Little Saigons in the US: A story about community and adaptation from 1988 to 2024
Name
Phan-adphan-sb-history and chemistry-2024-thesis.pdf
Description
Thesis PDF
Size
1.35 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
cdb8b4058b4d0d0b9e3bbfee3d5a7fb2
Author(s)
Phan, Angelica
Advisor(s)
Teng, Emma
Date Issued
May 2024
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
After the fall of Saigon in 1975, thousands of Vietnamese refugees fled to the US, initiating a significant wave of Vietnamese immigration. With assistance from resettlement agencies and sponsors, Vietnamese immigrants were resettled throughout the country. Despite this dispersion, many Vietnamese refugees clustered together and formed enclaves, which soon became known as Little Saigons. While the first Little Saigon was officially recognized in 1988, they began to take shape in the preceding decade. Since their development, Vietnamese enclaves have encountered various challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Vietnamese Americans have been actively working to preserve their enclaves. Exploring Little Saigons across the West, Northeast, Midwest, and South reveals their profound historical and cultural significance. These enclaves provided Vietnamese refugees with economic stability and a sense of community reminiscent of their lost homeland. Moreover, they served as crucial links to Vietnamese culture, granting access to Vietnamese goods and services. Additionally, Little Saigons served as central gathering spaces for socializing and celebrating cultural events, fostering a strong sense of identity and belonging among Vietnamese immigrants. The enduring importance of Little Saigons to Vietnamese Americans underscores the need for their protection and preservation, a sentiment that extends to other ethnic enclaves as well.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. History Section
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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
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