Little Saigon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Little Saigon Vietnamtown
Asian Garden Mall facade in Westminster
Vietnamese alphabet	Tiểu Sài Gòn Sài Gòn nhỏ Phố người Việt Khu phố Việt Nam

Little Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn nhỏ or Tiểu Sài Gòn) is a special name. It is given to neighborhoods where many Vietnamese people live outside of Vietnam. These communities are mostly found in English-speaking countries. Sometimes they are called Little Vietnam or Little Hanoi. To avoid political meanings, some people call them Vietnamtown (Vietnamese: Phố người Việt or Khu phố Việt Nam). This is because Saigon is the old name for Ho Chi Minh City. Many first-generation Vietnamese immigrants in the United States came from Saigon.

The biggest Vietnamese-American communities are in Orange County, California, San Jose, California, and Houston, Texas. Not all of these places are called Little Saigon. Smaller communities also exist in cities like San Francisco, San Diego, and Oklahoma City. Vietnamese-Americans and Vietnamese-Canadians have also opened businesses in many Chinatowns. This brings unique Vietnamese culture to places like Las Vegas and Boston.

Little Saigon Communities in America

California's Vietnamese Hubs

A special bus service called Xe Đò Hoàng connects the Little Saigon in Orange County to the one in San Jose. It also links to other cities in California and Arizona. These cities have many Vietnamese Americans living there.

Orange County's Little Saigon

Phước Lộc Thọ, known in English as Asian Garden Mall, the first Vietnamese-American business center in Little Saigon, Orange County

The oldest and largest Little Saigon is in Orange County, California. Over 189,000 Vietnamese Americans live here. This area has the biggest Vietnamese American population outside of Vietnam. The community first started in Westminster. It quickly grew into the nearby city of Garden Grove. Today, Westminster and Garden Grove have the highest number of Vietnamese-Americans in the U.S.

In the 1970s, Westminster was a quiet, mostly white city. But by 1978, Vietnamese pioneers like Danh Quach and Frank Jao opened businesses there. The Nguoi Viet Daily News also started publishing from Garden Grove. New Vietnamese-American families opened their own shops. They built large shopping centers with many different businesses. The community then spread to nearby cities like Midway City and Santa Ana.

Little Saigon in Orange County is now a large, spread-out area. It has many shopping centers with Vietnamese and Chinese-Vietnamese businesses. The main part of Little Saigon is Bolsa Avenue in Westminster. This street was officially named Little Saigon in the late 1980s. About three-quarters of the people in this area are Vietnamese.

Tết Festival in Little Saigon, Orange County, California

Westminster is a major cultural center for Vietnamese Americans. Several Vietnamese-language TV and radio stations are based here. Many newspapers also serve the community. Little Saigon is also a big center for Vietnamese pop music. The music recorded here is sold to Vietnamese communities around the world.

An annual Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival is held in Garden Grove Park. It features rides, dances, and contests. Since 2013, this festival has moved to the OC Fair Grounds in Costa Mesa.

Over time, some Vietnamese Americans have moved to other cities. Younger generations are also becoming more part of mainstream American culture. They sometimes prefer modern malls over the ethnic malls in Little Saigon. This might change the look of Little Saigon in the future.

San Diego's Vietnamese Areas

Vietnamese Heritage flag displayed along El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego (April 2010), commemorating the fall of Saigon and the arrival of Vietnamese refugees to the US.

When the first Vietnamese immigrants arrived in 1981, many settled near San Diego State University. As families earned more money, they moved to other areas. These included Linda Vista and Mira Mesa.

About 50,000 Vietnamese people live in the San Diego area. There are three main Vietnamese business districts. These are on Mira Mesa Boulevard, El Cajon Boulevard, and Convoy Street/Linda Vista Road.

The area on El Cajon Boulevard will officially become "Little Saigon San Diego." In 2013, the City Council approved this six-block section. Signs for Little Saigon were installed on Interstate 15 in 2019.

San Gabriel Valley's Vietnamese Presence

The San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles has many Vietnamese people. This is partly due to Chinese refugees from Vietnam in the 1980s. While not called "Little Saigon," Garvey Avenue has many businesses. These are mostly owned by ethnic Chinese Vietnamese. More ethnic Vietnamese residents and business owners are also moving in.

Rosemead is a Vietnamese center in the San Gabriel Valley. A shopping center called Diamond Square used to have many Chinese Vietnamese businesses. It was replaced by The Square, which has Korean American stores. Many Vietnamese of Chinese origin own businesses here. These include supermarkets, restaurants, and auto repair shops.

The famous Sriracha hot sauce company, Huy Fong Foods, is owned by a Chinese Vietnamese refugee. It moved its larger factory to Rosemead.

