Just wondered, a genuine question.
Why are there so many Vietnamese living here in Cambodia?
Is it because Vietnam is so poverty stricken, or are there other reasons?

Most of the items on the floating villages are ethnic Vietnamese, but have lived here for several generations. Most speak Khmer, often as a first language. As to why, well, Khmers weren't the traditional fishermen, they were farmers. The Chams and Vietnamese were the main fishermen, even prior to French rule. Not sure how far back this goes, but such roles along ethnic/other lines isn't uncommon in most parts of the world. Even today, these roles/specialties can be seen. Most farmers are Khmer, many slaughterhouses north of the city are still owned/operated by Chams, most fishermen near PP/Kampot are Cham or Vietnamese, most shop owners have Chinese blood etc. Almost all the framing shops on Charles de Gaulle are owned by families who originally came from Southern China. I've forgotten the name of the linguistic/ethnic group. Chinese fr other areas specialized in other trades or crafts. Nowadays, there is a lot more mobility of course, and roles are so rigid. Still some interesting historical remnants. I'm sure John Bingham can provide you with more detailed information.

Bitte_Kein_Lexus wrote: ↑Fri May 31, 2019 11:54 am Most of the items on the floating villages are ethnic Vietnamese, but have lived here for several generations. Most speak Khmer, often as a first language. As to why, well, Khmers weren't the traditional fishermen, they were farmers. The Chams and Vietnamese were the main fishermen, even prior to French rule. Not sure how far back this goes, but such roles along ethnic/other lines isn't uncommon in most parts of the world. Even today, these roles/specialties can be seen. Most farmers are Khmer, many slaughterhouses north of the city are still owned/operated by Chams, most fishermen near PP/Kampot are Cham or Vietnamese, most shop owners have Chinese blood etc. Almost all the framing shops on Charles de Gaulle are owned by families who originally came from Southern China. I've forgotten the name of the linguistic/ethnic group. Chinese fr other areas specialized in other trades or crafts. Nowadays, there is a lot more mobility of course, and roles are so rigid. Still some interesting historical remnants. I'm sure John Bingham can provide you with more detailed information.

Many thanks for info, very interesting.

Cambodia Breaking News, Kampong Chhnang: Anti-Vietnamese sentiment among Cambodians is being stoked by rumors, in the media and online, saying that the Vietnamese floating villagers are being given land. In order to put a stop to these rumors, the governor of Kampong Chhnang has made a public announcement that these Vietnamese villagers will be resettled, but will not own the resettlement land.

November 27, 2019
Kampong Chhnang governor denies Vietnamese land rumours

Kampong Chhnang provincial Governor Chhour Chandoeun yesterday dismissed rumours that the government is giving land concessions to Vietnamese people from a floating village on Tonle Sap lake.

He said that the provincial authorities are in the process of resettling Cambodians and Vietnamese from the floating village to dry land, but foreigners will not be allowed to own their plots.

“I want to clarify to everyone and also to some media outlets which said that the government has sub-divided land to give to the Vietnamese. It is not right,” Mr Chandoeun said. “All these Vietnamese people are migrants and cannot be given concessions to own land.”

He noted that the Vietnamese have to abide by Cambodia’s immigration law just like Cambodians living abroad have to follow those countries’ laws.

“We will not allow people to live on Tonle Sap lake because we need to keep the water clean and fresh for people and animals to use,” Mr Chandoeun said.

He noted that there are about 1,700 floating houses on the lake which are occupied by nearly 2,000 Vietnamese families and more than 2,000 houses with more than 2,000 Cambodian families.

Mr Chandoeun said all these people will be relocated to a proposed 40-hectare site in Rolea Ba’ier district’s Svay Chrum commune.

He noted that provincial authorities planned to relocate them last year, but have been delayed due to a lack of proper infrastructure, such as roads, schools and markets at the site.

Mr Chandoeun said authorities need more time to provide the required infrastructure and that in the meantime, most of the floating village people have moved off of the lake to temporarily live on an island.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50664367/k ... d-rumours/

The lake is suffering from too many people living on it, and on the upper TLS river.
And in many crucial places there are far far more Vietnamese. (those figures above are actually just a snapshot of one particular area, but they are quite indicative generally)

OK, i get it about those vietnamese who have lived here for generations, but nevertheless there has been an endless stream of families floating up from Vietnam in search of easy fish all thru the past few decades also. Many many.
They have had free reign, effectively - to come and go at will, to take over the best fishing areas by sheer weight of numbers, to out muscle the local commerce, to take no responsibilities nor partake in the wider community.
To elbow out the traditional way of life.

The English language bleeding heart press has completely ignored that aspect - and ignored its effects on the traditional Khmer, Cham and long-time Vietnamese inhabitants.
Not to mention the environmental/fisheries damage caused by the rapidly growing floating "cities", and the settlement of every good little secret fishing spot in the quieter places. By new arrivals.

'Just the other side of the story.

The Whisperer wrote: ↑Fri May 31, 2019 11:11 am Why are there so many Vietnamese living here in Cambodia?
Is it because Vietnam is so poverty stricken, or are there other reasons?

There have been some people moving from place to place for hundreds of years. Until recent history, it was like there was no borders. Large numbers of Chinese moved to Cambodia. Some married Cambodians, and many of the present generation are part Chinese. Some married Chinese, and their Chinese descendants still live in Cambodia. A lot of Chinese Cambodians also went to Western countries as refugees during the war.

However, to win the war, the Vietnamese came in to help. At that time, Vietnamese people were allowed to freely enter Cambodia, and large numbers came in. Most of the Vietnamese in Cambodia came in at that time. Some have come in since.

There were also Cambodians who fled to Vietnam during the war. Some of them still live in Vietnam, and come to visit relatives at times like new year. Some of them have a home and life in Vietnam, but not in Cambodia, so it is difficult for them to move back permanently.

Generally speaking, if Vietnamese registered in the 2002 census they have the right to stay.
There have also been some opportunities since then to secure residency or citizenship. There is a ten year qualification but it is unclear exactly who can apply that way.

Problem is, according to the government's own acknowledgement, that 2002 census missed up to 30% of "foreigners".
And others did not take up the other avenues. Mostly because they chose to stay off the radar.

So there definitely are some long-term Vietnamese who are here without papers.
But i reckon, and many khmer's also believe - there are many many more recent arrivals hiding under this cloak. Ask any Khmer.
Or are they all just racist brain-washed SRP dupes?

Sure Rainman and others have played this up for nefarious purposes - but that does not mean that it is not substantially true.
We all know the rumours of certain deals made around 1975 relating to VN's eviction of the KR and their support for a certain other political alternative. ie Vietnam would have privileges, including lightly restricted people movement.
I most certainly give that story credit.

Nobody seems to want a detailed breakdown of the current ethnic-Vietnamese population here. OR maybe they just are not allowed to do it. It is not in certain powerful people's interest to have this deal/situation fully revealed.
And the bleeding-heart english media just keeps parroting the line "..many of whom have been living here for generations" without any further analysis at all.
As JB rightly pointed out, most left or were forcibly were evicted in the 1970's (450,000)

Like in the West - just because you believe in a carefully considered immigration regime, and acknowledge some the problems that illegal immigration causes, it does not necessarily mean you are xenophobic.

John Bingham wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 2:16 pm After 1979 many of those who had fled in the early 1970s returned

Many who had not lived in Cambodia before, also came in.

A lot of people are not included in the census, even Cambodians. Some Cambodians avoid those collecting census information, as they don't know what it is about, so their details don't get included.

Vietnamese are concerned they may be deported, so they have even more reason to avoid the census.