| Total population | |
|---|---|
| ~14,000(2012 est.)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Brussels,Liège | |
| Languages | |
| French,Vietnamese,Dutch,German | |
| Religion | |
| Vietnamese folk religion,Mahayana Buddhism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Overseas Vietnamese,Vietnamese people in France,Vietnamese people in Germany,Vietnamese people in the Netherlands |
Vietnamese people in Belgium orVietnamese Belgian refers to people ofVietnamese ancestry who were born in or immigrated toBelgium. The population of the community is about 14,000 as of 2012.
The first Vietnamese migrants to Belgium consisted of students and diplomats fromSouth Vietnam beginning in 1965, when the South Vietnamese government sought for stronger relations with otherFrancophone nations following a minor rift with France. Belgium soon became a popular alternative to France for South Vietnamese students seeking higher education and career opportunities, especially in the cities ofBrussels,Liège andLeuven.[1]
A much larger influx of Vietnamese immigrants arrived as refugees following theFall of Saigon, beginning in 1978. Similarly to theircounterparts in France, South Vietnamese refugees to Belgium were largely of higher socioeconomic standing and integrated much easier into their host country's society due to better linguistic and cultural knowledge than their peers who settled in North America, Australia and the rest of Europe.[2]
Following the fall of theBerlin Wall in 1989, a number of Vietnamese workers in formerSoviet Bloc countries who were sponsored by the communist government of Vietnam sought asylum in Belgium. This included many guest workers in the formerEast Germany who were encouraged by the German government to be repatriated back to their home country following German reunification.[3]
A large proportion of the Vietnamese Belgian population resides inBrussels and the surrounding area, with a Vietnamese business district centered alongBoulevard Anspach. The rest of the Vietnamese Belgian community is largely concentrated in the southern French-speakingWallonia region, especially around the city ofLiège.[1]
The Vietnamese community in Belgium maintains strong relations with its counterpart community in France. Before the establishment of Vietnamese businesses and community institutions in Belgium during the late 1970s, Vietnamese Belgians would travel toParis for various purposes, such as buying Vietnamese grocery products and seeking immigrant needs.[1]
In terms of religion, the vast majority of Vietnamese Belgians are at least nominalBuddhists, following theMahayana branch with influences fromConfucian philosophy. The influx of Vietnamese immigrants into Belgium created a visible Buddhist community in the country, with temples serving as both spiritual and community centers, and have also attracted non-Vietnamese worshippers.[4]
The Vietnamese community in Belgium is largely well-integrated into Belgian society. Among immigrants from the former South Vietnam, initial strong knowledge of theFrench language allowed them to pursue studies and careers despite their recent arrival. While some Vietnamese immigrants did settle in theFlanders region and learnedDutch, most relocated to Brussels or Wallonia. Meanwhile, Belgian-born Vietnamese have extremely high rates of success in education, at many times outperforming their peers and having a high rate of enrollment in higher education.[1]
