Under the wave of globalization, the phenomenon of migration has become an important topic in the international community. As economic disparities between countries become more pronounced, people often choose to move across borders in pursuit of a better quality of life.
Two of Asia's immediate neighbors, Vietnam and China, provide a unique case to see this phenomenon.
China, as one of the world's economic powers, has achieved remarkable economic development results since the reform and opening up. In contrast, although Vietnam has also achieved economic growth, it still lags behind China's level of development.
Against this background, an interesting phenomenon arises: despite the relative poverty of Vietnam, mass migration of Vietnamese to China is rare.
This phenomenon has aroused people's curiosity and thinking: what factors influence the choice of Vietnamese people to immigrate to China?
01 Vietnam's economic and cultural background
Vietnam, a Southeast Asian country bordering China, has a rich and colorful history and culture.
As a country that has continued to evolve and change over the course of history, Vietnam has experienced hardships from colonial rule to civil war, and then to reform and opening up in recent years. Vietnam's development journey is both an epic of challenges and a manifestation of perseverance.
Vietnam's economic development was largely triggered by the "Đổi Mới" (reform) policy that began in 1986. The implementation of this series of reform measures marks Vietnam's transition from a centrally planned economy to a market economy.
While this shift has led to economic growth and social progress, Vietnam's pace has been more modest compared to China's rapid development.
Despite this, Vietnam has managed to establish itself as an increasingly important player on the international stage.
Vietnamese culture, heavily influenced by its history, is a unique system that blends elements of multiple cultures. Historically, Vietnam has long been influenced by Chinese culture, but it has also developed its own characteristics.
For example, although Vietnamese borrowed many Chinese characters, it developed into a unique language system.
Traces of Chinese culture can be seen in Vietnam's traditional festivals and Xi, but they have been integrated into the Vietnamese lifestyle.
On the streets of Vietnam, locals can be heard discussing these changes: "You see, although our way of life has many similarities with China, our culture is unique. ”
An elderly Vietnamese man said to his friend in the market. The friend nodded in response: "That's right, our history has given us a unique identity. We are Vietnamese and have our own stories. ”
Economically, although the average salary of Vietnamese people has increased in recent years, there is still a gap compared to China and other Southeast Asian countries.
Vietnam's service industry is growing rapidly, and many people choose to pursue such jobs for higher incomes. At the same time, Vietnamese people have a unique view of the quality of life.
In Vietnam, the price of daily necessities is relatively high, but the consumption of local specialty snacks and clothing is more common. This unique consumption pattern reflects the Vietnamese attitude towards life – seeking practicality and comfort rather than luxury.
02 China's economy is developing rapidly
Since the reform and opening up in 1978, China has undergone earth-shaking changes and has become an important engine of the global economy.
This vast East Asian country has not only made the leap from poverty to prosperity in just a few decades, but has also become a world frontrunner in many fields.
From an agrarian society to the modern era of industry and information technology, China's growth in economic aggregate has attracted the attention of the world.
According to statistics, from 367.9 billion yuan in 1978 to 9,865.1 billion yuan in 2019, such a growth rate and scale are unprecedented in world history.
China has not only made a leap forward in the scale of its overall economy, but has also made profound adjustments and optimizations in the structure and quality of its economy.
In China's megacities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, modern skylines, busy business districts and high-tech industrial parks are a direct reflection of China's economic development.
Standing on the observation deck in Lujiazui, Shanghai, a foreign tourist exclaimed, "Looking at these skyscrapers and busy streets, who would have thought that 40 years ago this was a farmland?" aptly sums up the miracle of China's development.
China's economic growth is not limited to its domestic market, its manufacturing and export businesses also occupy a prominent position on a global scale. China has become one of the world's largest manufacturing countries and trade in goods.
At the same time, China has also made remarkable achievements in scientific and technological innovation, such as in areas such as 5G communications, artificial intelligence and green energy technologies.
