Part 2: Characteristics of Vietnamese Community in Canada
Although the Vietnamese community is among the newest in Canada, its population ranks 5th among the non-European communities (behind China, India, the Philippines and Jamaica).
| Province | 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 38 550 | 62 055 | 67 450 | 83 330 = 46. 3% |
| Québec | 21 805 | 27 820 | 28 310 | 33 815 = 18.7% |
| British Columbia | 12 595 | 21 095 | 27 190 | 30 835 = 17% |
| Alberta | 15 135 | 19 170 | 21 490 | 25 170 = 14% |
| Manitoba | 3 545 | 2 930 | 755 | 3 875 = 2% |
| Saskatchewan | 1 530 | 2 090 | 870 | 1 640 = 1% |
| Nova Scotia | 645 | 670 | 790 | 600 |
| New Brunswick | 250 | 435 | 235 | 315 |
| Northwest Territories | 120 | 190 | 75 | 345 |
| Newfoundland-Labrador | 65 | 110 | 0 | 55 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 35 | 25 | 15 |
| Yukon- Nunavut | 30 | 210 | 15 | 120 |
| Canada | 94 260 | 136 810 | 151 400 | 180 130 |
Sources : Les Vietnamiens de Montréal, p. 43 (Statistics 1991,1996,2001) Recensement 2006 – Origine ethnique/Ethnic origins. Catalogue 97-562-XCB2006006
Table 3 shows the distribution of Vietnamese in Canada as follows:
1. Distribution by Province
96% of Vietnamese live in 4 provinces: Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta. Ontario takes 46.3% of the total, whereas the Maritimes provinces and the Territories have less than 1%.
2. Increase in Population
In a short span of 10 years (1991-2001) the Vietnamese population in Canada has increased by 62%. In particular, for Ontario and B.C. the increase was almost 100%. For Quebec, this 10-year period showed only a small increase, although the trend has improved in recent years.
Also, during the period from 2001 to 2006, the Vietnamese population in Canada has increased from 151,400 to 180,130 or 16%., almost three times the increase of the population of Canada (5.4%) during the same period.
It should be noted that in recent years, the number of Vietnamese coming to Canada as visa students has started to grow rapidly, noting that, depending on the fields of their studies, they would likely be allowed to stay for 3 more years after graduation to work. The latest known statistics show that in 2006, Canada had 1,955 such non-permanent residents (visa students and their visiting families).
Ethnic Origins of the Vietnamese Community in Canada
In the number of 180,130 Vietnamese living in Canada in 2006, Statistics Canada was informed that only 136,445 (or 76%) are of Vietnamese ethnic. The rest, 43,680 or 24%, are of "multi ethnic origin", including Chinese, Cambodian, and other minority ethnics. Table 4 below shows such distribution on a province-by-province basis.
| Canada / Province | Vietnamese Ethnic | Multi-Ethnic Origin | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 136 445 | 43 680 = 24% | 180 130 |
| Ontario | 63 390 | 19 940 = 24% | 83 330 |
| Québec | 27 090 | 6 730 = 20% | 33 815 |
| British Columbia | 23 735 | 7 100 = 23 % | 30 835 |
| Alberta | 17 320 | 7 850 = 31% | 25 170 |
| Manitoba | 2 695 | 1 180 = 31% | 3 875 |
| Saskatchewan | 1 180 | 460 = 28% | 1 640 |
The above confusion could be somewhat clarified if the statistics were based on "mother tongue", which is defined as the first language learned at home and still used at home. With this definition, the number of Vietnamese speaking Vietnamese at home has increased to 141,630, reducing the number of Vietnamese from other ethnics to 38,500.
