Reasons for migration among Vietnamese professional migrants in Australia

ABSTRACT

While little research has been done to examine the mobilities of current Vietnamese professional migrants, this paper sought to address this gap by reporting on a qualitative study on the mobilities of Australia-educated and domiciled professional migrants from Vietnam.It examined their decisions to migrate through specific ways of everyday lives as being-in-the-world. By analysing the reasons for migration among 15 participants, this study found that migrants’ decisions are informed by both spiritual and materialistic concerns, variously framed by an attempt to escape from their perceived lack of political patronage, a remedy for personal upheavals and ideological conflicts, an expectation for adventure and social status, pursuit of knowledge and income, or a search for intergenerational security. Skilled migrants do not experience one of these reasons in isolation but rather, a set of interrelated motives. The respondents’ decisions to leave are influenced by the micro-politics of everyday life under the influence of Vietnam’s socio-political transformations. The theoretical concept of being-in-the-world has the potential to conceptualize transnational mobilities of skilled migration in at least 5 related manners: ambiguity in mobilities, equipment, possibilities, (in)authenticity and care.

KEYWORDS:

• Australian skilled migration
• being-in-the-world
• transnational mobilities
• Vietnamese professional migration

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has changed its name to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) since September 2013. Therefore, for citations referring to this department, this paper uses DIAC from 2006 to 2013 and DIBP since 2014.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chi Hong Nguyen

Chi Hong Nguyen is currently Head of the English Language Department at FPT University, Can Tho Campus, Vietnam. His research areas include transnational mobilities of skilled migrants, international student mobilities and Vietnam's human capacity building.