The foundation of Little Saigon

Victoria Street serves as the cultural heart of Melbourne for the Vietnamese community. Behind the steaming bowls of beef pho and crisp banh xeo are multi-generational families who built this culinary precinct from the ground up. Following the Vietnam War, refugees arrived in the mid-1970s and transformed a quiet stretch of Richmond into a bustling food destination.

According to the Victoria Street Business Association, this precinct now represents decades of perseverance and family enterprise. The early arrivals brought long-held family recipes and an intense work ethic to their new home. They opened modest noodle shops and grocery stores to serve their growing community, slowly introducing Melburnians to the complex flavours of Southeast Asia.

Generational evolution

Many of the restaurants operating today remain in the hands of their founding families. At Tran Tran Restaurant, the current proprietors took over the business in 1991. The family preserved the venue inside a converted 1890s chapel while serving a menu that fuses their past in Vietnam with their adopted country.

Preserving cultural heritage

These dining rooms offer more than just a quick lunch or a late-night dinner. They act as living archives for Richmond Vietnamese restaurant families, holding the memories and milestones of a community.

Yarra City Council recently installed historical plaques along the street to recognise this 50-year migration milestone. The markers honour the first Vietnamese pharmacies, dental clinics, and restaurants that anchored the suburb.

The families working the woks and registers continue to share their heritage with every plate they serve. Customers return week after week, drawn by the familiar faces and the enduring quality of the food. By adapting to modern tastes while guarding their traditional techniques, these families ensure that the cultural legacy of Victoria Street will feed future generations.