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Westminster, CA
This City derived its name and tradition from the English Westminster Abbey. Many buildings have the same architecture style.
There is also the famous Little Saigon area that is very popular with people who are looking for the traditional Vietnamese experience.
"Little Saigon"
Westminster boasts the largest population of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam. Little Saigon covers approximately four blocks on Bolsa Ave, from Magnolia to Brookhurst. On June 17, 1988, the governor came to Westminster and officially dedicated the name "Little Saigon" to the area bordered by Westminster Boulevard, Bolsa Avenue, Magnolia Street, and Euclid Street.
After the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, a huge wave of Vietnamese refugees settled in the United States. The largest concentration of the refugees settled in Westminster, California. Little Saigon evolved in the mid-1970's when refugees from the Vietnam War settled in the area because of the climate, the prospect of reunions with friends, and job opportunities.
In September 1989, the Westminster City Council designated Little Saigon a tourist zone and special redevelopment project. This roughly three square mile area is the home of more than 3500 Vietnamese-American businesses. A few started as early as 1977.
The heart of Little Saigon, is located on a mile-long strip of Bolsa Avenue between Magnolia Avenue to the west and Brookhurst Avenue to the east. Little Saigon is a major tourist attraction representing the largest concentration of shopping and Vietnamese cultural amenities in the world outside Vietnam. Popular Little Saigon attractions include the Asian Garden Mall, a 150,000 square foot shopping place of ethnic boutiques, shops, cafesѡnd the largest gold jewelry mart under one roof in the United States.
Little Saigon represents for many Southeast Asians a tie to their past and a gateway to their future.