Table 5 below shows the distribution of "mother tongue Vietnamese" on a province-by-province basis.
| Location | Population | Population in City |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 141 630 | |
| Ontario | 67 150 | Toronto : 45 325; Ottawa-Gatineau : 6 535; Hamilton : 3 710; Kitchener : 3215; Windsor : 1 830 ; Guelph : 1 015. |
| Québec | 25 370 | Montréal : 23 240 ; Québec City : 850 |
| B.Columbia | 24 560 | Vancouver : 20 725; Victoria : 750, Abbotsford : 940 |
| Alberta | 19 350 | Calgary : 10 890; Edmonton : 7 715 |
| Manitoba | 2 740 | Winnipeg : 2 660 |
| Saskatchewan | 1 305 | Regina : 810 ; Saskatoon : 310 |
Table 6 shows how Vietnamese communicated with each other at home in 2006. The table illustrates a troublesome fact about how fast the Vietnamese immigrants have forgotten their mother tongue after only 30 years living abroad. In particular, Quebec and B.C. are the two provinces where only 60% of Vietnamese still speak Vietnamese at home. In Quebec, Vietnamese immigrants have integrated to French speaking mainstream faster due to the language policy of the provincial government. In B.C., Vietnamese immigrants with a Chinese background tend to speak English more often in order to do business.
| Location | Population | Vietnamese | English | French | Vietnamese, English, French |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 180 130 | 109 010 = 60.5% | 50 095 | 10 470 | 10 555 |
| Québec | 33 815 | 20 360 = 60.2% | 1 550 | 9 920 | 1 985 |
| Ontario | 83 330 | 66 925 = 80.3% | 25 685 | 355 | 9 635 |
| B. Columbia | 30 840 | 18 180 = 59% | 10 915 | 75 | 1 670 |
| Alberta | 25 170 | 19 915 = 79% | 4 435 | 110 | 710 |
Source: Census 2006. Catalogue 97-564-XCB2006 007
A Community of City Dwellers
For economic reasons, Vietnamese immigrants to Canada tend to live in large cities as illustrated in Table 7 below.
| City | 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 24 550 | 41 735 | 45 105 | 56 095 |
| Montréal | 19 265 | 25 340 | 25 605 | 30 510 |
| Vancouver | 10 095 | 16 870 | 22 865 | 26 110 |
| Calgary | 7 255 | 10 110 | 11 595 | 14 285 |
| Edmonton | 6 780 | 7 775 | 8 990 | 9 740 |
| Total | 67 945 | 101 830 | 114 160 | 136 740 |
Distribution in other smaller cities (from Statistics Canada 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006):
Ontario: Ottawa (7655), Hamilton (4700), Kitchener (3990), London (2675), Windsor (2100), Guelph (1260), St. Catharines-Niagara (1200)
Quebec: Quebec City (1195), Laval (1900), Longueuil (2355)
B. C.: Victoria (1075)
Vietnamese living in large cities tend to scatter to all neighbourhoods.
Montreal has several "Vietnamese districts" such as Villeay-Parc Extension (4610), Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce (3750), Saint Laurent (2135). In the suburb of Montreal, there are Longueuil (2355), Laval (1900) and Chomedy-Duvernay (1890).
The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) also has several Vietnamese districts, as shown in Table 8 below, which was the result of Mark E. Pfeifer’s tabulation of common Vietnamese names Nguyen and Tran in local telephone directories.
| City | 1981 | 1986 | 1991 | 1996 | Vietnamese District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 191 | 541 | 860 | 658 | Dufferin / Queen |
| York | 23 | 151 | 359 | 437 | Jane / Weston |
| North York | 8 | 95 | 280 | 559 | Jane / Finch |
| Etobicoke | 7 | 23 | 65 | 150 | Albion / Finch |
| Mississauga | 12 | 74 | 295 | 609 | Cooksville, Bloor- Dixie |
| Brampton | 3 | 11 | 28 | 53 | Steeles / Dixie |
In Vancouver, 40% of Vietnamese live on the east side of the downtown sector, near Chinatown, and 60% live in the south-east suburb along Kingsway and Broadway between New Westminster and Chinatown ("Reconversion Professionnelle et Intégration Sociale de la Communauté Vietnamienne au Canada" by Lâm Thanh Liêm).
A Youthful Community
Compared to Canadian mainstream, the Vietnamese population appears young.
In 2006, from the total of 180,130 Vietnamese living in Canada, there were 44, 420 youths (15 years-old and younger) or 24.6% of the total, compared to 17.7% of the Canadian total.
