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### Viewing cable 00HOCHIMINHCITY838, AMERASIANS SHOW SIGNS OF ASSIMILATION INTO VIETNAMESE SOCIETY

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
00HOCHIMINHCITY838 | 2000-05-17 08:56 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Consulate Ho Chi Minh City

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

    170856Z May 00

    2000HOCHI00838 - UNCLASSIFIED

                               UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ5647

    PAGE 01        HO CHI  00838  01 OF 03  170856Z
    ACTION EAP-00

    INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00
          ED-01    FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-01    HHS-01   H-01     SSA-01
          TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00     AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00
          OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00
          SP-00    TRSE-00  USIE-00  FMP-00   R-00     PMB-00   DSCC-00
          PRM-01   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /011W
                      ------------------57D37C  170857Z /38
    FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
    TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2952
    INFO AMEMBASSY HANOI

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HO CHI MINH CITY 000838

    SIPDIS

    DEPARTMENT FOR PRM, EAP/BCLTV

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PREF PGOV SOCI CA VM PCUL
    SUBJECT: AMERASIANS SHOW SIGNS OF ASSIMILATION INTO VIETNAMESE SOCIETY

    ¶1.  SUMMARY: IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE VIETNAM WAR,
    VIETNAMESE SOCIETY SHUNNED AMERASIANS AND CONSIGNED MANY
    OF THEM TO LIVE ON THE STREETS IN ABJECT POVERTY. OVER THE
    PAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, HOWEVER, THEIR SITUATION SEEMS TO
    HAVE IMPROVED. RECENT INFORMATION SUGGESTS THAT MOST
    VIETNAMESE NOW TREAT AMERASIANS NO DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER
                           UNCLASSIFIED

    PAGE 02        HO CHI  00838  01 OF 03  170856Z
    VIETNAMESE. END SUMMARY.

    "CON LAI MY"
    ------------

    ¶2.  AMERASIANS IN VIETNAM ARE KNOWN AS "CON LAI MY," WHICH
    ROUGHLY TRANSLATES TO "MIXED-BLOOD AMERICAN."  IN THE WAKE
    OF THE AMERICAN WITHDRAWAL FROM VIETNAM, AMERASIANS AND
    THEIR MOTHERS BECAME THE TARGET OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC,
    AND SOCIAL DISCRIMINATION.  MANY VIETNAMESE OSTRACIZED
    THEM FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.  IN ADDITION,
    THE GOVERNMENT FORCIBLY RELOCATED MANY OF THEM, ALONG WITH
    THEIR MOTHERS, TO "NEW ECONOMIC ZONES" WHERE THEY LIVED
    UNDER CONDITIONS OF SEVERE HARDSHIP.  THE GOVERNMENT ALSO
    DENIED MANY AMERASIANS ACCESS TO IDENTITY PAPERS AND OTHER
    DOCUMENTS CRITICAL FOR INTEGRATION INTO CIVIL SOCIETY.

    ¶3.  THE U.S. CONGRESS RECOGNIZED THE DIRE PLIGHT OF
    AMERASIANS WHEN IT PASSED THE AMERASIAN HOMECOMING ACT IN
    ¶1987.  AS REPORTED IN THE ACT'S LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, MANY
    "AMERASIAN CHILDREN ARE REPORTEDLY INELIGIBLE FOR RATION
    CARDS AND OFTEN BEG IN THE STREETS, PEDDLE BLACK MARKET
    WARES, OR PROSTITUTE THEMSELVES."  THE HISTORY ALSO NOTES
    THAT "THE MOTHERS OF AMERASIAN CHILDREN IN VIETNAM ARE NOT
    ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT JOBS OR EMPLOYMENT IN GOVERNMENT
    ENTERPRISES AND MANY ARE ESTRANGED FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND
    ARE DESTITUTE."  THE ACT ALLOWS AMERASIANS (DEFINED AS "AN
    ALIEN WHO WAS BORN IN VIETNAM AFTER JANUARY 1, 1962 AND
    BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1976 AND WHO WAS FATHERED BY A CITIZEN
    OF THE UNITED STATES") AND THEIR CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS TO
    ENTER THE UNITED STATES AS IMMIGRANTS AND RECEIVE REFUGEE
                           UNCLASSIFIED

    PAGE 03        HO CHI  00838  01 OF 03  170856Z
    BENEFITS.

