Vietnamese diaspora

The Vietnamese diaspora refers to people of Vietnamese descent who live outside Vietnam.

The global overseas Vietnamese population is estimated at 5 million people. The largest communities are in the United States, with nearly 2.4 million Vietnamese Americans, alongside populations in France, Australia, and Germany. Smaller communities are found in Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia.

The Vietnamese diaspora emerged through waves of migration. First migration occurred during the French colonial period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Later on, a refugee exodus following the Vietnam War in 1975 gave rise to thriving Vietnamese communities in the West. In later decades, the diaspora grew further through family reunification, economic migration, and educational opportunities.

Overseas Vietnamese continue to maintain some cultural connections, including continued use of the Vietnamese language, observance of traditional festivals such as Tết (Lunar New Year), and familial and economic connections, including approximately $14 billion USD in annual remittances to Vietnam.