Little Saigon, Houston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Little Saigon
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Saigon Plaza in Little Saigon
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Texas |
| City | Houston |
Little Saigon is a vibrant neighborhood in Houston, Texas. It is also known as Vietnamtown or Viet-Town. This area is located along Bellaire Boulevard, just west of Chinatown. It is one of the biggest Vietnamese communities in the United States.
Little Saigon is part of the International Management District. Some people think it's part of Chinatown because it's so close. However, Little Saigon is its own unique neighborhood. The city of Houston even officially named a part of Bellaire Boulevard Saigon Blvd. Many streets that cross it also have Vietnamese names. In 2016, there was a plan to make Little Saigon an official district. But people living in the larger Alief area did not agree with this idea. You can also listen to Radio Saigon Houston, a Vietnamese-American AM radio station, from this neighborhood.
History of Little Saigon
Before Asian businesses moved to Southwest Houston, many were in an area now called East Downtown (EaDo). This area changed a lot from the early 1990s to the 2010s. This process, called gentrification, caused many Asian businesses to leave.
Since the 1990s, Asian developers started building in Southwest Houston. This area was greatly affected by the 1980s oil glut, which meant less oil was being sold. Vietnamese businesses then grew quickly along Bellaire Boulevard, west of Beltway 8.
In 2003, an architect named Nghiep Nguyen designed a Vietnam War memorial. It received money to be built and opened in 2005. This memorial has become one of the most important landmarks in Little Saigon.
In 2015, city council members, led by Richard Nguyen, gave Vietnamese names to streets in the neighborhood. They also added Vietnamese street signs. The part of Bellaire Boulevard between Beltway 8 and Eldridge Parkway was named Saigon Blvd (or Dai Lo Saigon). Other streets crossing it also got Vietnamese names and signs. Today, Little Saigon is famous for its delicious food. A popular restaurant, Crawfish and Noodles, has even been on TV shows like Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods America on the Travel Channel.
Little Saigon's Economy
Bellaire Boulevard is filled with Vietnamese businesses and street signs. Since the 1980s, Asian businesses have steadily grown in Southwest Houston. From the 2000s, this area became a top spot for restaurants.
Houston City Council member Steve Le, who is Vietnamese-American, has worked to promote the area. He wants more people to visit Little Saigon. The Vietnamese street signs added in 2015 were part of these efforts to attract tourists. Many of Houston's most famous Vietnamese restaurants are here. These include Crawfish and Noodles, Pho Binh, and Lee's Sandwiches. You can also find the Vietnamese-American radio station, Radio Saigon Houston, in the Saigon Plaza.
