From contract workers to success: The Vietnamese Bui family in Dresden

From contract workers to success: The Vietnamese Bui family in Dresden

When you stroll through the streets of Dresden, you not only come across historical buildings, but also an impressive migration history. The careers of Vietnamese families in Germany illustrate how they are much more than just passers-by. A living example is the Bui family, who have lived in Germany for almost four decades.

Hai Bui, a 32-year-old German citizen who was born and raised in Germany, has Vietnamese roots. He speaks fluent Vietnamese and regularly visits his grandmother and cousins ​​in Vietnam. Hai is aware that his success is closely linked to the sacrifices of his parents, Hanh and Tuyen Bui, who came to the GDR as contract workers in the 1980s to give their family a better life. Hanh Bui worked up to 13 hours a day to provide her sons with a good education, and in 1996 she set up a small shop in Dresden's Neustadt, which has since become the family's living space. Such roots show how important education is for the Buis, and they consider Germany their home, celebrate German Unity Day and are proud of their dual identity.

The history of contract workers in the GDR

In the 1970s, the GDR concluded agreements with socialist sister states such as Vietnam to address the labor shortage. This policy led to around 60,000 Vietnamese contract workers, mostly between 18 and 40 years old, coming to the GDR. What is particularly noteworthy is that the first Vietnamese began their journey as early as 1980 to improve their economic situation, but this was often accompanied by difficulties and discrimination. Despite the opportunity to work in the GDR, their qualifications were not recognized there and the working conditions in the low-wage sectors, such as the textile and food industries, were often modest. A German course that only lasted two months taught only basic, work-relevant vocabulary. bpb.de describes these experiences and explains how many Vietnamese found their time in the GDR fulfilling despite all the adversities.

The transition period hit many contract workers particularly hard. The termination of contracts by reunified Germany meant that over 90,000 workers had to return home or were faced with the choice between return and an uncertain future in Germany. The changes brought not only existential fears, but also opportunities for family reunification, which many Vietnamese saw as a new beginning. Arranged paternity was used as a migration strategy to obtain permanent residency rights, and many Vietnamese women faced discrimination and racism during this time.

A look into the realities of life

The living conditions of Vietnamese contract workers in the GDR were generally difficult. They often lived in cramped living conditions in company-owned dormitories that were isolated from the rest of the population. Gender segregation and strict house rules were part of everyday life. These circumstances also led to high rates of abortion among Vietnamese women, as pregnancies were not allowed until 1987.

Nevertheless, these people had a tireless entrepreneurial spirit. A former worker reported that, in addition to her regular work, she sewed clothes for GDR citizens in her free time in order to supplement her income. provides insight into this pragmatic attitude domid.org, which also documents that contact between the migrant workers and the GDR population was undesirable by the authorities, but that there were occasional opportunities for exchange.

Despite the challenges they faced, the stories of Hai Bui and many others represent an important piece of German history. Their experiences and their parents' tireless fight for a better life are not only a tribute to their courage, but also a wake-up call to keep the memory of this generation of migrants alive. This not only makes it easier to understand the difficult past, but also shows how complex cultural life in Germany is today.