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IN BRIEF
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Born in Vietnam and landed in 1956 at the camp of CAFI of Sainte-Livrade-sur-LotThis young refugee grew up in the barracks before dedicating seventy years to the same community. On March 22, 2026, this journey ofexile and transmission led to his election as mayor, symbol of a integration collective and driving force of a project museum dedicated to the memory of Indochina.
Article dated April 14, 2026 — The story traces the journey of an infant who arrived in 1956 at a transit camp on the banks of the Lot River and who, seventy years later, became the mayor from the same town. It is the story of a generation from theIndochina welcomed at CAFI, from living in barracks for decades, then from a municipal commitment that culminated in the 2026 election ofAndré Forget, bearer of a project of memory and transmission.
A temporary home that has become a lasting anchor
Following the Geneva Accords and the French withdrawal from Indochina, thousands of civilians fled Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. In April one thousand nine hundred fifty-six, the municipality of Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot It houses a transit center transformed into a camp where 1,160 people disembark, including 740 children. Located on a former military construction site, the Reception Center for French Citizens from Indochina — the CAFI — is quickly perceived not as a stopover but as a space for human and social reconstruction.
The presence of this center profoundly altered the local demographics: in less than a decade, the municipal population increased by approximately 49%, rising from around 3,532 to 5,300 inhabitants, reflecting the emergence of a veritable “Vietnamese village” in the heart of the city. Lot-et-Garonne.
Daily life behind barbed wire
The camp, surrounded and governed by strict rules, imposes a particular rhythm: permission must be requested to bring relatives over for the weekend, the barracks are poorly insulated, and summer heat and winters are intense. Those who grew up there describe a life of constant effort and nostalgia, where evenings are often marked by the weight of exile and the reconstruction of a shattered identity.
It was in this setting that a child who arrived by boat at the age of one and a half began a life that would forever link him to the community. He would spend twenty-three years in these buildings, later remembering the human warmth and the material hardship that shaped his youth.
A local journey, a public trajectory
After spending a lifetime in Sainte-Livrade, civic engagement became a natural choice. In the March elections two thousand twenty-sixThis child, now an adult, ran for office and initially won 40% of the vote in the first round, before winning the second round with 49% of the vote. The election ofAndré Forget The appointment of the mayor is widely documented by the local and regional press, as reported in particular by Passion Aquitaine / Ouest-France And France 3 Regions.
His political trajectory rests as much on an institutional role—former deputy to the outgoing mayor—as on a moral capital linked to his personal history. His election is seen by many as recognition of a path of integration and a commitment to preserving collective memory.
A close-knit community and preserved traditions
In Sainte-Livrade, the Vietnamese presence is not merely a memory: it is manifested through traditional festivals, active associations, and a memorial bearing the names of repatriated citizens. These elements ensure the intergenerational transmission of practices and stories, making the place one of the few in France where a community of Indochinese origin has become firmly established.
The social bond, woven over the decades, partly explains why many CAFI alumni have never left the community: for them, it is a strong anchor, a “replanting” after uprooting.
A museum project for 2030
More than a symbolic wish, the creation of a museum dedicated to Indochinese memory constitutes the first project of his mandate.André ForgetScheduled for two thousand thirtyThis place aims to preserve the tangible and intangible traces of CAFI, to house archives and to serve as an educational platform to explain the history of the repatriates and their contribution to local life.
This project is part of a collective effort to promote migratory heritage, echoing other international cultural and academic initiatives, such as the academic collaboration between France and Southeast Asia — as exemplified by the opening of training programs in Phnom Penh reported by Southeast Asia — or bilateral cooperation mentioned in the review of initiatives between Vietnam and Japan (Southeast Asia).
Memory, transmission and visibility
Preserving the site, safeguarding the stories, and organizing festive events keep the memory alive. Local associations maintain these connections and ensure that younger generations understand their origins. A memorial on the site commemorates daily the names and journeys of those who have passed through. CAFI.
The visibility of this story extends beyond the local sphere: news reports, archives and audiovisual resources, such as those of theINAcontribute to documenting and disseminating these life stories. Regional and national media, as well as local press articles, have covered the election and the memorial project (see also NewsCholet and local coverage on West France).
