Most of the people coming back from Cambodia are now living in Thac Mo and Can Don hydropower plant areas

Since December last year, 352 households with 1,544 Vietnamese people have returned to Binh Phuoc from Cambodia.

Most of them are now living in Thac Mo and Can Don hydropower plant areas in Bu Gia Map and Bu Dop districts. Many people have used boats to travel thousands of kilometres from Cambodia to Vietnam and then use them as their shelters in Vietnam.

Binh Phuoc Province has VND1.2-1.4 million ring-fenced for each household, while every household will be provided with VND6-7 million (USD260.86-304.34) for accommodation by the government. They can also apply for a 3% interest rate VND8-million loan to buy houses.

Each household are set to also be given a VND8-million loan to help look for work. The province will offer financial support for their vocational training and education activities for nine months.

According to Nguyen Van Loi, party secretary of Binh Phuoc Province, the locality had made efforts to resettle the newcomers.

At a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh last year, the province called on government assistance to help people repatriated from Cambodia, including financial support.

Many Vietnamese people who came to Cambodia often live on Tonle Sap River in Cambodia. Their boats have become both their home and means of livelihood, and their children have been born on the vessels and lack official papers.

Despite having lived there for many years, they have failed to integrate in Cambodia and are not fluent in Khmer. Meanwhile, Tonle Sap has gradually become drier, causing difficulties for fishing.

Their children lack opportunities to go to school.

Because of difficulties in Cambodia, they decided to return to Vietnam.

Lao Dong/Dtinews