Virginia's Vietnamese hub shows unexpected political split before election
At Eden Center near Washington DC Vietnamese-Americans show mixed support for upcoming elections. The communityʼs political preferences reflect a complex mix of age-based views and historical ties
At Falls Churchʼs Eden Center (a well-known Vietnamese-American shopping area) Trump-related signs and pro-Republican displays dominate the scene this fall-time. The mall which flies both US and South Vietnamese flags side-by-side shows strong backing for Hung Cao – a Vietnamese-born ex-Navy captain running against Senator Tim Kaine
The centers political landscape presents an eye-catching mix: while Kamala Harris leads in Virginia polls theres not a single poster supporting her. Local shop-owners and visitors share various mis-informed ideas about Democratic leadership – including claims about border control and one-party rule
I love them‚ and somehow the Vietnamese community loves me
Virginiaʼs Vietnamese-American population (about 77k people) shows interesting voting patterns. Many who came after Saigonʼs fall in 75 settled near DC and kept their anti-communist views which affects their political choices today. However younger Vietnamese-Americans often support different policies than their parents
- Economy and inflation
- Immigration policy
- Education access
- Healthcare rights
- Anti-communist values
Despite Hung Caoʼs strong anti-communist message and military background his Senate campaign faces tough odds. Recent polls show Kaine leading by 13 points and Caoʼs fund-raising lags behind – collecting just $3m compared to Kaines $16m in 2024s second quarter. The state hasnt elected a Republican to national office in about 20 years
The communityʼs political split runs deeper than Eden Centers pro-Trump displays suggest. Erin Phuong Steinhauer who leads a local Vietnamese cultural group points out: “The Trump supporters are just more visible – it doesnt mean others dont support different candidates“
