Report Leaving the West: Why Many Vietnamese Are Going Back Home

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Photo courtesy of VN Express

 

Minh Tam's return to Vietnam after eight years in Canada took her family and friends by surprise. At 30, with a stable job, she faced no challenges integrating into Canadian society, yet never truly felt at home. Her routine was solitary, marked by a rotating cycle of work and mundane living.

 

The decision to return was sparked by two profound experiences: an intense wave of homesickness upon landing in Hanoi in 2023 and a vivid dream of her parents pleading with her to stay. These moments highlighted her deeper sense of belonging to Vietnam.

 

Tam’s story is part of a growing trend of return migration. Each year, around 25,000 Vietnamese emigrants come back, driven by the country’s burgeoning economy and improved living standards. This shift is noted in the Migration Profile Vietnam report by the International Organization for Migration.

 

Nguyen Thi Huong, another returnee, spent years in the U.S. and Australia. As a retired nurse, she initially moved to California in 2019 to be with her children. Despite her language skills and open personality, she felt isolated amidst the busy lives of her family and the dispersed Vietnamese community.

 

An emotional encounter in a park, where a stranger mistook her for homeless, solidified her decision to return. Australia offered no solace either, leaving her feeling lonely and disconnected. By 2023, she returned to Vietnam, finding solace in her renovated home balancing personal space with a lively pho shop rental.

 

This sense of belonging echoes through the stories of many return migrants. According to the United Nations Economic and Social Affairs, second-generation Vietnamese abroad often struggle with language barriers and cultural integration, prompting a return to their roots.

 

Dr. Catherine Earl from RMIT University Vietnam attributes this reverse migration to more than just adaptation difficulties overseas. Her research suggests that migration is now fluid, with people moving between countries for various life stages. For many, the emotional fulfilment found in familial and cultural connections back home outweighs the benefits of living abroad.

 

Thanh Binh’s narrative similarly highlights these emotional ties. After 20 years in Germany, he decided to return to Vietnam following the death of a close friend. Despite a successful career path in Germany, he yearned for the deep connections and community bonds found in Vietnam.

 

These return migrations reveal personal choices influenced by cultural, emotional, and sometimes economic factors. Dr. Earl suggests that if Vietnam implements supportive education and employment policies, return migrants can significantly contribute to the country’s development.

 

Ultimately, these stories reflect a broader theme of rediscovery and belonging, where returning home offers a unique chance to live authentically and contribute to national growth.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-07-18