The Vietnamese people in Poland - From Experiences in Mobility within Air Travel to Transnationalism

Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to achieve an in-depth understanding of how the Vietnamese people in Poland are involved in mobility within air travel (aero-mobility) for their transnational endeavors. This qualitative study is based on 4 semi-structured face-to-face interviews, 3 text-based interviews with the Vietnamese people living in Poland (VP), and on content analysis of texts and images. Air travel can, surprisingly, play a significant role in migration and ethnic studies. The analysis of this thesis relies on the theoretical frameworks of mobility turn, and transnationalism, focusing on the experiences, customs, and habits of the Vietnamese of Poland engaged in air travel. The analysis also includes how air travel can strengthen the diasporic and transnational links of the Vietnamese of Poland, contributing to ethnic weddings, charity events, and religious activities, securing their cultural identity in Poland. The findings indicate that travel customs and habits, social networks, diasporic activities, movements of goods, and exchange of cultures and ideas can be generated by a combination of mobility, transnationalism, and air travel of the Vietnamese people in Poland.