Vietnam, a country of splendid landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is a place where living is a dream of many people and tourists around the world. The vibrant cities, natural beauty, modernity, and warm hospitality make it an ideal place to call home. Besides, this is the other topmost reason for locating here is affordable cost of living and opportunities for adventure that captivate the hearts of those who visit and inspire those who dream of it.
But what if I would tell you, beneath this picturesque front, a growing number of people and migrants are fleeing the country?
There weren’t enough life jackets to go around, but still so many are risking their lives to reach Britain. Though they are coming from one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, why then, they look so desperate to leave?
Vietnamese Migrants Moving to the UK
According to the BBC, in the first half of the previous year, 2024, Vietnamese made the highest number of recorded small boat with 2,248 touching the shores of the UK. These numbers have been ahead of the people who migrated from the countries having well-documented human rights crises, like Afghanistan and Iran.
Many Vietnamese worked hard to reach Britain. Some reports also claimed that several Vietnamese syndicates are also running successful people-smuggling operations. However, their journey is not without significant risks. Some of the Vietnamese migrants are forced into sex work or illegal marijuana farms. Over one tenth of the people in the UK who are the victims of this modern slavery are from Vietnam.
A Tale of Vietnamese Migrant
Hien, who is a UK citizen, recently describes her sister Phuong’s experiences to the BBC.
Phuong was a Vietnamese migrant who is now living with her sister in London, without any legal status. Phuong had been stuck in France for two months after travelling there from Vietnam via Hungary. Her journey was all about struggles with sleeping in a scrubby forest and passing that channel in an overcrowded boat.
Hien recalled the moment when her sister looked at the small boats, already packed with 70 people to complete her journey to the UK. She had already refused to travel on one boat, as it seemed dangerously overcrowded. She had also been turned back previously in the middle of the Channel three times by bad weather or engine failure. Her sister Hien also shared that Phuong used to call her over the phone from France in tears.
“She was torn between fear and the drive to keep going. But she had borrowed so much—around £25,000—to fund this trip. Turning back wasn’t an option, so she climbed on board,” she added.
As Phuong was nervous to speak directly, her identities are changed here.
Economic Disparities in Vietnam
Notably, Vietnam is one of the rapidly developing economies in Asia. Over the years, it has transformed from one of the poorest countries in the world to dynamic emerging markets. However, despite being the fastest emerging nation, some economic challenges are still evident in the nation.
The domestic investors in the nation are facing numerous hurdles, even to sustain themselves in the country. According to the reports of the year 2024, the private sector’s investment and production activities in the country have shown limited vibrancy. Public investment was sluggish, and the real estate market remained stagnant, with businesses grappling under heavy debt burdens.
These challenges can quite reflect the reason why migrants have been seeking better job prospects and higher wages. Some have been moving to Britain for more opportunities compared to Vietnam. The other reason involves the fact that Vietnam is a one-party communist state with limited political freedoms. Those who oppose the government often face harassment and imprisonment. This is why the country also ranks low on human rights and freedom indexes.
Kanishka Malhotra is a seasoned journalist with a deep passion for reporting and uncovering the truth. With a specialization in research and investigative Journalism, she has covered wide range of topics related to social issues, travel, lifestyle, technology, Entertainment and much more. She believes to express and share her creativity to the world through words. With relentless pursuit of knowing and uncovering the truth, Kanishka continues to leave a mark in the world of journalism.
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