Thai Chinese are 10-14 per cent of Thailand's
population. They are particularly found in the
towns and the Bangkok metropolitan area.
• First-generation Chinese immigrants aged 60 and
above use Chinese as their first language.
Second-generation Bangkok Chinese speak
Chinese with their parents but switch to Thai
when they are with their peers. Third generation
cannot speak or understand Chinese at all. They
speak, think and dream in Thai. They identify
themselves proudly as Thai and are clearly
accepted as such by Thais