Following Cambodian independence in 1953, many students and professionals from Cambodia continued to arrive in France. While most of these individuals returned to their home country after a brief sojourn, as the Cambodian Civil War erupted in the late 1960s, most opted to remain permanently in France and sponsored the immigration of family members. With a Cambodian community already established since the early 20th century, the Paris region was the destination of choice for both Cambodian immigrants arriving in France and those studying or working elsewhere in the country.