San Jose’s Vietnamese enclave began when refugees fled after the fall of Saigon in 1975; in the ensuing decades, it has grown to a thriving community over 180,000 strong. Old traditions mingle with modern conveniences in this Silicon Valley tech center, where family businesses — many with several generations working alongside each other — serve up dishes from across the Vietnamese peninsula.

In this guide, we’ll take you to some of the San Jose shops and restaurants carrying on the renowned culinary heritage of Vietnam, particularly in the Lion Plaza and Grand Century Mall shopping centers, which have become centers of Vietnamese cultural life.

Watch the video, read the history, hear the voices of local entrepreneurs and community historians — and plan your visit to America’s biggest Vietnamese community.