San Jose's Little Saigon

Chùa Di Lặc Buddhist Temple in Little Saigon, San Jose.

San Jose has over 180,000 Vietnamese residents. This is about 10.6% of the city's population. San Jose has more Vietnamese residents than any single city outside of Vietnam. Vietnamese radio and TV stations are available here. Many publications offer Vietnamese literature.

Several shopping centers on Tully Road and Senter Road cater to Vietnamese tastes. The main area for Vietnamese Americans in San Jose is on Story Road. This area is home to Grand Century Mall and Vietnam Town. The San Jose City Council officially named this area "Little Saigon." Freeway signs were put up in 2013 to direct people to Little Saigon.

Little Saigon, San Jose.

Lee's Sandwiches and Pho Hoa Restaurant started in San Jose. The Vietnamese community in San Jose lives alongside other groups. These include Mexican-Americans and Filipino-Americans. This makes the Vietnamese community here very integrated.

There was a political debate about the name of the business district. Some wanted "Little Saigon," others "New Saigon." In 2007, the City Council chose "Saigon Business District." This led to protests. In 2008, the council changed its mind and removed the name. The Viet Museum opened in Kelley Park in 2007.

Sacramento's Growing Community

In 2010, a part of Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento was named "Little Saigon." Many Vietnamese have moved here from San Jose since the late 1990s. They were drawn by lower housing prices. The large Asian supermarket Shun Fat Supermarket opened in 2000. It serves the local community.

SF Supermarket is another important store. This area has many Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants. You can find phở and boba tea here. New shopping centers are planned, including Little Saigon Plaza. The local library branch also has many Vietnamese books.

San Francisco's Little Saigon

In 2004, San Francisco officially named Larkin Street "Little Saigon." This two-block area is in the Tenderloin district. More than 80% of the businesses here are Vietnamese-owned. Banners and signs have been put up. A formal entrance was built in 2008.

Oakland's Little Saigon

The area from 1st Avenue to 23rd Avenue in Oakland, California is known as Little Saigon of Oakland. About 8,000 people of Vietnamese origin live in Oakland. Vietnamese businesses are mainly on International Boulevard. They include markets, restaurants, and jewelry stores. Shop signs are usually in both English and Vietnamese. Yellow Vietnamese Freedom flags are often seen.

South Vietnamese yellow flags are visible everywhere in Oakland's Little Saigon.

In 2019, local business owners asked the city to officially recognize the area. They also started working on a plan for a Business Improvement District (BID). This means local businesses pay a fee to help improve the neighborhood. The city council set aside money for this study.

The Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce holds an annual Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival. It takes place in Clinton Square Park. This festival is part of many Mid-Autumn celebrations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In 2021, the Chamber of Commerce, along with other groups, organized a "Summer Fest." It featured Pokémon Go events and local food. They also offered COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.

Colorado's Vietnamese Community

A growing Vietnamese business area is on Federal Boulevard in Denver, Colorado. It has Vietnamese restaurants and various shops. In 2014, this area was officially named the Little Saigon Business District. This honored its rich Vietnamese culture. About 21,000 Vietnamese people live in the Denver area.

Florida's Little Saigon

A lively Vietnamese area called "Little Saigon" is in the Colonialtown district of Orlando, Florida. This neighborhood has many restaurants, grocery stores, and Vietnamese offices. These offices help the local Vietnamese community with things like taxes and medical care. The heart of the district is the intersection of East Colonial Drive and Mills Avenue.

The Vietnamese community in Orlando started with war refugees. They sought a new life in America after the fall of Saigon. Groups like The Vietnamese Association of Central Florida work to keep their heritage alive. They also share their culture with others in Orlando. Annual events like the Tet New Year Celebrations help spread Vietnamese culture.

Georgia's Vietnamese Businesses

Many Vietnamese businesses are on Buford Highway in Doraville and Chamblee. These are working-class suburbs north of Atlanta. Many Vietnamese Americans from California have moved to Atlanta since the 1990s. Metropolitan Atlanta has one of the fastest-growing Vietnamese populations.

Gulf Coast Vietnamese Communities

About 40,000 Vietnamese-Americans live on the Gulf Coast. One in four fishermen in this area is Vietnamese-American.

Alabama's "Little Vietnam"

Vietnamese-Americans make up one-third of the population in Bayou La Batre. Most work in the seafood industry. The eastern side of the city is called "Little Vietnam." This is because of the many Vietnamese-American residents. The community has grown by mixing Vietnamese and mainstream cultures. Many Amerasians also live here. They came to the U.S. through a special act.

