Acculturation of Vietnamese Immigrants and Descendants in Northeastern Thailand: An Analysis of Multiple Determining Factors

Abstract

This article presents acculturation of Vietnamese immigrants who arrived in Northeastern Thailand between 1945 and 1946 and their descendants. To understand the acculturation of Vietnamese immigrants into Thai society and preservation of their Vietnamese culture, this paper examines factors both prior and during the process of acculturation. These factors include migration motivations, migration age, education, socio-economic status, social support, social attitude, occupation adjustment, cultural distance, and length of residence. The research findings showed that integration was an outcome of the acculturation of the Vietnamese Thais. Adaptation to Thai culture and inheritance took place along with preservation of Vietnamese culture, resulting in Thai-Vietnamese combined behaviors of Vietnamese Thais. Such combination was displayed via language uses, appearance, and lifestyle. Once integrated, the Vietnamese Thais showed many contributions to regional development and became a bridge and strengthen the relationship between Thailand and Vietnam.