    ¶4.  TODAY, AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF AMERASIANS STILL LIVE IN
    VIETNAM.  APPROXIMATELY TWENTY AMERASIANS EACH WEEK APPLY
    TO THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SECTION FOR ADMISSION TO THE
    UNITED STATES THROUGH THE AMERASIAN PROGRAM.  TO BETTER
    UNDERSTAND THE LIVES OF AMERASIANS TODAY, POST'S DEPUTY
    RESETTLEMENT SECTION CHIEF (REFOFF) EXAMINED THE
    APPLICATION FORMS OF RECENTLY-APPROVED AMERASIANS,
    SOLICITED INFORMATION THROUGH SURVEYS, AND INTERVIEWED
    PENDING AND PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS.

    AMERASIANS APPROVED BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH 2000
    --------------------------------------------- -----

    ¶5.  THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE SIXTY-ONE AMERASIANS APPROVED
    FOR ADMISSION TO THE UNITED STATES FROM JANUARY THROUGH
    MARCH 2000 WAS TWENTY-NINE.  FORTY-ONE WERE MARRIED, ONE
    WAS DIVORCED, ONE WAS SEPARATED AND THE REMAINING EIGHTEEN
    WERE SINGLE.  THIRTY-FOUR OF THE SIXTY-ONE AMERASIANS HAD
    AT LEAST ONE CHILD.  NEARLY ALL APPLIED AS MEMBERS OF
    FAMILY GROUPS.  INDEED, ONLY FOUR INTENDED TO GO TO THE
    UNITED STATES ALONE.

    ¶6. THE INTERVIEWED AMERASIANS REPORTED A NINETY-SEVEN
    PERCENT EMPLOYMENT RATE.  THEY ARE EMPLOYED AS FOLLOWS:

                        LABORER             13
                        FARMER                    7
                        TAILOR               7
                           UNCLASSIFIED

    PAGE 04        HO CHI  00838  01 OF 03  170856Z
                        VENDOR               7
                        HOUSEWIFE            5
                        BLACKSMITH                     4
                        DRIVER               3
                        CARPENTER            2
                        MECHANIC             2
                        FISHERMAN            1
                        BAKER                1
                        LOTTERY              1
                        CYCLO DRIVER         1
                        HAIR DRESSER         1
                        LOGGER               1
                        BRICKLAYER                     1
                        PHOTOGRAPHER         1

    ONLY TWO AMERASIANS REPORTED THAT THEY WERE UNEMPLOYED.

    MOST AMERASIANS REPORT EQUAL TREATMENT
    --------------------------------------

    ¶7.  THIRTY-SIX OF THE SIXTY-ONE AMERASIANS SURVEYED
    REPORTED THAT, IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, THEY HAD BEEN
    TREATED NO DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER VIETNAMESE. PHUONG THAO,
    FOR EXAMPLE, IS AN AMERASIAN WHO LIVES IN HO CHI MINH CITY
    WITH HER HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER.  SHE HAS NOT YET APPLIED
    FOR THE AMERASIAN PROGRAM.  ALTHOUGH HER MOTHER URGED HER
    TO APPLY FOR AN AMERASIAN VISA IN THE EARLY 1990S, PHUONG
    THAO CHOSE TO STAY IN VIETNAM BECAUSE SHE DID NOT WANT TO
    LEAVE HER EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  SHE NOW MAKES A
                           UNCLASSIFIED

    PAGE 02        HO CHI  00838  02 OF 03  170857Z
    LIVING AS A SINGER.

