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yesterday

Vietnamese American Communities Mark 50 Years of Growth and Political Influence

From refugee enclaves to thriving Little Saigons, these communities now serve as cultural, economic, and political powerhouses across the U.S.

At right, Hoang Xuyen Anh, celebrates the unveiling of a permanent sign welcoming visitors to “Little Saigon” on Story Road near Via Ferrari in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 21, 2011. (LiPo Ching/Mercury News)
Flags of the former South Vietnam and the United States flutter along Bolsa Avenue in the Little Saigon neighborhood of Westminster, California, on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Van Tran emigrated to the United States after being evacuated one week before the Fall of Saigon in April 1975. Van Tran became the first Vietnamese-American to serve in a state legislature. Pictured in 2015. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Overview

  • The fall of Saigon in 1975 led to the U.S.-facilitated resettlement of Vietnamese refugees, forming Little Saigon enclaves nationwide.
  • Orange County, California, remains the largest Vietnamese diaspora hub with over 215,000 residents and a vibrant cultural and commercial district.
  • Derek Tran’s 2024 election as the first Vietnamese American congressman from California reflects the community’s growing political clout.
  • Generational shifts challenge these communities to balance cultural preservation with evolving identities and redevelopment pressures.
  • Little Saigon enclaves in cities like Houston, San Jose, and Dallas–Fort Worth continue to thrive as centers of Vietnamese heritage and influence.