The associational life of the vietnamese middle class in Saigon (1950s-1970s)

Abstract

During the Second Indochina War (or Vietnam War) (ca. 1960s-1975), Saigon, the capital of the Republic of Vietnam, was a cosmopolitan city. Insulated from direct fighting throughout most of the war, Saigon was nonetheless deeply affected by the war. The influx of war refugees and American military and civilian personnel certainly brought changes to the capital city and its inhabitants. Among the changes witnessed in this period was the expansion of the middle class, which played an important role in establishing and patronizing voluntary associations. This chapter examines the role that middle-class Vietnamese played in promoting voluntary organizations, including professional clubs, charities, and war-relief associations. The middle class’s voluntary activities played a critical role in enlarging the associational life of Saigon as well as in the formation of the middle class’s cultural and social identity.