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Vietnamese Americans have transformed the social, cultural, economic, and political life of Orange County, California. Previously, there were Vietnamese international students, international or war brides, or military personnel living in the United States, but the majority arrived as refugees and immigrants after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Although they are lumped together as refugees, Vietnamese Americans are diverse in terms of their class, ethnic, regional, religious, linguistic, and ideological backgrounds. Their migration path varied, and they often struggled with resettling in a new homeland and rebuilding their lives. They are dispersed throughout the country, but many are concentrated in central Orange County, where three cities--Westminster, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana--have Welcome to Little Saigon signs. They constitute the largest population of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam and have created flourishing residential neighborhoods and bustling commercial centers and contribute to the political and cultural life of the region. This book captures snapshots of Vietnamese life in Orange County over the span of 40 years and shows a dynamic, vibrant community that is revitalizing the region.
About the author
Thuy Vo Dang has a doctorate in ethnic studies from the University of California, San Diego, and is the archivist for the Southeast Asian Archive and Regional History at the UC Irvine Libraries. Linda Trinh Vo has a doctorate in sociology from the University of California, San Diego, and is an associate professor in the Department of Asian American Studies and director of the Vietnamese American Oral History Project at UC Irvine. Tram Le has a master of arts in Asian American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is the associate director of the Vietnamese American Oral History Project at UC Irvine.