    ¶8.  IN AN EXTENDED INTERVIEW WITH REFOFF, PHUONG THAO
    RECALLED THAT WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG, OTHER CHILDREN TAUNTED
    HER BECAUSE HER FATHER WAS AMERICAN.  FURTHER, THE
    COMMUNIST YOUTH ORGANIZATION, DOAN THANH VIEN, DID NOT
    ALLOW PHUONG THAO TO JOIN.  PHUONG THAO BELIEVES THAT THIS
    EXCLUSION DISADVANTAGED HER WHEN APPLYING FOR SCHOOLS AND
    EMPLOYMENT.

    ¶9. FOR PHUONG THAO, THE NAME-CALLING AND DISCRIMINATION
    ARE ONLY BAD MEMORIES FROM THE PAST.  NOW, SHE SAYS, THE
    ETHNIC VIETNAMESE TREAT HER JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. NOT
    EVEN THE COMMUNIST PARTY IS OFF LIMITS TO HER.  IF SHE
    WANTED TO JOIN, SHE SAID, SHE COULD.  SOCIALLY, SHE IS
    TREATED AS IF SHE WERE FULLY VIETNAMESE.  FOR EXAMPLE,
    WHEN PHUONG THAO MARRIED IN 1993, HER HUSBAND'S ETHNIC
    VIETNAMESE PARENTS EASILY ACCEPTED HER INTO THE FAMILY.

    ¶10.  PHUONG THAO AND HER HUSBAND ARE NOW CONSIDERING
    APPLYING FOR ADMISSION TO THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THE
    AMERASIAN PROGRAM.  THEIR INTENTION IS TO STUDY AND
    PERFORM MUSIC IN THE UNITED STATES FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND
    THEN RETURN TO VIETNAM.  SHE AND HER COMPOSER HUSBAND WANT
    TO SHOW THROUGH THEIR SONGS THAT THERE EXIST AMERASIANS
    "WITH AMBITION AND GOOD JOBS, THAT WE'RE THE SAME AS
    OTHERS."

    ¶11.  HONG, ANOTHER AMERASIAN, SHARED MANY OF PHUONG THAO'S
    EXPERIENCES.  REFOFF VISITED HONG AT HER HOME NEAR QUI
    NHON CITY. BY THE TIME REFOFF FOUND HONG'S HOUSE LOCATED
                           UNCLASSIFIED

    PAGE 03        HO CHI  00838  02 OF 03  170857Z
    AT THE EDGE OF A COMMUNITY ON THE FAR SIDE OF QUI NHON
    BAY, A GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY SEVENTY-FIVE PERSONS HAD
    FORMED AROUND HONG'S SMALL CEMENT DWELLING.  VILLAGERS
    CROWDED THE DOOR AND PRESSED AGAINST THE WINDOW'S IRON
    GRILLWORK TO LISTEN AS REFOFF INTERVIEWED HONG IN THE
    FRONT ROOM OF THE HOUSE.  HONG EXPLAINED THAT HER AMERICAN
    FATHER ABANDONED HER MOTHER WHO THEN ABANDONED HONG TO A
    FOSTER FAMILY IN QUI NHON.  SHE HAS NEVER MET OR HEARD
    FROM HER FATHER.  SHE MET HER MOTHER ONCE IN 1986 WHEN SHE
    RESURFACED TO CONVINCE HONG TO TAKE HER TO THE UNITED
    STATES.  HONG REFUSED TO GO, CHOOSING INSTEAD TO REMAIN
    WITH HER FOSTER FAMILY.

