Laotian diaspora: Difference between revisions

There are an estimated 21,600 people of ethnic Lao descent living in [[Cambodia]], primarily in the northern part of the country.<ref name="Ethnologue">[http://www.ethnologue.com/language/lao#language-attachment_1-0 Ethnologue]</ref> Laotians first arrived in Cambodia during the country's [[French protectorate of Cambodia|French colonial period]] as laborers for plantations and fishermen.<ref name="Gance">Samuel Gance. ''Anton ou la trajectoire d'un père''. L'Harmattan, 2013</ref> However, a larger number of Laotians later arrived following the collapse of [[Democratic Kampuchea|Pol Pot's regime]] to escape communism in their own homeland. Recently, there has been a number of Laotian expatriates in Cambodia due to increased economic cooperation between the two countries.<ref>[http://www.asean.org/news/asean-statement-communiques/item/joint-statement-of-the-6th-cambodia-lao-pdr-myanmar-viet-nam-clmv-summit ASEAN Joint statement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131222818/http://www.asean.org/news/asean-statement-communiques/item/joint-statement-of-the-6th-cambodia-lao-pdr-myanmar-viet-nam-clmv-summit |date=2015-01-31 }}</ref>

France was the first Western country to where Laotian migrants settled due to the [[French Laos|colonization of Laos by France]] in the early 20th century. A small number of students and workers of the elite class were the first Lao migrants to France. However, Laotian [[immigration to France]] only started to become visible after the large influx of refugees after the Vietnam War in 1975. Unlike their counterpart communities in North America, Germany, and Australia, French Laotians are regarded as a model minority in French politics and society.<ref>[http://sayasackp.free.fr/connaitrejeunesse.htm La jeunesse lao de France, quelle identité?] (in French)</ref> The community on average has a high level of education, is economically successful, and is well integrated into the nation's society due to strong cultural, historical and linguistic knowledge of the host country.<ref name="Laos in France">[http://www.laos-travel-guide.com/laos-in-france.html Laotians in France] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328013950/http://www.laos-travel-guide.com/laos-in-france.html |date=2013-03-28 }}</ref>