Louisiana's Vietnamese Areas

Gate of "Little Vietnam" section of New Orleans

Louisiana has many Vietnamese people. Many are involved in traditional fishing. Both Louisiana and Vietnam were once French colonies. New Orleans has several areas with many Vietnamese-American businesses. The largest is around Village de L'Est. It includes Mary Queen of Vietnam Church.

There is a Vietnamese business section in Baton Rouge. It is on Florida Boulevard. This area has restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses. In 2008, Anh "Joseph" Cao became the first person of Vietnamese ancestry elected to the U.S. Congress. He served one term.

Mississippi's Small "Little Saigon"

A small "Little Saigon" is on Oak Street in Biloxi. Many Vietnamese-Americans moved to southern Mississippi. This area has a similar environment and industry to Vietnam. Vietnamese-American workers here are often in fishing, gambling, or shipbuilding.

Illinois's Little Saigon

The "New Chinatown" in Chicago

Argyle Street in Chicago has a Little Saigon district. It is a lively center for Vietnamese culture. Chicagoans sometimes call it "New Chinatown" or just Argyle. You can easily reach Argyle by the CTA Red Line train.

Kentucky's Unofficial District

Louisville has an unofficial Vietnamese district. It was called "Little Saigon" by bus drivers in the 1990s. It is mainly near South 3rd Street. Vietnamese-American businesses have spread out. But they are still mostly concentrated near Iroquois Park.

Massachusetts's Vietnamese Centers

Dorchester, a neighborhood in Boston, has a major Vietnamese business center. It serves about 75,000 Vietnamese-born Americans. These include people in the Boston-Worcester area and nearby states. Social service groups help these communities.

The "X" in Springfield is a magnet for Vietnamese businesses. It is a center for Vietnamese settlement in western Massachusetts. It has restaurants, businesses, and a community center.

Missouri's Vietnamese Population

Kansas City has over 10,000 Vietnamese immigrants. A large Vietnamese population along Independence Avenue has many businesses. These include phở restaurants, nail salons, and cell phone stores. A new "Little Saigon" is on North Oak Trafficway.

St. Louis also has many Vietnamese immigrants. Most restaurants and stores are in "South City" near Grand Avenue.

Michigan's Vietnamese Commerce

Taken in front of Dan Thien Duong in Madison Heights during Vietnamese (Tet) New Year in February 2000

The suburban area of Madison Heights near Detroit has become a center for Vietnamese businesses. You can find Vietnamese markets, Phở noodle soup restaurants, and beauty salons here. These shops are on John R Road and Dequindre Road.

The Grand Rapids and Holland areas also have a small Vietnamese community.

New Mexico's Small Community

Albuquerque, New Mexico has a small "Little Saigon" community. It has various Vietnamese restaurants and businesses. They are on and around Central Avenue. This is in the city's International District.

New York's Unofficial Little Saigon

New York City has an unofficial "Little Saigon" community. It is near the Bowery and Grand Street. This area has many Vietnamese stores. It is different from the nearby Chinatown.

North Carolina's Asian Centers

In Charlotte, Central Avenue has "Saigon Square." This area has Chinese and Vietnamese shopping plazas. They include restaurants and supermarkets. Saigon Square has Vietnamese stores like Phở Hòa (Vietnamese noodles).

Asian Corner Mall on North Tryon Street also has Chinese and Vietnamese stores. There are also areas in Greensboro with many Vietnamese-run businesses.

Oklahoma City's Asian District

Oklahoma City has a big Vietnamese American business district. It is in the center of the city. It is officially called Asian District. This is because of the many different Asian cultures there. The original Little Saigon part is along Military Drive and NW 23rd Street.

Thousands of Vietnamese refugees moved to Oklahoma City in the 1980s. They opened businesses in this area. It became known as a Little Saigon. The area has many phở cafés, Vietnamese bakeries, and Asian supermarkets. It also has nightclubs and karaoke bars. The district is popular with local residents and students. It offers a colorful taste of the Far East.

Oregon's Vietnamese Presence

Over 10,000 Vietnamese Americans live in the Portland area. Many Vietnamese restaurants and markets are on NE Sandy Boulevard and SE Powell Boulevard. You can also find Vietnamese businesses in nearby cities. These include Beaverton and Hillsboro.

Pennsylvania's Little Saigon

Little Saigon, Philadelphia

South Philadelphia near the Italian Market has many Vietnamese Americans. Many Vietnamese businesses have opened on Washington Avenue. They serve the local immigrant population. The Vietnamese sandwich bánh mì is very popular in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is one of the top U.S. cities for Vietnamese populations. It has more Vietnamese people than New York City.

Tennessee's "Little Hanoi"

Memphis has a significant Vietnamese community. It is called "Little Hanoi." It is along Cleveland Avenue in Midtown. This community has many Vietnamese restaurants and shops. It also has a Vietnamese Buddhist temple. Little Hanoi is one of the last large immigrant communities in Memphis.