    ¶12. IN 1995, HONG FINALLY DECIDED TO APPLY FOR THE
    AMERASIAN PROGRAM.  HOWEVER, THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAM
    (ODP) REJECTED HER APPLICATION.  ACCORDING TO THE CASE
    FILE, THE ODP OFFICER DID NOT BELIEVE THAT HONG HAD A
    CREDIBLE AMERASIAN APPEARANCE.  [COMMENT:  REFOFF IS
    CONVINCED THAT HONG IS AMERASIAN.  NOT ONLY DOES HER
    ENTIRE COMMUNITY CONSIDER HER TO BE AMERASIAN, BUT BOTH
    SHE AND HER SON HAVE DISTINCTLY CAUCASIAN FACIAL FEATURES.
    ACCORDINGLY, REFOFF ENCOURAGED HONG TO REAPPLY FOR THE
    AMERASIAN PROGRAM.  END COMMENT.]

    ¶13.  HONG SAID THAT HER LIFE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT, BUT SHE
    DOES NOT NECESSARILY ATTRIBUTE HER DIFFICULTIES TO HER
    AMERASIAN HERITAGE.  AS A CHILD, SHE WAS CALLED NAMES SUCH
    AS "CON LAI."  SHE SAID THAT IT SOMETIMES MADE HER SAD TO
    BE REMINDED OF HER LOST PARENTS.  CURRENTLY, HONG INSISTS
    THAT SHE IS TREATED FAIRLY AND WITHOUT REGARD TO BEING
    AMERASIAN.  SHE OWNS A SMALL BOAT AND FERRIES PEOPLE
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    PAGE 04        HO CHI  00838  02 OF 03  170857Z
    ACROSS QUI NHON BAY.  HER HUSBAND IS A FISHERMAN.  SHE
    SAID THAT HER LIFE IS HARD, BUT NO HARDER THAN ANYONE
    ELSE'S.

    ¶14.  TOWARD THE END OF THE INTERVIEW, LIGHT FLOODED THE
    SMALL ROOM AS THE VILLAGERS SUDDENLY PULLED AWAY FROM THE
    WINDOWS AND DISPERSED. A POLICE OFFICER AND A PLAIN-
    CLOTHED GENTLEMAN -- LATER IDENTIFIED AS THE COMMUNIST
    PARTY BLOCK WARDEN -- MARCHED INTO THE SMALL ROOM.  THE
    MEN DEMANDED THAT REFOFF IDENTIFY HIMSELF AND PRODUCE A
    LETTER OF INVITATION.  HAVING NO LETTER, REFOFF EXPLAINED
    THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT AND INVITED THE TWO OFFICIALS TO
    JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION.  THOUGH AT FIRST RETICENT, BOTH
    THE OFFICER AND THE WARDEN ECHOED WHAT HONG HAD ALREADY
    TOLD REFOFF.  THEY CONFIRMED THAT HONG, THE ONLY AMERASIAN
    IN THE TOWN, IS TREATED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND HER
    NEIGHBORS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

    SOME CONTINUING INSTANCES OF MISTREATMENT
    -----------------------------------------

    ¶15.  OF THOSE AMERASIANS WHO REPORTED DIFFERING TREATMENT,
    THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT WAS NAME-CALLING.  FOURTEEN OF
    THE AMERASIANS REPORTED BEING CALLED "CON LAI" OR "MY
    LAI," VIETNAMESE FOR MIXED AMERICAN, OR "MY DEN,"
    VIETNAMESE FOR BLACK AMERICAN.  THE AMERASIANS REACTED
    DIFFERENTLY TO THE NAME-CALLING.  SOME, LIKE HONG,
    REPORTED FEELINGS OF SHAME OR EMBARRASMENT. OTHERS
    PERCEIVED "CON LAI" AS A TERM OF ENDEARMENT.

