Most first generation arrived in Laos, out of no other choice - most were farmers in China and did not have proper education, no expertise and no capital to begin with. Most started as vendors in the wet markets, and most locals in Vientiane were government officials, and peasants in the country side. Most Chinese vow if they cannot make a fortune, they would not return to the home village in China. But, once they are successful, they might not be able to be away. Eventually the nature finds its way, most end up laying down in the Chinese cemetery, with a tombstone engraved with the name of the Chinese village the deceased come from. My grandma always sang me a hymn, saying leaving village at youth, making money, and eventually building big house at old ages. I did not understand what this big house means. It is the resting place called tomb. So, the answer to why the Chinese in Laos have not returned to their home villages is C'est la Vie - that is life in French, the locals always utter these few French words. The Chinese just have no choice, not that they do not want to go back home, to have their last resting place. The Chinese Cemetery at the end of the runway of the Vientiane International Airport has a lot of lost souls buried there.