Texas's Vietnamese Centers

Austin's Chinatown Center

Austin has a Chinatown Center with mostly Vietnamese businesses. It is on North Lamar.

Houston's Little Saigon

Saigon Plaza in Little Saigon, Houston

The Houston area has over 150,000 Vietnamese people. A part of Midtown Houston was the first commercial area for the Vietnamese community. It was called "Little Saigon" or "Vietnamtown." Vietnamese street signs mark the area. In 2004, the city officially named it "Little Saigon." As Midtown became more upscale, property values went up. This caused many Vietnamese-American businesses to move to other areas.

The largest Vietnamese business area is now in Houston (Alief). It is along Bellaire Boulevard. Most Vietnamese-owned businesses are at the Hong Kong City Mall. This area is next to Houston's Chinatown. It is sometimes confused with Chinatown. But they are separate neighborhoods. The area also has many Filipino, Arab, and Pakistani Americans.

Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) Communities

Several unofficial Little Saigons are in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Dallas and Fort Worth have some of the largest Vietnamese communities in the U.S.

• One Little Saigon is in Garland. It is along Walnut Street. This is the largest one. It has four big supermarkets and many restaurants.
• Another is in Arlington on Pioneer Parkway. This Little Saigon has supermarkets, restaurants, and karaoke bars.
• A third is in Irving on Beltline Road. It has Little Saigon Mall. New Vietnamese restaurants are being built here. They mix Korean, Japanese, Thai, Indian, and Chinese influences.
• There are also Vietnamese shopping centers in Carrollton.
• Haltom City also has many Vietnamese grocery stores and restaurants.

Virginia's Vietnamese Hubs

Eden Center

Eden Center at night

Little Saigon, Arlington, in Clarendon, was the main Little Saigon for the Washington, D.C. area. It was very popular after the Fall of Saigon in the late 1970s. Many Vietnamese refugees moved here. This neighborhood had Vietnamese grocery stores, restaurants, and cafes.

The Washington, D.C., suburb of Seven Corners is now home to the largest Vietnamese American population on the East Coast. The most important place for Vietnamese people here is the Eden Center shopping mall. It has a garden and a special arch at its entrance.

In Greater Richmond, the area with many Vietnamese restaurants and shops is sometimes called Little Saigon. This area has grown as a center for the Vietnamese population since the late 1980s.

Washington State's Vietnamese Areas

Seattle's International District

Thanh Vi Vietnamese Restaurant, Little Saigon, Seattle

Seattle has a large Vietnamese American business district. It is at 12th Avenue and Jackson Street. This area is east of the city's older Chinatown district. It is not officially called "Little Saigon." Instead, it is part of the International District. This name has been used since the 1940s. The Vietnamese and Chinese areas are separated by a freeway. But it is easy to go between them.

Tacoma's Lincoln International District

Tacoma also has an area known as the "Lincoln International District." It is almost entirely filled with Vietnamese restaurants and shops. Although not officially "Little Saigon," local people often call it that.

Little Saigons in Canada

Toronto's Vietnamese Population

Jane and Finch in Toronto has a large Vietnamese population.

Vancouver's Vietnamese Areas

Vancouver and Richmond, British Columbia both have many Vietnamese people. This includes Vancouver's Chinatown. A part of Kingsway has been named Vancouver's Little Saigon since 2013.

Little Saigons in Europe and Australia

Entrance gate to Sapa, Prague

Czech Republic's "Little Hanoi"

"Sapa" is a Vietnamese community and market in Prague. It is sometimes called "Prague's Hanoi." It is in the Libuš and Kunratice districts.

France's Vietnamese Communities

In southern France, there is a "Little Vietnam" in Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot. It used to house Vietnamese refugees. In Paris, Vietnamese stores are mainly in the 13th and 5th arrondissements.

Germany's Vietnamese Community

Germany has a large Vietnamese community. Many Vietnamese migrant workers came here in the 1970s. Berlin has the largest Vietnamese community, with about 35,000 people. The Dong Xuan Center in Lichtenberg is Germany's largest Vietnamese market. It has restaurants, shops, and cafes. Other German cities like Leipzig also have Vietnamese communities.

Australia's Vietnamese Suburbs

In Melbourne, the suburb of Footscray has many Vietnamese-Australians. The center of Footscray is often called Little Saigon. Other Vietnamese communities are in Springvale and Richmond.

In Sydney, the suburbs of Cabramatta, Canley Vale, and Canley Heights have many Vietnamese people. Cabramatta is known as 'Little Saigon'.

In Adelaide, Vietnamese businesses are mainly around Woodville.