In addition, China's economic growth has also led to an improvement in social and living standards.
More and more Chinese are beginning to enjoy a higher quality of life, from education to health care, from infrastructure to social welfare, and the Chinese government has made great efforts to improve people's living standards.
In a café in Beijing, a middle-aged man discussed with a friend: "I remember when I was a child, our family didn't even have a TV, but now looking at our lives, it's really a sea change." ”
03 Vietnamese attitudes towards immigration
Although China's rapid economic development and growing international status have provided tremendous opportunities for people around the world, Vietnamese people have been relatively cautious and conservative about immigrating to China.
This attitude reflects the deep understanding and respect of Vietnamese people for their culture, lifestyle, and personal values.
First of all, Vietnamese people have a deep sense of pride and belonging to their cultural heritage. For them, culture is a symbol of identity and history, as well as an integral part of life.
This deep-rooted cultural identity makes them hesitant to leave their familiar cultural environment. In a small village in Vietnam, an elderly villager said to his grandson: "Our life is simple, but full of our own stories and traditions.
No matter how prosperous the outside world is, it can't replace our roots. This sentence expresses the deep feelings of many Vietnamese people about being uprooted from their homeland.
Second, Vietnamese people generally believe that it is more advantageous to emigrate to Western countries or more developed Asian countries.
Many Vietnamese believe that Western countries such as the United States, Canada, or Japan and South Korea in Asia may offer more opportunities and a higher quality of life than China.
At a university in Vietnam, a young student discussed the future with a friend, saying, "If I had the opportunity, I would prefer to go to the United States or Japan, where not only do I have more advanced technology and educational resources, but I can also experience a different way of life." "This view is very common among the younger generation in Vietnam.
Finally, many Vietnamese people are satisfied with their current living conditions and see no need to give up their current stable life for the sake of an uncertain future.
Although Vietnam's economic development level and living standards are still far behind China's, Vietnamese people are confident in their country's development and future.
Many Vietnamese believe that by working and living in their home country, they can make better use of their abilities and resources while maintaining strong ties to their families and cultures.
04 Three reasons: why do Vietnamese people not immigrate to China on a large scale
Despite the obvious gap between the economic development of Vietnam and China, Vietnamese did not immigrate to China on a large scale.
The reasons behind this are diverse and complex, and can be summarized in three main areas: cultural differences, preferences for developed countries, and satisfaction with the status quo.
1. The influence of cultural differences
Cultural differences are an important factor influencing the immigration choices of Vietnamese people. Although Vietnam and China both belong to the East Asian cultural sphere, there are clear differences in language, traditional Xi and lifestyle.
Vietnamese people are deeply rooted in their own cultural soil and feel uncomfortable with the sudden transition to a country with a completely different cultural background.
"Although there are similarities between our culture and China, they are also very different. An elderly Vietnamese man said while chatting with his neighbors, "Our festivals, customs and even daily life have their own unique ways. ”
2. Preference for developed countries
Another important reason is that Vietnamese tend to emigrate to Western countries or other more developed Asian countries.
Despite China's rapid economic growth, many Vietnamese see Western countries, such as the United States, Canada, or Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, as offering more opportunities and a better quality of life.
"If I had the opportunity to immigrate, I would choose to go to Japan or South Korea, where education and job opportunities are more attractive to me. A Vietnamese university student said when planning for the future.
3. Satisfaction with the status quo
Finally, many Vietnamese are satisfied with their current living situation and are not willing to give up their current stable life for the sake of an uncertain future.
Although Vietnam's economy and living standards still lag behind China's, many Vietnamese are confident in their country's future.
They believe that working and living in their home country will allow them to better reach their potential while maintaining strong ties to their families and cultures.
A middle-aged Vietnamese man discussed the future with his family, saying, "Although we are not rich here, our life is stable. We have our own homes, we have our communities, and these are things that money can't buy. ”