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Denver’s Little Saigon: A Landmark History
Date: April 17 and 26, 2025
Organizers: Center for the Study of War Experience, Regis University; The Far East Center; and Historic Denver
Being Human Festival (US)
The tour provided an opportunity to explore the rich history of Vietnamese migration and contributions to Denver’s past and present. It also focused on the creation of Denver’s Far East Center, which has evolved into a vibrant cultural anchor for Denver’s Vietnamese-American community and other ethnic groups who live in the surrounding area. The area was officially designated as the Little Saigon Business District in 2014 and the Far East Center was designated as a Colorado historic landmark in January 2025.
Walking tour supplemental materials and the Vietnam War Memorial in Denver. The memorial features a statue of an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldier and an American soldier side-by-side, a prayer vase, and flags of the US and South Vietnam. Photos by Nicki Gonzales and the Far East Center.
“The Far East Center is symbolic of a community steered to ensure that future generations are connected to their legacies and identities, and beyond that, actively take space in and hold pride for those cultural histories. Preserving cultural memory through remembrance ensures that the narrative told by the dominant culture is not the only narrative available.”
—Festival attendee
“Denver’s Little Saigon: A Landmark History” began with an introduction to the historical context of the Vietnam War Memorial and Denver’s Little Saigon. The participants were asked to observe where the memorial was erected and what the memorial represents. As the tour participants reflected, the location of the memorial is ‘hard to find’ and not marked on any maps of the area. The memorial itself symbolizes the experiences of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), a topic that has often been ignored and overlooked in the larger history of the Vietnam War.
On the next stop, participants explored the Far East Center, a vibrant hub of Asian culture and cuisine in Denver’s Little Saigon District. Participants explored bakeries and shops operated by Vietnamese and Chinese families.
The last stop was Viet’s Restaurant, where first generation Vietnamese-Americans Mimi Luong and Tran Willis shared the history of their families’ resettlement in Denver, the local Vietnamese culture, the pressure of assimilation, current activism, and cultural programs and events.
“During the two events, a number of unexpected and unplanned takeaways occurred, namely: the organizers at Far East Center want to develop an ongoing walking tour based on the success and feedback of our events.”
—Festival event organizers
Attendees partook in a meal of authentic Vietnamese “home cooking” while listening to stories from Vietnamese Americans Mimi Luong and Tran Willis. Photos by Rose Campbell.
Event attendees spoke highly of the authentic dishes, engaging storytelling, and immersive atmosphere they experienced on the tour. Event organizers also reported unexpected and fortuitous takeaways from the program, including conversations with participants working in refugee resettlement in Denver, creative and meaningful collaborations between the Far East Center and the local Hispanic community, and plans to develop ongoing walking tours based on the success of this program.
Photo courtesy of the Far East Center.
“Experiencing the Far East Center and listening to the stories told by our hosts portrays a hopeful story of the perseverance of Vietnamese refugees in the building of a prosperous community.”
–Festival attendee