Day 50: Versailles, New Orleans, Louisiana
📌APIA Every Day (50) - Versailles, a Vietnamese community situated in New Orleans East's Village de l’Est area, is celebrated for its rich diversity, hosting significant populations of Vietnamese, Honduran, and African American residents. Originating from the Versailles Arms apartment complex, the community emerged as Vietnamese immigrants sought refuge following the Vietnam War in 1975. Evolving into the densest concentration of Vietnamese people outside Vietnam, Versailles underwent demographic shifts, reaching a population of 10,699 in 2000 and 9,389 in 2010, rebounding resiliently after Hurricane Katrina.
The Associated Catholic Charities facilitated the settlement of the first wave of Vietnamese refugees in the Versailles Arms Apartments. Despite facing challenges such as the closure of the NASA plant and aftermath of illegal dumping post-Hurricane Katrina, Versailles showcased remarkable resilience, with nearly all residents returning by 2007. The community also experienced an influx of Hispanic immigrants during the post-Katrina reconstruction period.
Versailles is distinguished by its landscape of predominantly Vietnamese-owned businesses, restaurants, grocery stores, beauty salons, bars, and medical practices, reflecting the community's strong cultural identity. Serving as the commercial hub of Versailles, Village de L'Est, often referred to as "Little Vietnam," features establishments like Dong Phuong Restaurant & Bakery and the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, fostering unity among Vietnamese residents. The Vietnamese community has successfully embraced and integrated with New Orleans culture, turning Versailles into a comforting haven. This is reflected in today's Viet-Cajun cuisine, influenced by Black cooks who shared their expertise with Vietnamese families, adding a twist to the formidable New Orleans culture.
LEARN MORE:
Via Noela Vie: Neighborhood spotlight: Versailles
S. Leo Chiang: A Village Called Versailles Documentary
The Story of a Village Called Versailles
VietNOLA: A Village Called Versailles – VietNOLA – It’s New Orleans Podcast Episode
NPR: Life In 'A Village Called Versailles'
The New York Times: Vietnamese Forged a Community in New Orleans. Now It May Be Fading.
Food & Wine: How Viet-Cajun Cuisine Came to Be
Vietcetera: 8 Essential Vietnamese Restaurants In New Orleans’ Little Saigon (And Beyond)
#apiaeveryday #vietnamese #vietnameseamerican #versailles #neworleans #villagedlest #vietnam #vietnamwar #hurricanekatrina #littlevietnam #vietcajun #vietcreole #aapi #africanamerican #aapihistory #historicpreservation #villageversailles #vietnamseamericanhistory
