What do a Cold War coffee crisis, contract labor, and bánh mì have in common?
They’re all part of the untold story of how two very different Vietnamese communities came to call Berlin home.
In this episode, we trace the complex history of Vietnamese migration to Germany—starting in the classrooms and factories of East Germany, through the refugee policies of the West, and into the uncertain years after reunification.
From political ideology to personal survival, we unpack how Cold War dynamics shaped everyday life—and how today, Berlin’s Vietnamese communities continue to thrive, adapt, and feed the city with heart and flavor.
Get ready for history, identity, resilience… and some seriously good food.
SHOWNOTES (and more resources):
A paper on the Vietnamese diaspora in Germany
DW's 20 Years Later, East Germany's Vietnamese Have Moved on
Vietnamese coffee imports to Germany
Coffee Consumption in Germany (2022)