List of U.S. cities with large Vietnamese-American populations

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.

Darker colors indicate counties with higher percentage of Vietnamese population, from 2000 US 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

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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

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These cities have more than 500,000 people consisting of at least 2% Vietnamese American in the 2010 census, sorted by percentage.

City Percentage Number Note
San Jose, California 10.6 106,379
San Diego, California 2.8 37,720
Portland, Oregon 2.1 12,806

Medium cities

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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

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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

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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

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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

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References

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