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Vietnamese Refugees in San Diego

Sarah Yoon
May 29, 2025
1 min read

Updated: May 30, 2025

Click to expand. PDF available for download below.

Vietnamese Refugees in San Diego
Zine cover

Background. Historical Context.

The end of the Vietnam War in 1975 triggered a high demand for refugees facing the need for safety due to political persecution.

San Diego became a resettlement hub for Vietnamese refugees.

Over 50,000 Vietnamese refugees settled down in Camp Pendleton.

Camp Pendleton was a Marine Corps base that provided resources and processed the Vietnamese refugees.

Refugees were initially housed in “Tent City,” which was an initial state to transition them into United States society.

Transition to San Diego

Vietnamese Refugees demonstrate the themes of resilience and determination.

Despite the first-generation immigrants facing trauma and barriers to adjustment, they persevered by making strides in education and establishing Vietnamese-owned businesses.

For my Refugee San Diego submission, I created a zine that showcases the story of Vietnamese refugees in San Diego and portrays the theme of resilience. There was an unprecedented wave of Vietnamese refugees from Saigon during the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 when individuals were seeking asylum from political persecution and welfare. During this time, the United States had a paramount policy change when the government passed the Refugee Assistance Act the same year, legalizing the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees.

A significant aspect of safeguarding the resettlement process for the refugees was Camp Pendleton, which provided shelter to thousands of individuals. The zone where the refugees resided was called “Tent City,” providing them with food and resources. At the same time, they waited for official housing and sponsorships from religious institutions, non-profits, and families. Camp Pendleton provided refugees with an initial framework for resettling in San Diego.

Cultural Contributions

Vietnamese refugees and subsequent generations enhanced San Diego’s diversity, especially in terms of traditions and cuisine.

Little Saigon is a district in San Diego that acknowledges the placemaking of Vietnamese refugees and celebrates Vietnamese heritage.

Psychological Upheavals

Despite the positive life changes, such as better health for the Vietnamese refugees, it is crucial to recognize the acute psychological impacts of sudden life changes and the uncertainty of life, school, and working conditions that first-generation refugees faced.

Voices of Saigon Refugees
"I remember [wondering] 'where are we going? Why is it taking so long?' It was a long trip. I expected to see a lot of huge mansions and big grassy yards and stuff."

"I love our story, I love our parents' story and what they gave up to bring us here."

"The opportunity to worship, the opportunity of an education. Freedom of expression, you know it’s the freedom we would have not gotten had we stayed in Vietnam."

Resources
American Bar Association Immigration Justice Project
2727 Camino del Rio South, Suite 320, San Diego, CA 92108
619-255-8810
contact@abaijp.org

Border Angels
2258 Island Avenue, San Diego, CA 92102
619-487-0249
admin@borderangels.org

The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank
https://www.sandiegofoodbank.org/get-food/

San Diego Housing Commission
https://sdhc.org/housing-opportunities/affordable-rentals/

Legal Aid Society of San Diego

Central San Diego Office: 1764 San Diego Ave., San Diego, CA 92110

South San Diego Office: 110 S. Euclid Ave., San Diego, CA 92114
877-534-2524

Immigrant Defenders Law Center
213-634-0999
info@immdef.org

The quotes highlighted in the zine “Voices of Saigon” reinforce its central theme, resilience. Many first-generation refugees recount their stories in articles, newspapers, and interviews, highlighting their first-hand experiences of fear and uncertainty. The reflections of refugees who recounted their memories of arriving at Camp Pendleton convey their sacrifices and personalized sentiments about becoming refugees.

My decision to create a zine about Vietnamese refugees stems from what I learned from my ETHN 104A class, which explored refugees in San Diego. I believe that Vietnamese refugees and their experiences are often overlooked due to their success in integrating into San Diego, which overshadows the challenges and trauma they faced when leaving behind their entire lives. The concept of immigration has multifaceted aspects that divide groups due to their views on sociopolitical policies; however, I think that the resilience that Vietnamese refugees demonstrated is universally recognized.

Reflection Space for Zine Reader
Use this space to think about or write down your response to the questions posted above:

How do you think we, as a collective, can help immigration activists facing burnout?

How can we better assist refugees and immigrants through policy reform?

Why do you think it’s vital to recognize and recount refugees’ experiences?

Through my ETHN 104A class, one overarching theme among the weekly speakers who worked as refugee assistants or in immigration was the lack of information regarding resources and the systemic barriers refugees face. I included a resources tab in my zine to provide even one person with a source of information when they come along the website.

I hope the readers who come across my zine learn about the contributions of Vietnamese refugees in San Diego and the history of resilience among all refugee communities. I believe that despite the political divide regarding Immigration in the United States, there is hope for students and activists to change the framing of the term to be more inclusive and diverse. Even at such a liberal institution like UC San Diego, many faculty and students, especially us, who are a part of Ethnic Studies and Sociology, experience activist burnout. Especially with what happened in the Spring of 2024 regarding students who protested divestment demands, the thought of UC San Diego as a “performative” institution that preaches DEI is a standard line of thinking.

However, our shared commitment to social justice, especially our commitment to change the framing of immigration and educate individuals about the complexities of being a refugee, will never change. This is why I hope my zine allows readers to take the time to reflect and recognize the impact and importance of resilience on an individual level to push for inclusion and a better space for immigrants and refugees in the United States.

Sources Cited
County of San Diego (2024). Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.

Leonelli, E. (2017). Vietnamese Refugees 1975.

LISC Stories (2021). The Rise of San Diego’s Little Saigon.

Masuda, M., Lin, K. M., & Tazuma, L. (1980). Adaptation problems of Vietnamese refugees.

Pearson, C. (2022). Refugee Spaces: Gentrification and City Heights.

The World (2015). Remembering the California refugee camp that gave Vietnamese a new life in the US.

Wikipedia (2024). Vietnamese boat people.

PBS. Voices of the Vietnamese Refugee Experience.

Zevely, J. (2020). Vietnam refugees remember Camp Pendleton’s “Tent City” 45 years later.

Tags:

zine
Vietnam
Vietnamese refugees
San Diego Refugee history
camp pendleton
Little Saigon San Diego
Vietnamese American
Zine storytelling
refugee contributions

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