Little Saigon – A Cultural Heritage Site
By Christy Ko Kim, AIA
Little Saigon spans several cities in Orange County, including Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, and Huntington Beach. Westminster, however, is where Little Saigon began and where the heart of it still exists today. Experiencing Little Saigon in Southern California is a palpable, cultural immersion in Vietnamese culture. It’s not only Vietnamese Americans, but many others of predominantly Asian descent, who frequent the area to eat, meet, shop, and learn about Vietnamese current events and culture.
Little Saigon began as a result of the tumultuous defeat of South Vietnam and the unification of the entire country under North Vietnam rule in 1975. These events are also remembered as the Vietnam War or the Fall of Saigon. In the midst of fleeing to the United States and having no choice but to assimilate to American culture, Vietnamese newcomers held onto their roots and successfully built their community upon the memories of their former country. The majority came with absolutely nothing and some were able to obtain loans to start small businesses such as dry cleaners, markets, and liquor stores. As the community grew, Vietnamese relied on Little Saigon to stay connected to their heritage, as well as for cultural protection and comfort in a foreign place where discrimination was not uncommon.
Although its boundaries are gradually expanding, the location of where this ethnic enclave started has been maintained. From a few small businesses to a business district that is over a mile long, the enclave has successfully grown and continues to contribute to the economic vitality of Westminster. Although the number of Vietnamese residents in Westminster has decreased significantly since first arrivals in the 1970s, Little Saigon’s commercial areas remain popular and the boundaries of greater Little Saigon continue to expand beyond Westminster. The memory of the fall of Saigon was bitter for both Americans and Vietnamese alike, yet the outcome of these events is that Little Saigon is now one of the largest Vietnamese communities outside of Vietnam, and the largest Asian ethnic enclave in Orange County.
Little Saigon is part of Orange County’s cultural history and is worth conserving. However, conservation of Little Saigon is a bit more challenging than with other historic resources. It’s not the architecture or physical characteristics that make this community culturally significant, rather it’s the visceral experience of visiting what seems like the former Saigon right here in Orange County. It’s the intangible cultural heritage rather than the tangibly constructed assets that contribute to its value. In Little Saigon, these take the form of traditions, businesses, arts, and religious practices.
Little Saigon is a prime example of a successful ethnic enclave, yet no protections exist to conserve it. As generational shifts occur, personal and cultural values tend to change as well. Little Saigon is vulnerable to these shifts. Younger generations have stepped into different professions, thereby not continuing the businesses their parents started. How valuable will conserving this community be to them? Will businesses change or will the Vietnamese culture evident in Little Saigon continue to stay as vibrant as it is today? Changes are inevitable, therefore, actively taking steps to maintain and accommodate the attraction and significance of Little Saigon to future generations, while managing the change so as not to eliminate the cultural past, is critical.
Much can be learned from the Little Saigon community and commercial district. It has potential to be an exceptional example of a cultural heritage district, exhibiting a healthy community even through generational changes. It’s essential to understand how the City and property owners plan to manage these transformations and if they will implement special programs for the distinctive circumstance of Little Saigon as an area with cultural importance. As the field of heritage conservation widens the focus beyond buildings and structures, and recognizes underrepresented communities, Little Saigon, a community that represents courage, endurance, and adaptation, but also kindness, sympathy, and support, emerges at an opportunistic time to be included as part of Orange County history.
