Vietnamese in Canada

People Name:	Vietnamese
Country:	Canada
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	169,000
World Population:	87,374,200
Primary Language:	Vietnamese
Primary Religion:	Buddhism
Christian Adherents:	25.00 %
Evangelicals:	3.00 %
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, Australia, the UK, and Canada.
There were two waves of Vietnamese entering Canada. The first was in 1975 with the fall of Saigon to communist forces. Extended family is important to the Vietnamese. A couple of years later relatives of the first wave began to arrive. The flow of Vietnamese refugees in Canada slowed considerably by the beginning of the 1990s.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the ethnic Vietnamese in Canada are now acculturated, but smaller numbers are still leaving Vietnam. Most of the Vietnamese Diaspora are from the southern part of the country, and they have adapted well to free market economics. Many are successful businessmen. Others have been elected to public office, represented Canada in the 2008 Olympics, and contributed to the arts.
Most Vietnamese speak either English or French; Vietnamese is only the 14th largest language in Canada. A high percentage of Vietnamese in Canada were born in Vietnam.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Vietnamese in Canada are Buddhists, though about one fourth are Christian, usually Roman Catholic. Another one fourth are non-religious.

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 in Canada.
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.