List of U.S. cities with large Vietnamese-American populations
Darker colors indicate counties with higher percentage of Vietnamese population, from 2000 US Census
The following is a list of U.S. cities with large Vietnamese-American populations . They consist of cities with at least 10,000 Vietnamese Americans or where Vietnamese Americans constitute a large percentage of the population. The information contained here was based on the 2010 U.S. census .
Vietnamese-Americans immigrated to the United States in different waves. The first wave of Vietnamese from just before or after the Fall of Saigon /the last day of the Vietnam War , April 30, 1975. They consisted of mostly educated, white collar public servants, senior military officers, and upper and middle class Vietnamese and their families. The second wave came in the 1980s escaping very precariously in boats from the communist regime as boat people . In the 1990s and 2000s, a third wave came from the US's Humanitarian Operation Program, family members of Vietnamese Americans, former prisoners of re-education camps, and Amerasian children of American servicemen who applied for entry into the United States. Vietnamese Americans vary in income level, with some being upper-class while others, particular those who came later, are working-class .
Vietnamese Americans are mainly concentrated in metropolitan areas in the West, including Orange County, California , San Jose, California , and Houston, Texas .
Cities with more than 10,000 Vietnamese Americans
These cities have more than 10,000 Vietnamese Americans according to the 2012-2016 American Community Survey, sorted by number.
Rank
City
Number (2016)
Percentage (2016)
Comment
1
San Jose, California
106,992
10.6
City with the most Vietnamese Americans in the United States and outside of Vietnam.
2
Garden Grove, California
52,894
30.3
Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, California
3
Houston , Texas
38,619
1.7
Little Saigon in Houston is located in Midtown and growing population in Chinatown .
4
San Diego , California
37,606
2.7
Little Saigon in the City Heights neighborhood.
5
Westminster, California
36,689
40.0
Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, California . City with the most Vietnamese Americans per capita. Its mayor, Chi Charlie Nguyen , is Vietnamese American.
6
Santa Ana, California
24,702
7.4
Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, California
7
Los Angeles , California
21,981
0.6
Located near Orange County, California Little Saigon in the heart of Chinatown
8
Anaheim, California
17,896
5.2
Located in Orange County, California
9
Philadelphia , Pennsylvania
16,682
1.1
Largest community in South Philadelphia . Also, clusters in the Olney and Logan sections as well as parts of the Lower Northeast, Chinatown , and nearby Camden, New Jersey .
10
Arlington, Texas
14,892
3.9
in the Dallas-Fort Worth region
11
San Francisco , California
14,657
1.7
Little Saigon , designated in the Tenderloin District , although population spread throughout city
12
Portland, Oregon
14,116
2.3
Sandy Boulevard was known as "Saigon Blvd." during the mid-1990s, 82nd Avenue has a growing enclave as well as suburban Clackamas County
13
New York , New York
13,864
0.2
Growing enclave within Manhattan's Chinatown . Growing populations in Queens and the Bronx .
14
Garland, Texas
12,486
5.5
In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
15
Seattle , Washington
11,974
1.8
Little Saigon at east end of International District
16
Oklahoma City , Oklahoma
11,730
1.9
Little Saigon in Asian District of Central Oklahoma City
17
Boston , Massachusetts
11,614
1.8
Growing enclaves in Dorchester and neighboring city of Quincy . Established within Chinatown .
18
Fountain Valley, California
11,561
20.4
Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, California
19
Milpitas, California
11,165
15.2
Near San Jose, California
Major cities
These cities have more than 500,000 people consisting of at least 2% Vietnamese American in the 2010 census, sorted by percentage.
Medium cities
These cities have between 100,000 and 500,000 people and are at least 4% Vietnamese American in the 2010 Census, sorted by percentage.
City
Percentage
Number
Note
Garden Grove, California
29.8
52,025
Part of Little Saigon in Orange County
El Monte, California
7.5
8,654
Many Chinese-Vietnamese
Santa Ana, California
7.2
23,907
In Orange County
Garland, Texas
5.2
12,118
in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
Anaheim, California
5.0
17,192
In Orange County
Arlington, Texas
4.2
16,043
in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
Small cities
These cities have between 10,000 and 100,000 people and consist of at least 6% Vietnamese American in the 2010-15 American Community Survey, sorted by percentage.
City
Percentage
Number
Note
Westminster, California
40.3
36,954
The heart of Little Saigon, traditionally considered the center of overseas Vietnamese culture in the US. Located in Orange County, California. The mayor of the city, Chi Charlie Nguyen, is Vietnamese-American.
Fountain Valley, California
20.7
11,747
Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, California
Stanton, California
16.9
6,526
Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, California
Rosemead, California
15.4
8,401
Many Chinese-Vietnamese , who might self-report as either Chinese or Vietnamese
Milpitas, California
14.9
10,639
Adjacent to San Jose (north)
West Falls Church, Virginia
8.5
2,494
Fairfax County, Virginia
Springfield, Virginia
8.2
2,482
Fairfax County, Virginia
Harvey, Louisiana
8.0
1,628
New Orleans suburb
White Center, Washington
7.4
1,091
Adjacent to Seattle
San Gabriel, California
6.3
2,524
Many Chinese-Vietnamese
Towns
These cities have fewer than 10,000 people and consist of at least 8% Vietnamese American in the 2010 Census, sorted by percentage.
City
Percentage
Number
Note
Midway City, California
41.4
3,511
Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, California
Morrow, Georgia
20.3
1,307
Avondale, Louisiana
20.1
1048
New Orleans suburb
Henderson, Louisiana
18.0
300
Amelia, Louisiana
17.8
437
Bayou La Batre, Alabama
14.5
370
Involved in fishery
Lake City, Georgia
13.0
340
Palacios, Texas
8.1
383
Counties
Ten largest counties with Vietnamese Americans according to the 2010 Census, sorted by number.
Rank
County
Number (2010)
Percentage (2010)
Metropolitan Region
1
Orange County, California
227,070
6.1
Greater Los Angeles
2
Santa Clara County, California
153,099
7.1
San Francisco Bay Area : South
3
Los Angeles County, California
122,063
0.9
Los Angeles
4
Harris County, Texas
108,028
2.0
Houston
5
King County, Washington
88,028
1.4
Seattle
6
San Diego County, California
51,030
2.0
San Diego
7
Alameda County, California
30,533
2.0
San Francisco Bay Area : East
8
Tarrant County, Texas
29,128
1.6
Dallas/ Fort Worth
9
Fairfax County, Virginia
28,770
2.7
Greater Washington : Virginia
10
Dallas County, Texas
26,276
1.1
Dallas/Fort Worth
See also
References
External links
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