Vietnamese in Bulgaria

People Name:	Vietnamese
Country:	Bulgaria
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	1,600
World Population:	87,374,200
Primary Language:	Vietnamese
Primary Religion:	Buddhism
Christian Adherents:	5.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.40 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Vietnamese
Affinity Bloc:	Southeast Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

For over two thousand years, people in the land of Vietnam have recognized their national identity. During those two millennia China controlled Vietnam about one half of the time.
In 1887 Vietnam became part of French Indochina. From 1939 to 1975 the Vietnamese fought the Japanese, French and then the Americans.
The communists under Ho Chi Minh overthrew the French in 1954. The Geneva Accord of 1954 split the country into North and South Vietnam along the 17th parallel. The US gave aid to South Vietnam. The US military withdrew from the country in 1973. Two years later the communist north overtook the south and "re-united" the country. Under state socialism the nation's economy floundered. In the 1990s the government began to allow market reforms and the economy has grown to become one of the leading economies of Southeast Asia.
People who worked with the South Vietnamese government were severely persecuted and had to flee. Most of the ethnic Vietnamese who left their country fled during the wars and in the 1970s and 1980s. Thousands of Vietnamese now live in France, the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and Bulgaria, where most live in Sophia.
During the Soviet era, Bulgaria and North Vietnam were both Soviet allies. Bulgaria and North Vietnam wished to cooperate regarding cultural and educational affairs. As a result, a small number of Vietnamese students came to their country. Later they were joined by others who acted as cheap laborers at a time when Vietnam had a labor surplus.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the ethnic Vietnamese in Bulgaria are now acculturated, but smaller numbers are still leaving Vietnam.
Extended family is important to the Vietnamese and that includes cousins. Vietnamese women work alongside men in many jobs and play a major role in raising children and managing family finances.

What Are Their Needs?

The Vietnamese must see that Christianity is not a foreign religion imposed on them by outsiders. They need to see the love of Christ lived out among them by Spirit-filled disciples.

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send loving disciplers to the Vietnamese wherever they live.
Pray for a spiritual hunger among the Vietnamese that drives them to read the Bible and listen to Christian radio programs.
Pray for a church planting movement that affects every Diaspora Vietnamese community.