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    PAGE 02        HO CHI  00838  03 OF 03  170857Z
    ¶16.  THE NEXT MOST COMMON CONCERN OF THE AMERASIANS WAS
    JOB DISCRIMINATION, WHICH WAS REPORTED BY TEN SURVEY
    RESPONDENTS.  OF THESE, A FEW SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT
    HIRED FOR AT LEAST ONE JOB BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR
    SKIN.  SOME REASONED THAT THEY HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING WORK
    BECAUSE THEY HAD LIMITED EDUCATIONS.  ONE, A THIRTY-TWO-
    YEAR-OLD LABORER FROM BIEN HOA, SAID THAT EMPLOYERS IN HIS
    AREA KNOW AND ACCEPT HIM, BUT WILL NOT HIRE HIM
    PERMANENTLY BECAUSE THEY ASSUME THAT ONE DAY HE WILL
    DECIDE TO LEAVE FOR THE UNITED STATES.

    ¶17.  A FEW SURVEY RESONDENTS REPORTED PROBLEMS.  THREE
    COMPLAINED OF "LACK OF RESPECT," TWO CITED CONTINUING
    EFFECTS OF POOR EDUCATION, ONE CLAIMED TO BE THE VICTIM OF
    ARBITRARY ARREST AND ONE SAID SHE COULD NOT JOIN SOCIAL
    ORGANIZATIONS.

    COMMENT
    -------
    ¶18.  THE INFORMATION REPORTED ABOVE, THOUGH BASED ON A
    LIMITED SAMPLE OF AMERASIANS, SUGGESTS THAT THE FORTUNES
    OF AMERASIANS MAY BE CHANGING FOR THE BETTER.  WHEN THE
    AMERASIAN HOMECOMING ACT WAS PASSED THIRTEEN YEARS AGO,
    AMERASIANS WERE THE VICTIMS OF OFFICIAL DISCRIMINATION AND
    WERE COMPELLED TO "BEG IN THE STREETS, PEDDLE BLACK MARKET
    WARES, OR PROSTITUTE THEMSELVES." BASED ON INFORMATION
    COLLECTED BY REFOFF, THIS PORTRAYAL MAY NOW BE FAR FROM
    THE TRUTH.

    ¶19.  IN FACT, REFOFF DID NOT FIND A SINGLE AMERASIAN THAT
    WAS BEGGING IN THE STREETS, PEDDLING BLACK MARKET WARES,
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    PAGE 03        HO CHI  00838  03 OF 03  170857Z
    OR PROSTITUTING HIM OR HERSELF.  NEARLY ALL THE AMERASIANS
    IN THE SUBJECT GROUP WERE MEMBERS OF LONG-STANDING FAMILY
    UNITS AND EMPLOYED IN LEGITIMATE JOBS OR PROFESSIONS.

    ¶20.  AT THE TIME THE ACT WAS PASSED, AMERASIANS ALSO
    REPORTEDLY SUFFERED DISCRIMINATION IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF
    RATION CARDS AND IN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT.  THESE ISSUES
    ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT.  THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT NO
    LONGER DISTRIBUTES RATION CARDS, AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
    IS NO LONGER NECESSARY TO MAKE A LIVING IN VIETNAM.
    FURTHER, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE VIETNAMESE
    GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY ENGAGES IN EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
    AGAINST AMERASIANS.

    ¶21.  THE INFORMATION REPORTED ABOVE SUGGESTS THAT
    AMERASIANS, NOW ALL ADULTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 24 AND 38,
    HAVE GENERALLY ENJOYED A POSITIVE SHIFT IN SOCIAL STATUS
    SINCE THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT
    SOME AMERASIANS CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE MISTREATMENT.  SOME
    MISTREATMENT IS, NO DOUBT, DUE IN PART TO A CULTURAL
    AVERSION TO MIXED-BLOOD CHILDREN, COMMON IN MANY PARTS OF
    ASIA.  IT IS ALSO LIKELY THAT MANY AMERASIANS EXPERIENCE
    EMPLOYMENT DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE THEY LACKED EDUCATIONAL
    OPPORTUNITIES AS CHILDREN.  MOST AMERASIANS IN REFOFF'S
    SAMPLE, HOWEVER, APPEAR TO LEAD LIVES INDISTINGUISHABLE
    FROM OTHER VIETNAMESE.

    RAY

                           UNCLASSIFIED

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