

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 00HOCHIMINHCITY838, AMERASIANS SHOW SIGNS OF ASSIMILATION INTO VIETNAMESE SOCIETY
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #00HOCHIMINHCITY838.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
00HOCHIMINHCITY838 | 2000-05-17 08:08 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | 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
UNCLASSIFIED
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.
UNCLASSIFIED
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,
UNCLASSIFIED
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