Trade and tourism in Lao Cai, Vietnam: A study of Vietnamese-Chinese interaction and borderland development.

摘要

This research studies Vietnamese-Chinese relationship through the cultural politics displayed in the social interaction between the Vietnamese and the Chinese in the economic activities of trade and tourism in the Vietnam-China borderlands. It examines the dialectical relationship between historical memories and social practices in trans-border interaction in the context of borderland economic development.; With vibrant economic revival in the Vietnam-China borderlands since the early 1990s, there have been increasing trans-border contacts between the Chinese and the Vietnamese. While most recent studies on these borderlands are concerned with the rapid expansion of trade and business, this research looks into the interactive strategies and tactics of the Vietnamese in dealing with their cross-border partners. It goes beyond the public rhetorics that promote economic cooperation, connectedness, and a friendly relationship, and investigates the intricate process of trans-border interaction which is still underlined by much disruption and competition, characterized by the historical consciousness of mutual distrust and suspicion.; The border, as a space as well as a metaphor, has different meanings to the people in different political and economic contexts. Today, the border signifies economic development, and trans-border connections are gateways to prosperity. However, before economic successes can be attained, both peoples need to develop better skills and strategies to achieve smooth interaction. This research adds to the studies of Asian borderlands which are still few in number. It also provides a new perspective for the studies of Chinese-Vietnamese relationship by offering a bottom-up approach of studying the interactive process of lay people. Furthermore, it contributes to the anthropological study of Vietnam, by linking a Vietnamese ethnography with global economy, transnationalism and modernization.