Although having to leave their birth country behind, Vietnamese immigrants did not abandon their indigenous culture. They view themselves historically and presently, as they're improving their life in America (Nguyen 202). While adapting to American society, they also began rebuilding and creating alternative structures for Vietnamese culture, language and entertainment. It is true that to move forward as a nation, one has to preserve ones own culture and heritage in the adopted land. One way that is achieved within the Vietnamese community is through Little Saigons- Vietnamese centers for commercial, cultural, and political activity-- and Paris by Night, Vietnamese-language musical variety shows. Preserving the culture not only consolidates their ethnic identity, but also integrates the Vietnamese Diaspora into the U.S popular culture, bridging the two cultures and nations. .
Ethnic enclaves play a significant role in the immigrant's experience by building a sense of community, providing alternative social structures and facilitating the preservation of cultural traditions. For a refugee community that has lost its homeland including its capital, Saigon, Little Saigon represents memory, hope and a symbol of the lost capital and homeland. Indeed, the end of the Vietnam War sparked the beginning of Little Saigons, with the great effort and contribution of the first wave refugees. Little Saigons have sprung up in U.S cities including Philadelphia, Houston, Chicago, and San Jose. But the most renowned and officially recognized Little Saigon is located in Orange County California, considered the Vietnamese capital of the United States. On June 17, 1988 Governor George Deukmejian came to Westminster, CA and granted official designation to the area (Trinidad). This was an emotional day for the Vietnamese community. Orange County's Little Saigon has became a major hub of the Vietnamese diaspora.
