Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon
On National Tour 2007 – 2010
The exhibition Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon is the first Vietnamese American historical exhibition at the Smithsonian that tells the story of the Vietnamese American experience in America, from the significant influx in 1975 to the present.
By showcasing themes of challenges, contributions, and change, the exhibition emphasizes the vibrant diversity of this ethnic community. It focuses on several core topics such as the refugee exodus from Vietnam and entry into the United States. The adaptation of Vietnamese to American life is highlighted with the formation of ethnic communities and identities. Other highlights include Vietnamese contributions to America such as the hybrid creations that combine Vietnamese and American cultural elements, from fashion to food to film.
Tour Schedule:
- S. Dillion Ripley Center
Washington, DC
(January 19 – April 1, 2007) - Viet Art Center
California State University, Fullerton
Garden Grove, CA
(September 22 – December 24, 2007) - San Jose City College, CA
(March 7 – June 1, 2008) - Houston Community College, TX
(August 20 – November 30, 2008) - Georgia Highlands College
Rome, GA
(December 20, 2008 – March 1, 2009) - Utah Cultural Celebration Center
West Valley City, UT
(March 21 – May 31, 2009) - Eden Center
Falls Church, VA
(June 20 – Aug 30, 2009) - West Plains Council on the Arts
West Plains, MO
(Sept 19 – Nov 29, 2009) - State Historical Society of Iowa
Des Moines, IA
(December 19, 2009 – February 28, 2010) - Grout Museum of History and Science
Waterloo, IA
(March 20 – May 30, 2010) - Grout Museum of History and Science
Waterloo, IA
(June 16 – Aug 29, 2010)
MORE VENUES TO COME. Please check back regularly for updated tour schedule.
The exhibition was on display from January 19 to April 1, 2007 at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillion Ripley Center Concourse.
The traveling exhibition commenced in late 2007, and will travel the country for an additional three years. If you would like to host the exhibition in your area, please call the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) at 202.633.3160 and ask for Ed Liskey or e-mail him at liskeye@si.edu. Click here for more information on hosting this exhibition.
The national tour of Exit Saigon has been made possible by Farmers Insurance.
For more information on the Vietnamese American Heritage Project, visit www.vietam.org.
[…] Iowa, connect with the Vietnamese American community there while visiting our traveling exhibition Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon. And wherever you are, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program will always be here, online, […]
[…] Vietnamese American experience is one of joy, sorrow, and hope. Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon is the first Vietnamese American historical exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution that […]