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.
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.
Contents
Cities with more than 10,000 Vietnamese Americans
These cities have more than 10,000 Vietnamese Americans according to the 2010 Census, sorted by number.
| Rank | City | Number (2010) | Percentage (2010) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, California | 100,486 | 10.6 | City with the most Vietnamese Americans in the United States and outside of Vietnam. |
| 2 | Garden Grove, California | 47,331 | 27.7 | Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, California |
| 3 | Westminster, California | 36,058 | 40.2 | Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, California. City with the most Vietnamese Americans per capita. |
| 4 | Houston, Texas | 34,838 | 1.7 | Little Saigon in Houston is located in Midtown and growing population in Chinatown. |
| 5 | San Diego, California | 33,149 | 2.5 | Little Saigon in the City Heights neighborhood. |
| 6 | Santa Ana, California | 23,167 | 7.1 | Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, California |
| 7 | Los Angeles, California | 19,969 | 0.5 | Located near Orange County, California |
| 8 | Anaheim, California | 14,706 | 4.4 | Located in Orange County, California |
| 9 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 14,431 | 0.9 | 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, NJ. |
| 10 | New York, New York | 13,387 | 0.2 | Growing enclave within Manhattan's Chinatown. Growing populations in Queens and the Bronx. |
| 11 | Seattle, Washington | 13,252 | 2.2 | Little Saigon at east end of International District |
| 12 | San Francisco, California | 12,871 | 1.6 | Little Saigon, designated in the Tenderloin District, although population spread throughout city |
| 13 | Portland, Oregon | 12,796 | 2.2 | Sandy Blvd was known as "Saigon Blvd" during the mid-90s, 82nd Ave has a growing enclave as well as suburban Clackamas County |
| 14 | Arlington, Texas | 12,602 | 3.4 | in the Dallas-Fort Worth region |
| 15 | Fountain Valley, California | 11,431 | 20.7 | In Orange County, California |
| 16 | Boston, Massachusetts | 10,916 | 1.8 | Growing enclaves in Dorchester and neighboring city of Quincy. Established within Chinatown. |
| 17 | Garland, Texas | 10,373 | 4.6 | In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex |
| 18 | Milpitas, California | 10,356 | 15.5 | Near San Jose, California |
| 19 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 10,095 | 1.7 |
Major cities
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 | 100,486 | In Bay Area |
| San Diego, California | 2.5 | 33,149 | |
| Seattle, Washington | 2.2 | 13,252 | |
| Portland, Oregon | 2.2 | 12,796 |
Medium cities
These cities have between 100,000 and 500,000 people consisting of at least 4% Vietnamese American in the 2010 Census, sorted by percentage.
| City | Percentage | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden Grove, California | 27.7 | 47,331 | Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, CA |
| El Monte, California | 7.4 | 8,433 | Many Chinese-Vietnamese |
| Santa Ana, California | 7.1 | 23,167 | In Orange County |
| Garland, Texas | 4.6 | 10,373 | in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex |
| Anaheim, California | 4.4 | 14,706 | In Orange County |
Small cities
These cities have between 10,000 and 100,000 people and consist of at least 6% Vietnamese American in the 2000 Census, sorted by percentage.
| City | Percentage | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster, California | 40.2 | 36,058 | The heart of Little Saigon, traditionally considered the center of overseas Vietnamese culture in the US |
| Fountain Valley, California | 20.7 | 11,431 | Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, CA |
| Milpitas, California | 15.5 | 10,356 | Adjacent to San Jose (north) |
| Rosemead, California | 15.4 | 8,268 | Many Chinese-Vietnamese, who might self-report as either Chinese or Vietnamese |
| Stanton, California | 14.5 | 5,532 | Part of Little Saigon in Orange County, CA |
| White Center, Washington | 11.6 | 1,568 | Adjacent to Seattle |
| West Falls Church, Virginia | 8.2 | 2,389 | Fairfax County, Virginia |
| Harvey, Louisiana | 8.0 | 1,628 | New Orleans suburb |
| San Gabriel, California | 7.7 | 3,070 | Many Chinese-Vietnamese |
| Springfield, Virginia | 7.6 | 2,311 | Fairfax County, Virginia |
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 | 183,766 | 6.1 | Greater Los Angeles |
| 2 | Santa Clara County, California | 125,695 | 7.1 | San Francisco Bay Area: South |
| 3 | Los Angeles County, California | 87,468 | 0.9 | Los Angeles |
| 4 | Harris County, Texas | 80,409 | 2.0 | Houston |
| 5 | San Diego County, California | 44,202 | 1.4 | San Diego |
| 6 | King County, Washington | 38,726 | 2.0 | Seattle |
| 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
- Growing Up American
- Little Saigon
- Lists of U.S. cities with large ethnic population
- List of U.S. cities with Asian American majority populations
