Vietnamese immigrants in the United States encounter a variety of acculturation issues that affect them as individuals, families, and as members of their communities. It is evidenced in the literature that low-socio status immigrants suffered from those acculturation challenges. However, there is scant research on how acculturation affects high-socio status immigrants in general and Vietnamese American immigrants in particular. To better understand how high-educated Vietnamese families coped with acculturation in the United States, this research used semi-structured interviews to examine the acculturation issues they encountered and the techniques they utilized to overcome those issues. Four well-educated participants were interviewed one-on-one for 20-30 minutes each by Google Meet in Vietnamese whenever they were available. The interviews were transcribed using unfocused transcription, and the data was analyzed using grounded theory technique. Results showed that high-educated Vietnamese immigrants in the United States face three major acculturation challenges: orientation, the necessity of better economic and self-esteem needs. However, women seemed to be under more acculturative stress owing to their lower levels of English proficiency and work satisfaction, according to the findings. In terms of coping methods, the husbands use integration acculturation tactics to deal with their issues. Separation methods were adopted by the women at various periods in their life, despite the fact that they are eager to become fully integrated members of American culture. They are unable to do so due to a lack of urgency and lack of access to cultural integration.
Publication Information
Publisher
Thu Dau Mot University, Viet Nam
Editor-in-Chief
Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Van Hiep Thu Dau Mot University
Editorial Board
Assoc. Prof. Le Tuan Anh Thu Dau Mot University
PhD. Nguyen Quoc Cuong Thu Dau Mot University
PhD. Doan Ngoc Xuan Thu Dau Mot University
PhD. Nguyen Khoa Truong An Thu Dau Mot University
Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thanh Binh Thu Dau Mot University
PhD. Le Thi Thuy Dung Thu Dau Mot University
PhD. Ngo Hong Diep Thu Dau Mot University
PhD. Nguyen Duc Dat Duc Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade
Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Van Duc Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam
PhD. Nguyen Thi Nhat Hang Department of Education and Training of Binh Duong Province
PhD. Nguyen Thi Cam Le Vietnam Aviation Academy
PhD. Trần Hạnh Minh Phương Thu Dau Mot University
M.A. Pham Van Thinh Thu Dau Mot University
PhD. Nguyen Thi Lien Thuong Thu Dau Mot University