Why do Vietnamese come to Cambodia if they would make more in Vietnam?

[soyoung123]

I met several Vietnamese in Laos (hostel manager, barbers). They said it was hard to find work back home. So they claimed unemployment benefits from the government and work abroad. Could earn two incomes.

[Trevor25220]

Are the Cambodian Vietnamese mostly the unloved (at home) ethnic Chinese (aka boat people)?

[Mèo Đen]

Are the Cambodian Vietnamese mostly the unloved (at home) ethnic Chinese (aka boat people)?

[Trevor25220]

Rather than starting a fresh thread, could we develop this into a discussion on Phnom Penh's Vietnamese community? I would be interested to learn something of their language, food and culture. In which districts would I find Vietnamese? Are they still at Tuol Kork? Are there areas with basic Vietnamese food, rather than classy Viet restaurants? Do Vietnamese work as taxi drivers? Is spoken Vietnamese of much use in Phnom Penh, or are the Vietnamese forced to learn Khmer and English to survive? Thanks for any input.

[the chicken]

Cross the Spean Kdam bridge, on the left there is a market, go through it. Deep down you will find a Vietnamese community living just like they are back home.

[Mèo Đen]

Rather than starting a fresh thread, could we develop this into a discussion on Phnom Penh's Vietnamese community? I would be interested to learn something of their language, food and culture. In which districts would I find Vietnamese?

Chaba Ampov
Russey Keo
Psar Kandal

Are they still at Tuol Kork?

If you are referring to the brothel area along the Toul Kork Dyke Road that is long gone, but the East side of the road where the Vietnamese brothels mainly were borders on to Russey Keo and the river

Are there areas with basic Vietnamese food, rather than classy Viet restaurants?

There were Pho stalls and ban me carts all over the city, as I don’t visit these my information may be a bit dated.

Do Vietnamese work as taxi drivers?

Not come across any, it used to be a bit of a “closed shop” All the Vietnamese I knew were either mechanics or in the construction industry. Women tended to be in the hairdressing or garment business. Of course there are Vietnamese women working in hostess bars and various positions in barber shops and massage places.

Is spoken Vietnamese of much use in Phnom Penh,

Not really, although if you are involved with Vietnamese person in some way you rapidly build up a network of Vietnamese speaking acquaintances.

or are the Vietnamese forced to learn Khmer and English to survive?
Quite a lot of Vietnamese I knew spoke some English on arrival here.

[/quote]

I would not say they were forced to learn Khmer, The ones I knew learnt Khmer to improve their interactions in the City much as I or many other expats did.