Transnational Marriages: A Review of the Policies and Initiatives in Singapore and the Potential Lessons for Vietnam

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relevant policies and initiatives formulated by the Singapore and Vietnam governments with regards to transnational marriages and their effects on transnational couples, identify challenges faced by transnational couples in Singapore and Vietnam, and outline the potential lessons from international and Singapore experiences for Vietnam’s policies and initiatives in addressing challenges faced by transnational couples. By utilizing semi-structured interviews and secondary research, it is shown that transnational couples in Singapore and Vietnam suffer from the complexity of the legal framework in both countries, communication and cultural barriers, and a lack of social and community support. Three recommendations were proposed for the Vietnamese government, namely, the creation of comprehensive policy and initiatives dealing with transnational marriages, the enhancement of social integration and marriage preparation programs, and the increase of awareness and sensibility of society towards transnational marriages. A contribution is made to the literature by providing a comparative analysis of policies and initiatives in two understudied countries, identifying challenges faced by transnational couples in these settings, and providing evidence-based policy recommendations for enhancing the legal and social environments for transnational marriages.