WAYS OF LIFE OF VIETNAMESE-THAIS IN SAKON NAKHON PROVINCE

บทคัดย่อ

This is a qualitative research which aims to study the ways of life of Vietnamese-Thais residing in Sakon Nakhon. The study area is Mueang district of Sakon Nakhon province. The subjects are elderly people, community leaders, family heads, and the head of the Vietnamese-Thai Association. The study samples were selected from the aforementioned groups of subjects and were divided into 4 groups of 10 people. Data collection was conducted in various methods as follows: literature reviews, in-depth interviews, focus groups, participant observations, non-participant observations, and documentary data collection. The collected data was analyzed to arrive at the ways of life of Vietnamese-Thais in Mueang district of Sakon Nakhon province.

It was found that when the Vietnamese took on all types of occupation when they first migrated intoThailand. The occupations they undertook were as follows: cultivation, poultry raising, butchery, carpentry, masonry, furniture making, and blacksmithing, etc. They gradually developed business networks with fellow Vietnamese immigrants of nearby provinces. Owing to their high endurance and diligence, the Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Thais became successful in their livelihood. The Vietnamese familial relationship observes mutual dependency and elders are still highly respected and depended on with faith by later generations. Vietnamese-Thais socialize by organizing group activities and celebrating festivities regularly. The Vietnamese culture is displayed by food, dressing and language, which are legacies bestowed upon later generations by their ancestors. Vietnamese-Thais prefer bland flavored food. On important days and festivals, they still collectively dress in their traditional Ao Dai costumes. Vietnamese-Thais also give precedence in transferring culture through language as a medium. The Vietnamese language is both spoken and written as modes of communication within family members and between fellow Vietnamese. Vietnamese-Thais observe many important festivities as such ancestral worshipping, soul release from purgatory rituals (Gong Tek), The Vietnamese New Year (Tet) and funeral arrangements, which are still adhered to and passed down since ancient times. The aforementioned aspects apparently illustrate the simple ways of life of the Vietnamese.

The research suggests that there should be support for Vietnamese-Thais to conduct activities. Their ways of life as well as art and culture should be publicized for promotion into becoming tourist destination of the province. Furthermore, they should be offered opportunities to participate in political activities.