At the other end, there were 10,545 seniors (65 and older) or 5.8% of the total, compared to 13.7% of the mainstream.
Table 9 depicts the age distribution of Vietnamese living in the 4 largest provinces, based on Census 2006, Catalogue 97-562-XCB 2006012.
| Age Bracket | Canada | Ontario | Québec | B.Columbia | Alberta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 180 130 | 83 330 | 33 815 | 30 835 | 25 170 |
| Below 15 | 44 420 = 24.6% | 20 945 = 25.1% | 7 720 = 22.8% | 7 835 = 25.4% | 6 040 = 24 % |
| From 15 to 24 | 27 680 | 12 840 | 4 410 | 5 390 | 4 005 |
| From 25 to 54 | 87 010 | 41 045 | 15 855 | 14 510 | 12 240 |
| From 55 to 64 | 10 475 | 4 100 | 2 895 | 1 615 | 1 420 |
| 65 and older | 10 545 = 5.8% | 4 395 = 5.3% | 2 930 = 8.7% | 1 490 = 4.8% | 1 470 = 5.8% |
| From 65 to 74 | 6 110 | 2 580 | 1 635 | 935 | 795 |
| 75 and older | 4 435 | 1 815 | 1 295 | 555 | 675 |
Table 9 shows Quebec has the highest percentage for seniors (8.7%). This is because the Vietnamese community in Canada was established first in Quebec, long before the influx of Vietnamese refugees after 1975.
Table 10 below further examines the distribution based on age of Vietnamese living in the 4 largest cities of Canada.
| Age Bracket | Toronto | Montréal | Vancouver | Calgary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 56 095 | 30 510 | 26 110 | 14 285 |
| Below | 15 13 510 = 24% | 7 710 = 22% | 6 385 = 24.5% | 3 350 = 23.5% |
| From 15 to 24 | 8 445 | 3 980 | 4 670 | 2 095 |
| From 25 to 54 | 28 430 | 14 525 | 12 395 | 7 100 |
| From 55 to 64 | 2 610 | 2 630 | 1 345 | 830 |
| 65 and older 3 | 100 = 5.5% | 2 750 = 9% | 1 325 = 5% | 910 = 6.4% |
A Community with Different Levels of Integration
Although most Vietnamese newcomers prefer to live in large cities of large provinces, their levels of integration to the mainstream are not the same from province to province.
Only Quebec, and in particular Montreal, enjoy the fastest integration, simply because Montreal has the highest concentration of Vietnamese with higher education. In Montreal, the Vietnamese have won respect and esteem from the population at large, thanks to their university or college education. Vietnamese doctors, dentists, pharmacists, engineers, etc. provide good services to their community and to other Canadians. Vietnamese professionals also figure prominently in four universities in the city, and in all governmental and private sectors.
In the medical field, in 2005 Quebec had 405 Vietnamese doctors (a huge number for a community of 33,000), Ontario had 146, B.C. had 34 and Alberta had 33.
In the pharmaceutical field, in 1997 Quebec had 290 Vietnamese pharmacists, Ontario had 64, Alberta had 14 and Saskatchewan had 1.
The total number of Vietnamese professionals living in Quebec has exceeded 1500. Overall, 28% of Vietnamese in Quebec are university graduates.
Vietnamese living in other large Canadian cities do not have the same level of education and integration as those in Quebec. Toronto and Vancouver were chosen by many Vietnamese newcomers after 1980, mainly for economic reasons, without knowing that they would have to face a fierce competition from several well-established immigrant communities such as Chinese, Indian, South American, etc. In addition, they also had to endure some form of discrimination from the mainstream, including government offices. As a result, many Vietnamese newcomers in these cities economically and culturally tend to form ghetto-like districts. Only a small number of elites had the capacity to integrate well into the mainstream society, and as such created a two-class community poorly represented by official organizations and/or associations.
Unlike Quebec, Ontario, and in particular B.C., are two large provinces where, in general, the Vietnamese do not live well economically due to their low level of education and high level of unemployment.
