The Vietnamese Americans (The New Americans) [Hardcover]

Hien Duc Do (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313297800 | ISBN-13: 978-0313297809 | Publication Date: December 30, 1999

Vietnamese first came to the United States as refugees in the 1970s, after the Vietnam War. The Vietnamese Americans, written by a former Vietnamese refugee, is the only in-depth resource especially for students and general readers with a solid introduction to Vietnam, the history of Vietnamese immigration, and a forthright analysis of Vietnamese Americans' struggles to forge a better future. As their adjustment process is chronicled from the perspectives of the family and ethnic community, the label of the model minority is debunked to reveal both minor economic successes and serious problems such as high school dropouts and gang activity. With the increasing emphasis in the curriculum on Asians and the debates on new immigration, The Vietnamese Americans provides an essential component to understanding the evolving ethnic mosaic in this country. After an overview of Vietnam, culminating in a brief history of U.S. involvement there, the U.S. Government policies on Vietnamese immigration and the eventual resettling of the refugees themselves in more hospitable climates, such as in California, are detailed. Do describes how early immigrants paved the way for later ones with the building of ethnic communities. Crucial issues in the Vietnamese American community, such as mental health and gang activity, are highlighted. An important chapter on employment and education trends reveals a precarious position on the ladder to success. These immigrants' impact on the larger society is explained with descriptions of two important festivals, Vietnamese restaurants, the "Little Saigon" enclaves, and political participation, including some pressure on the government to influence events in Vietnam. A concluding chapter addresses the future of the Vietnamese American community, assessing the model minority myth, economic survival, cultural preservation, political agenda, and problem generations and community development.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This in-depth guide covers settlement patterns, language, common family names, religion, cultural values, cuisine, and a brief history focusing on the war in Vietnam.”–Multicultural Review

About the Author

HIEN DUC DO is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Social Science Department at San Jose State University, San Jose, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (December 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313297800
• ISBN-13: 978-0313297809
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vietnamese Americans, July 6, 2002

By 

Neel Aroon "jaroon7648" (Lexington, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Vietnamese Americans (The New Americans) (Hardcover)

Hien Duc Do provides a good account of vietnamese americans. To often they are reduced to stereotypes like the model minority or poor boat people, however there is obviously more than that to vietnamese americans. Do covers issues of vietnamee history anbd culture especially important considering the american involvement in vietnam. It looks at how vietnames have come to this country as refugees and as immigrants. Do deals with the prejudice that vietnamese have faced such as conflicts in states like louisanaia and texas when they entred the fishing industry as well as problems with other minority groups like hispanics and blacks over goverment resources. There is a good deal of information about the generational conflicts between first and second generation vietnames who differ in areas like language and values. It looks at problems like mental health that are not dealt with all that much in the vietnamese community Do does cover the model minority issue discussing school achievement and looks at how above average poverty rates among vietnamese.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Culture, Community and Ethnic Identity, October 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Vietnamese Americans (The New Americans) (Hardcover)

This book covers a brief history of Vietnam, Vietnamese people, of their heritage and culture. Discussed how the Vietnamese came to America more than thirty years ago as refugees and have created their own community that is now interwoven into the fabric of the American society. The author examines the Vietnamese community through their political participation, social issues such as education, community development, cultural preservation and economic survival.