A Case Study of Vietnamese Refugees:

Assimilation in the Philippines and the United

States
Dayao, Rowena Clarise M.
Ombra, Norjanah M.
Opena, Grace Ann Marinelle G.
Ordas, Mikhaela M.
Pavon, Julianne Kyla R.

RESEARCH QUESTION
How did the resettlement of Vietnamese Refugees contributed to their welfare
in their host country/ies?

How did the factors contributed to the assimilation of former refugees to

their host countries?

How did their refugee experiences play a role in their resettlement and
assimilation in the host country/ies?

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Refugee
Crisis

Resettlement
Process

Assimilation

METHODOLOGY
TEN (10) KEY INFORMANT
INTERVIEW
Former refugees who did not
camp in the Philippines
Staffs from NGOs (BTPI formerly
PRPC, Viet Ville Palawan), head of
organizations formed by former
Vietnamese refugees (Vietnamese
Voices, Vietnamese American
Community of the USA)

FOUR (4) CASE STUDY

Former refugees resettled in the
Philippines and United States

DATA PRESENTATION
I. Key Informant Interviews
1. Staffs from organizations
1.1 Overview of the organization
1.2 Experiences during service
1.3 Assimilation of refugees
1.4 Personal sentiments and thoughts
2. Former Refugees
2.1 Escape from Vietnam
2.2 Camp Experiences
2.3 Assimilation to a third state
2.4 Present life conditions

II. Case Studies

A. Context of the Refugee Crisis
B. Refugee at Camp
C. Resettlement Process
D. Assimilation
E. Assimilation Measurement
1. Economic Assimilation
2. Cultural Assimilation
3. Civic Assimilation

FINDING AND ANALYSIS

Refugee Experience
o Context of the Refugee
o Refugee at Camp
o Resettlement Process

Assimilation
o Civic
o Economic
o Cultural

CONCLUSION
Experiences as a refugee highly affect
the assimilation of an individual
State and Institutional support highly
affect Resettlement
Local language and inter-marriage
Refugees accepted and sponsored by
host countries were able to contribute
and did not pose too much liability or
burden to their host state.

RECOMMENDATION
Address the factors that can better
assimilation
View the acceptance of refugees as a
way to foster cultural diversity and
advancement
Continue to fill the gaps that still
can be filled by future researchers

A Case Study of Vietnamese Refugees:

Assimilation in the Philippines and the United
States
Dayao, Rowena Clarise M.
Ombra, Norjanah M.
Opena, Grace Ann Marinelle G.
Ordas, Mikhaela M.
Pavon, Julianne Kyla R.