Since the oil boom in the 90s, Calgary and Edmonton have become the Eldorado of Canada, where many Vietnamese immigrants flocked to find work, like thousands of other immigrants and Canadians. But the boom and bust cycles of the oil industry have created lots of uncertainties to communities, not counting the very hard and expensive conditions in which they have to endure.
Table 11 illustrates the level of education of Vietnamese over 15 years of age in 2006 across four provinces where there are large numbers of Vietnamese.
Statistical figures in the Table confirm that Vietnamese in Quebec are better educated than those in other provinces, not only for the first generation, but also for the second generation. For example, the ratio for university graduates in Quebec is 29%, compared to 14% in Ontario, 8% in B.C., 11.5% in Alberta, and 12% in mainstream Canada. Furthermore, from a total of 2135 Vietnamese doctors and Ph.D. graduated in 2005 in Canada, Quebec alone had 1215, or 57% of the total.
Gerard Leblanc, a reporter for La Presse, the largest newspaper in Quebec, has written in 1992: Covered with university degrees, tireless workers, the Vietnamese could repeat the prowess of the Montreal Jews in the mid 50s. The Vietnamese Quebecers could very well be the first to occupy high offices in both private and public sectors.
| Education Lavel | Canada | Québec | Ontario | British Columbia | Alberta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese over 15 | 135 705 | 26 095 | 62 385 | 23 000 | 19 130 |
| High School Drop-Out | 45 030 (33%) | 5 970 (23%) | 21 250(34%) | 8 645 (37, 5%) | 7 600 (40%) |
| High School Graduated | 38 905 (29%) | 5 770 (22%) | 19 080(30%) | 7 375 (32%) | 5130 (27%) |
| Vocational School | 8 970 (6%) | 1 720 ( 6,5%) | 3 595 (6%) | 1 960 (8,5%) | 1 335 (7%) |
| Community College | 16 035 (12%) | 3 615 (14%) | 7 405(12%) | 2 300 (10%) | 2 185 (11%) |
| Attended University | 5 690 (4%) | 1 450 (5,5%) | 2 440 (4%) | 965 (4%) | 675 (3,5%) |
| University Graduated | 21 070 (16%) | 7 570 (29%) | 8 610 (14%) | 1 760 (8%) | 2 205(11,5%) |
| - Bachelor | 14 925 (11%) | 4 555 ( 17,5%) | 6 520(10,5%) | 1 345 (6%) | 1 800 (9,6%) |
| - Preparing Master’s | 1 635 ( 1,2%) | 655 (2,5%) | 685 (1,2%) | 115 (0,5%) | 130 ( 0,8%) |
| - Master’s Degree | 2 375 ( 1,8%) | 1 130 (4,5%) | 845 (1,3%) | 170 (0,8%) | 155 (0,9%) |
| - Medical Doctor (M.D.) | 1 335 ( 1%) | 820 ( 3%) | 325 (0,6%) | 85 (0,4%) | 65 (0,1%) |
| - Doctorate, Ph.D. | 800 (1%) | 415 (1,5%) | 240 (0,4%) | 50 (0,3%) | 65 (0,1%) |
In addition to education, knowledge of English or French, or both, is essential for economic and integration successes. Table 12 below offers this information (census 2006, catalogue 97F-564-XCB 2006007).
| Canada | Québec | Ontario | B.Columbia | Alberta | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese Population | 180 130 | 33 820 | 83 335 | 30 840 | 25 170 |
| Understand English Only | 124 790 (69,5%) | 2 635 (8%) | 69 090 (83%) | 25 590 (83%) | 21 500 (85%) |
| Understand French Only | 10 570 (6%) | 10 160 (30%) | 185 | 75 | 35 |
| Understand both English and French | 25 760 (14%) | 18 005 (53%) | 4 790 (6%) | 1 490(5%) | 975 (4%) |
| Do Not Understand English and French | 19 005 (10,5%) | 3 015 (9%) | 9 170 (11%) | 3 670 (12%) | 2 660 (11%) |
Table 12 shows Vietnamese living in Quebec have the highest level of bilingual (English and French) capability.
