After Saigon's fall to Communist forces in 1975, over 2 million Vietnamese fled by sea, resulting in the boat people phenomenon. Many faced danger in overcrowded vessels, with a considerable loss of life due to piracy and unsafe conditions. This mass migration persisted into the 1990s and led to a significant Vietnamese diaspora, especially in San Jose, which became home to the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam. Smaller Vietnamese populations can also be found throughout the Bay Area, illustrating the lasting impact of this historical event.
The fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, triggered the exodus of over 2 million Vietnamese, known as the boat people, seeking freedom and safety.
Many boat people undertook dangerous journeys in overcrowded vessels, with hundreds of thousands perishing at sea or falling prey to pirates in the process.
Survivors of this mass exodus largely resettled in San Jose, creating the largest Vietnamese community in a single city outside of Vietnam.
This ongoing migration, which continued into the 1990s, led to the establishment of smaller Vietnamese communities throughout the Bay Area.
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