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Westminster is a city in western Orange County, a few miles inland from Huntington Beach. It was founded in 1870 by Reverend Lemuel Webber as a Presbyterian temperance colony and named after the Westminster Assembly, and it grew as a farming town of celery, sugar beets and dairy before incorporating as a city in 1957.
Since the late 1970s, Westminster has become the heart of Little Saigon, home to one of the largest Vietnamese communities outside Vietnam. Along Bolsa Avenue, shopping centers such as the Asian Garden Mall fill with jewelry shops, bakeries, markets and restaurants serving pho, banh mi and other Vietnamese favorites.
The Vietnam War Memorial in Sid Goldstein Freedom Park honors American and South Vietnamese soldiers, and the Lunar New Year brings colorful Tet festivals and flower markets. The beaches of Huntington Beach and the Bolsa Chica wetlands lie just a short drive away.
The heart of the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam, centered on Bolsa Avenue in Westminster and spilling into neighboring Garden Grove. Plazas are packed with pho shops, banh mi bakeries, cafes and jewelry stores around the Asian Garden Mall. Come hungry, carry some cash for small shops, and visit at Lunar New Year.
Also called Phuoc Loc Tho, this two-story mall on Bolsa Avenue is the heart of Little Saigon, with jewelry stores, herbal shops, clothing, food stalls and statues of the three gods of fortune outside. It is busiest on weekends. Try snacks and drinks from the food stalls, and bring cash for small vendors.
An indoor regional shopping mall near the 405 freeway with department stores, chain stores and restaurants. It is a practical place for everyday shopping and staying cool on hot days. Parking is free, and it is a short drive from the Little Saigon restaurants on Bolsa Avenue.
Westminster is one of the best places in the United States for Vietnamese food, from pho and banh mi to broken rice, bun bo Hue, sweet drinks and French-Vietnamese pastries. Many places are cash-friendly and inexpensive. Ask locals for their favorite pho shop, and visit bakeries early for fresh baguettes.
Celebrations of the Lunar New Year bring parades, lion dances, firecrackers, food stalls and flower markets to Westminster and Little Saigon each January or February. The Tet parade on Bolsa Avenue is a highlight. Arrive early for parking and good viewing spots, and expect large crowds.
A seasonal outdoor night market in Little Saigon with food stalls, desserts, games, live music and small vendors, held on summer weekend evenings. It is a lively way to taste many dishes in one place. Bring cash, come hungry, and check social media for the current year's dates and location.
A memorial in Sid Goldstein Freedom Park with bronze statues of an American soldier and a South Vietnamese soldier standing side by side, flags and an eternal flame. It honors those who served in the Vietnam War. Visit quietly; it is especially meaningful during ceremonies on Memorial Day.
A park next to Westminster's civic center that holds the Vietnam War Memorial, with walking paths, lawns and benches. It is a calm place for reflection and a short walk. Combine it with a meal in Little Saigon nearby, and look for the plaques explaining the memorial's history.
A community theater in Westminster's civic center area, hosting musicals, plays, concerts and cultural shows including Vietnamese performances. The modern hall is intimate, with good views from most seats. Check the schedule online, as shows run on weekends, and tickets are usually affordable.
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