1. History of Vietnam War and Its Effect to Hoa
Vietnam started the first war with French which included Cambodia and Laos. They used to be known as Indochina. At first, the war was about the
struggle to be free from French colonialism. Ho Chi Minh, on September 2
nd
1945, proclaimed the independence of Vietnam from French rule Herring, 1979: 3 and proclaimed himself as the president of the “Democratic Republic of
Vietnam” Pan and Lyon, 1966: 20. On March 6
th
, General de Gaulle agreed to recognize Vietnam as a free state within the French Union. French troops were to
re-enter the northern part of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh, secretly had communist party which is called Viet Minh. In 1946, he accused French of violating their
pledges to give the better live for Vietnamese. He increased the attack wherever he could. French began to realize that Ho Chi Minh was part of communist party
that is supported by Soviet and China. War between French and Vietnam became more intensified that brought them to Geneva Conference.
However, Geneva Conference did not bring good news for Vietnam. Stephen Pan and Daniel Lyon state that second Indochina war started as the result
of Geneva Conference, 26 April – 21 July 1954 that mentioned there was a
division between North and South Vietnam Pan and Lyon, 1966: 41. South Vietnam got support from the United States, while north from Communist
country such as Soviet and China. The United States declared that no country could disturb the peace in Vietnam. Actually, United States had helped Vietnam
during the war between French and Vietnam by sending the aid for Vietnam. After the Geneva Conference, the relationship became closer and Unites States
clearly supported the South Vietnam. North Vietnam was led by Ho Chi Minh who did not agree of the division
of Vietnam. As a republic, Vietnam must be united to be free from colonialism. Ho Chi Minh still did his communist action and made people believe on what he
taught. Vietcong, the army of North Vietnam did guerilla to make South Vietnam and United State dropped. Undoubtly, American increased his army to more than
16.000 men. Vietcong also increased the attacked more and more wherever and whenever they wanted.
Not only Vietnamese, but also Chinese or called Hoa in Vietnam felt the effects of the war. The first migration happened in the beginning of Geneva
According to Daniel J. Hoover in his thesis The Migration of Chinese-Vietnamese from Vietnam: The Truong Family, Hoa who lived in North Vietnam and were
Catholic mostly moved to the South which was not communist. The largest population of Hoa was in Cholon, Saigon, South Vietnam which is now known as
Chinese City Hoover, 2010: 11. Even though living in Vietnam, Hoa were still bounded to their culture, such as in education, marriage, civic organization, and
economic endeavors. Chinese in Cholon and the surrounding areas primarily focused on
economic activities. This could be reflected through their desire of for prosperity that was associated with wealth and strong work ethic. Therefore, Hoa were
always the target of political refor m. “Their Hoa capital and community
structure could have been utilized in order to make more prominent gains within the government. Instead, the ethnic Chinese remained deliberately isolated in
their own market driven aims” Hoover, 2010: 13. Hoa were always being target during Vietnam War, especially when the nationalism was growing.
During Ngo Dinh Diem reign, there was naturalization that made Hoa lose their Chinese name. In 1956, the president declared that all Chinese should
renounce their Chinese nationality and adopt Vietnamese citizenship Hoover, 2010: 14. Moreover, South Vietnam also discontinued the mail service to and
from China in order to cut the connection of Hoa with China. In October 1956, Diem changed all school curricula, placing Vietnamese as the primary language
in the school. Chinese could be taught, but as a secondary language. As they lost their name and their language, Chinese also forced to serve in military.
As economic activity was the main focus of Hoa, they absolutely avoided military service. Most of them who were listed in military service chose to go
abroad than to stay in Vietnam and go to war. “Many other Sino-Vietnamese, used educational opportunities to keep their children from front-line military
service Hoover, 2010: 18.” When the communist succeed taking control of
South Vietnam, Bourgeoisie Hoa became the target of anti-comprador bourgeoisie. Therefore many Hoa decided to leave Vietnam as soon as possible.
They paid bribe and gold so that they could leave by plane or boat.
D. Theoretical Framework