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Blogging from Vietnam — Part 6

By immigrationprof

Vietnambuilding 
I have had the chance to meet with several Vietnamese lawyers who work for large firms here in Vietnam. Most went to law school here in Vietnam, where like many countries law school is a four year undergraduate program. Many went to study abroad, for an LL.M. In fact I am aware of at least three such individuals who received their LL.Ms from USF. I also met an attorney who works for a large firm who actually immigrated to the U.S. and became a lawful permanent resident. Who received his J.D. in the U.S. and worked for a large firm in the U.S. However, his parents wanted him to return to Vietnam, and he did. He is very very happy here. One thing for sure—those who are bilingual in Vietnamese and English tell me that they receive better salaries and better job opportunities here.

In the U.S., the profiles of early and later Vietnamese refugees influence the quality of life in the U.S. The first wave (through the late 1970s) was relatively well educated, proficient in English, and experienced in urban living. Though they accepted initial resettlement assistance, these refugees worked aggressively to minimize their subsequent reliance on government benefits. What federal funds they did accept, they used to achieve professional status and create thriving businesses.

The second wave, however, was much poorer and less educated and typically did not possess the skills needed for employment in a technologically complex society. Nor did they have the advantage of government programs designed to assist them with these problems. Many benefited from the solidarity generated in ethnic enclaves. Some, for example, despite having no established credit and no ability to procure loans from major financial institutions, managed to start small businesses with money borrowed from friends. Along with first-wave entrants, they helped account for the fact that Vietnamese-owned businesses had the highest U.S. growth rate in the 1980s. In general, though, the second wave remained trapped in low-status service sector jobs.

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