Economic Life of Vietnamese in 2006
Table 13 below shows the after tax total annual incomes of Vietnamese older than 15 years old.
| After Tax Income | Canada | Québec | Ontario | B. Columbia | Alberta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $ 26 665 | $ 29 069 | $ 27 151 | $ 21 254 | $ 28 524 |
| Below $ 5000 | 14,5% | 13.60% | 15.60% | 15% | 11.50% |
| $ 5000 – 9999 | 12% | 13.40% | 11.40% | 13% | 11.50% |
| $ 10 000 – 19 999 | 24.70% | 26% | 22.60% | 29.50% | 24% |
| $ 20 000 – 29 999 | 15.60% | 15% | 14.40% | 17.50% | 16.50% |
| $ 30 000 – 39 999 | 12.20% | 10% | 12.60% | 12% | 14% |
| $ 40 000 – 49 999 | 8% | 6% | 9% | 6% | 8.50% |
| $ 50 000 – 79 999 | 9% | 9.40% | 10% | 5.60% | 10% |
| $ 80 000 plus | 4% | 6.60% | 4% | 1.40% | 4% |
| Percentage Below Poverty Threshold | 18% | 20% | 17% | 24% | 12% |
| Unemployed | 8.30% | 8.80% | 9% | 9.80% | 4.80% |
The Table shows that Quebec and British Columbia were worse than the average when it comes to incomes below the poverty threshold. This is due to the relatively high unemployment rates in these two provinces. However, Quebec also has the highest ratio of Vietnamese having annual incomes higher than $50,000 (16% as compared to 14% in Ontario and Alberta, and only 7% in B.C.). Once again, as indicated in Table 11 (Education Level), there is a strong correlation between high education and high income, and Vietnamese living in Quebec outperform the rest of the country in these categories.
However, compared with mainstream Canadians whose average annual incomes were $33,678 and whose percentage below the poverty threshold were 6.5%, the Vietnamese did not do well financially in 2006. This is partially due to the fact that almost all Vietnamese seniors have no company pensions and adequate CPP.
Economic Activities of Vietnamese in 2006
Table 14 below provides details of these activities based on classification of industries in North America in 2002.
| Canada | Québec | Ontario | B.Columbia | Alberta | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employees (above 15 years old) | 92 180 | 16 570 | 41 600 | 15 860 | 14 355 |
| 11-Fisheries | 2 140 2,3% | 45 0,3% | 545 1,3% | 1390 8,8% | 135 1% |
| 21-Oil Industry | 625 0,6% | 15 0,1% | 45 0,1% | 20 0,1% | 540 3,8% |
| 22-Public Service | 400 0,4% | 125 0,7% | 140 0,3% | 40 0,2% | 75 0,5% |
| 23-Construction | 3195 3, 5% | 205 1,2% | 1280 3% | 875 5,5% | 760 5,3% |
| 31-33 -Manufacturing | 24 545 27% | 3360 21% | 14675 35% | 2515 16% | 3185 22% |
| 41-Wholesale | 4 050 4% | 595 4% | 1950 4,6% | 670 4,2% | 755 5,3% |
| 44-45 Retail | 9 000 9,7% | 1435 9 % | 3735 9% | 1765 11% | 1590 11% |
| 48-49- Transport & Warehousing | 1 865 2% | 265 1,5% | 895 2% | 280 2% | 310 2% |
| 51-Communications & Culture | 2 155 2,3% | 465 2,8% | 905 2% | 440 2,7% | 260 1,8% |
| 52-Finance & Insurance | 3 050 3,3% | 795 4,8% | 1455 3,5% | 395 2,5% | 300 2% |
| 53-Real Estate | 1 245 1,3% | 285 0,2% | 535 1,2% | 180 1% | 170 1,2% |
| 54-Science & Technology | 5 225 5,7% | 1410 8,5% | 2250 5,4% | 635 4% | 840 6% |
| 55-Industry Management | 85 0,1% | 10 0,1% | 70 0,1% | 0 | 10 |
| 56-Waste Management | 3 435 3,7% | 405 2,4% | 1435 3,5% | 925 6% | 470 3,5% |
| 61-Education | 2 225 2,4% | 615 3,7% | 755 2% | 340 2% | 380 2,6% |
| 62- Health & Social Work | 5 875 6,3% | 2085 12,5% | 1990 4,8% | 845 5,3% | 695 4,8% |
| 71- Entertainment | 1 260 1,3% | 225 1,2% | 505 1,2% | 285 2% | 220 1,5% |
| 72 - Restaurant & Hotel | 10 960 12% | 2440 15% | 3495 8,5% | 2245 14% | 2035 14% |
| 81- Miscellaneous Services | 8 515 9,3% | 1105 7% | 3945 10% | 1830 11,7% | 1335 9,5 % |
| 91- Civil Servant | 2 340 2,5% | 685 4 % | 1000 2,5% | 195 1% | 285 2% |
General observations from data in Table 14:
- Lots of Vietnamese work in the manufacturing sector (27% in Canada, 35% in Ontario, compared to only 8% for mainstream), retail (9.7%) and restaurant sector (12%).
