the United States. Vietnamese Americans are a particularly unique group; having come with other Southeast Asian refugee groups after the Vietnam War, they are a relatively recent addition to U.S. society with very different circumstances of arrival in comparison with groups from other regions of Asia. This article takes a historical lens to understand the unique factors surrounding Vietnamese American entry to the United States—including policy, societal reception, co-ethnic community, and other barriers and opportunities—that shaped acculturation experiences for this group, influencing their subsequent educational and occupational outcomes.

Recommended Citation

Kula, Stacy M.; Tran, Vinh Q.; Garcia, Iraise; Saito, Erika; and Paik, Susan J. (2021) "Vietnamese Americans: History, Education, and Societal Context," Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement: Vol. 16 : Iss. 1, Article 14.
DOI: 10.7771/2153-8999.1201
Available at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jsaaea/vol16/iss1/14