WATERING THE NEIGHBOUR'S GARDEN: THE GROWING - CICRED

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G. HUGO –NGUYEN THI H. X.
frontier areas in the past. Although in a few cases, the women may
move to regions within those countries where there is an imbalance
such as mining or agricultural areas as is the case with the Filipino
women moving to Australia (Hugo, 1995) and increasingly movement
to China and India where male preference has resulted in larger numbers
of young adult males than females.
The increase in marriage migration of women in Asia has raised a
number of important issues. In particular some evidence of exploitation
of the women involved has been of concern. In addition, it has
considerable consequences for the make up of population in both
origin and destination areas. Similarly, the migration develops networks
between origin and destination along which flow remittances, information
and other forms of migration.
The present chapter focuses on one of the fastest growing streams
of marriage migration in Asia–that of women from Vietnam moving to
marry Taiwanese men (Wang and Chang, 2002; Tsay, 2004). The perspective
adopted is largely from the origin and draws on primary research
conducted in southern Vietnam. The chapter begins by outlining
the main levels of, and trends, in marriage migration to Taiwan and
explores some of the structural factors shaping that migration. It then
draws upon a field study to examine the process of migration and
some of the impacts of the movement on the families and communities
of origin. It concludes by examining some of the policy implications
of the findings.
2. The national and regional context
Vietnam is one of the larger nations of South-East Asia with a
population of 84 million in 2005 growing at an annual rate of 1.3
percent (UNESCAP, 2005). Although its economy is growing rapidly–
+8.4 percent in 2005 (ADB, 2006), per capita GNI remains low
(US$480 in 2003) and the incidence of poverty is high, 28.9 percent in
2002 and even higher in rural areas (35.6 percent) (ADB, 2005). Vietnam
gained full independence in 1975 after many years of war which
left devastation and economic crisis. In response Vietnam began the
transition from a centrally planned to a multi-sector economy and
instituted a policy of Doi Moi. 2 This has had a profound impact on
social and economic development of the nation. There was a substantial
rise in foreign investment, living standards increased and Vietnam
2 In 1986, Vietnam adopted renovation policies associated with market liberalization.
Doi Moi is the transition from a centrally planned protected economy to a multisector
open economy.