The study Nordic Vietnamese – Our Community in Finland was conducted in 2017–2018 and is a qualitative investigation that examines how the Vietnamese have fared in the 40 year period over which they have settled in Finland and have made it their second home society. The study population numbered approximately 150 persons settled in different areas and regions of Finland. They represented the age spectrum from teenage to elderly in their 70s. The range of educational levels and occupation backgrounds was wide in this cross section of the Finnish Vietnamese community. The data collection focused on main facets of settlement and integration.

The key findings of the study and the related proposals have to do with the need to involve people with the same ethnic background as the integrating immigrants in reception and integration services. Furthermore, the mother tongue instruction programme should be resourced more strongly and reinforced alongside the school curricula. The number of elderly in the refugee communities is increasing. Some have come to the stage at which they would need to access serviced accommodation where it would be possible to communicate in their mother tongue, since their Finnish language skill is usually inadequate for managing independently.

The above proposals would be likely to bring about considerable economic saving in the settlement and integration services. They would help to avoid long-term settlement problems and more costly interventions. Furthermore, the life quality and integration experience of settling families and individuals would benefit.

Contact person at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: Anne Alitolppa-Niitamo, Tel. +358 29 50 47688