- Vietnamese in Quebec have the highest percentage working in health care and in Science & Technology thanks to their high level of education.
Compared to mainstream, economic activities of Vietnamese are below average due to a language barrier and limited Canadian work experience.
A Community with Strong Family Values
The majority of Vietnamese families are formed by married couples (48%). Common law couples represent only 5% as compared to 10% of mainstream. Separation caused by the exodus after the end of the war coupled with conflicts between old traditions and new Canadian values have resulted in numerous family break-ups (9% compared to 14% of mainstream).
Vietnamese singles still represent a high percentage (39% compared to 48% of mainstream).
Seniors continue to be well looked after by their families. Only 8% of senior Vietnamese live separately from the younger members of their families compared to 29% of mainstream.
Religions in Vietnamese Community
48% of Vietnamese in Canada are Buddhists, 22% are Catholics, 5% are Protestants and other religious beliefs. Surprisingly, 25% of Vietnamese do not follow any religion, compared with only 17% of mainstream.
Pagodas and Buddhist seminaries represent the religious, social and cultural centres for many Vietnamese, as indicated in a study by Mark E. Pfeifer. These locations play a more important role than many other social organizations.
Ontario has 22 Vietnamese pagodas and Buddhist temples. Quebec has 11, followed by British Columbia (10), Alberta (4). Saskatchewan and Manitoba each has 1 pagoda.
Regarding Catholicism, the first Vietnamese mass was conducted by a Vietnamese priest named Trần Tử Nhản in May 1975 in Montreal, right after the first few arrivals of Vietnamese immigrants to Canada after the war. Shortly afterward, the Vietnamese Catholic community in Canada began to organize into missions and parishes served by many Vietnamese priests across the country. On November 7, 2009 Vatican offered the greatest honour to the Vietnamese Catholic community in Canada by promoting Father Vincent Nguyễn Mạnh Hiếu of St. Cecilia’s church in Toronto to the rank of Bishop. At 48, the new Vietnamese bishop is the youngest bishop in Canada.
An anti-communist Community
Almost all Vietnamese coming to Canada before or after the end of the Vietnam War are anti-communist. This political stand is predominant among newcomers who escaped the harsh communist regime in Vietnam to come to Canada. Since the early 60s until recently, hundreds of Vietnamese social, cultural, religious and political organizations have been founded across Canada. Among them, only a few support the communist regime in Vietnam.
It is noted that although the majority of Vietnamese immigrants do not engage themselves in political activities, simply because they were busy rebuilding the lives in their new homeland, they would never accept the communist doctrine, nor do they want to belong to or to be associated with any communist organizations.
Unlike other immigrants to Canada from many other countries around the world, the Vietnamese immigrants dislike the communist regime back home so fiercely that many of them would refuse to go back to Vietnam, even just for a simple visit. As long as the communists are still in power in Vietnam, the majority of Vietnamese immigrants will maintain the attitude that they have “lost” their own country.
However, it is also noted that the second and third generations of Vietnamese in Canada do not fully understand nor adequately appreciate that political feeling. These young generations have integrated into the mainstream.
