Vietnamese Brazilians

The first wave consisted of over 50 people arriving in Brazil around February 1979. The second wave of 26 immigrants arrived in September of the same year. The third wave, a group of 10, arrived in the early 1980s.^[3] The Vietnamese were reported to have had trouble adapting to their adopted country.^[3] Among the most prominent of these troubles was the communication barrier between them and the native Brazilians: learning Portuguese proved to be a difficult task for the Vietnamese, as the language was obscure in Vietnam.^[4]

Demographics

According to the Brazilian government's records, in 1995 there were about 1,000 Vietnamese people living in Brazil. The Vietnamese Embassy disputes this number in Brazil's newest^[when?] report, citing around 150 to 200 Vietnamese people and their descendants in Brazil at the time of the study.^[2] This difference in population figures appeared in other South American countries as well; it has been attributed either to the political and economic situation of the region or to miscalculation from the Vietnamese officials.^[5]

Socioeconomic

Many Vietnamese in Brazil sell handmade suitcases, bags, wallets and other personal necessities to earn an income.^[6] Of particular note is the footwear brand, Goóc, which was established in 2004 by the Vietnamese Brazilian Thái Quang Nghĩa. Initially making sandals from recycled rubber, Goóc had begun to flourish in the Brazilian market after three years of the brand's establishment and expanded worldwide. With half a million pairs of sandals sold each year, the company's annual revenue – as of the 2014 fiscal year – amounted to approximately $30 million USD.^[7] Goóc was featured on CNN International in 2009 as the company began to gain international attention.^[8][when?]

Culture

Most people of Vietnamese origin in Brazil still preserve traditional customs, such as celebrating

• Asian Brazilians

References