An example of integration told in the present tense
The journey ofAndré Forget illustrates how a community of Indochinese origin managed to establish itself, forge connections, and enrich the civic life of a French commune. From their arrival in one thousand nine hundred fifty-six at the municipal election of two thousand twenty-sixThe trajectory spans several generations and testifies to a collective effort to transform exile into rootedness.
This local narrative resonates with other stories related to the Asian presence in France and the region: whether through sporting, cultural, or academic commitments, remarkable individual journeys, or unusual initiatives abroad, the links between France and Southeast Asia continue to strengthen (see some editorial examples on Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia and the cultural sections).
The city and its municipal heritage
The municipality, now led by an elected official born in the camp, faces a challenge: reconciling day-to-day management with the duty to remember. The composition of the municipal team is accessible through local institutional resources and illustrates how elected officials from diverse backgrounds coexist to govern the municipality (example of municipal pages).
The journey ofAndré Forget is reported by various media outlets, including regional and national articles that place his election within the broader context of migration and memory narratives in France (France 3).
Frequently Asked Questions — From Vietnam to City Hall: An exceptional journey spanning six decades
Q. Who is André Forget And what is his background?
A. André Forget is a former child who arrived at CAFI at the age of one and a half in one thousand nine hundred fifty-sixHe spent 23 years old in the barracks of the Moulin du Lot camp Sainte-Livrade-sur-LotHe built his life there and stayed by choice. On March 22, 2026, he was elected mayor of the town, receiving 49% votes in the second round.
Q. What does the acronym mean? CAFI And what role did he play?
A. THE CAFI This is the Centre for the Reception of French People from Indochina, a transit camp opened in 1956 on the site of the Moulin du Lot. Located on the banks of the Lot, it served as temporary accommodation for families repatriated from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia after the end of the French colonial presence in Indochina.
Q. How many people were welcomed to Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot in 1956?
A. The camp received approximately 1,160 repatriates from Indochina, including approximately 740 childrenquickly forming a large community within the municipality.
Q. What were the living conditions like in the camp?
A. The barracks were rudimentary: intense heat in the summer, cold and poor insulation in the winter, strict rules of conduct, and perimeters surrounded by barbed wire. Daily life was marked by material insecurity and the emotional burden of exile for many families.
Q. For what Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot Has it experienced such population growth?
A. The massive influx of repatriates between 1956 and the following years increased the population of the commune from approximately 3,532 to nearly 5,300 inhabitants in eight years, representing an increase of approximately 49%The presence of the camp has thus profoundly transformed the demographic and social profile of the village.
Q. How did the Indochinese community preserve its culture in Sainte-Livrade ?
A. Vietnamese traditions have been maintained by local families and associations: religious and cultural festivals, oral transmission between generations, and the presence of a memorial which bears the names of the repatriated to preserve collective memory.
Q. What role did personal history play?André Forget in his election campaign?
A. His journey, from childhood to CAFI His involvement in municipal life resonated with many voters. His long service in the community and his intimate knowledge of Indochinese history strengthened his legitimacy, beyond purely administrative issues.
Q. What election results led to his investiture?
A. He came out on top in the first round with a significant share of the votes, then won the second round on March 22, 2026 with 49% ballots, becoming the new mayor of the town.
Q. What priority projects does he have for his term?
A. His first major project is the creation of a museum dedicated to the Indochinese memory of the commune, programmed for 2030. It thus wishes to give an institutional and heritage place to the collective story of the repatriates.
Q. Are there already memorial sites in Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot ?
A. Yes, the town still retains visible traces of this history: the old camp buildings, active associations, and a memorial which recalls the names of the repatriated so as not to forget the arrival and settlement of these families.
Q. What symbolic significance does the journey ofAndré Forget ?
A. His journey—arriving as a child in a transit camp and becoming mayor seven decades later—embodies a story of integration and resilience. It illustrates how a community of immigrants was able to rebuild itself and actively participate in local life.
Q. When was this article published and updated?
A. The article was written and updated on April 14, 2026.