Tết is officially Jan. 29, but the festivities begin weeks ahead of the holiday and continue well afterward, making this is a great time to visit San Jose’s Little Saigon neighborhood. Shops and restaurants are bustling, and there’s a celebratory atmosphere amid the vivid red banners, hanging lanterns and signs bearing the Happy New Year message: “Chuc mung nam moi!”
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With more than 100,000 Vietnamese-American residents, San Jose is home to the largest Vietnamese population outside Vietnam. With a lively community center, thriving malls and abundant restaurants — including some new hits — serving up stellar Vietnamese cuisine, there’s something for everyone here.
Here are six great spots to explore, plus the Viet Museum at History Park San Jose nearby.
Of course, it’s always best to start any exploration fully caffeinated, so we head first for Lacaphe for Vietnamese coffee.
Lacàphê coffees
There have been lines at this sleek little cafe since it opened in 2023 — ditto on our recent visit, and it’s hardly surprising. Lacaphe specializes in craft takes on classic Vietnamese coffee, phin-dripped — dripped through a special filter — into a cup containing sweetened, condensed milk. Here, that strong brew can be mixed with a variety of milks, including ube, and topped with options that range from oolong boba to lychee jelly.
The line moves fast, and the wait is well worth it. The Eggspresso Hanoi ($6.95) serves up a delectable caffeine hit with sweet, creamy egg custard cream floating atop the iced phin-dripped milk coffee.
Details: Open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends at 740 Story Road #5, San Jose; lacaphe.square.site.
Grand Century Shopping Mall and Vietnam Town shops
Anyone worried about the coming retail-pocalypse clearly hasn’t been to San Jose’s Grand Century Shopping Mall recently. It’s made a comeback since the pandemic, and on this particular, bustling Wednesday afternoon, stores are decked out for the holiday. You’ll spot vendors selling a little bit of everything — noodles, plants, beauty products, toys, teas and snacks. There’s an arcade, should you desire a gaming break from all that shopping. Across the street, the outdoor Vietnam Town shopping center offers shops, cafes and more.
Details: Grand Century is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at 1111 Story Road, San Jose; Vietnam Town shops are open varying hours at 1020 Story Road, San Jose; vietnamtownsanjose.com.
Duc Huong banh mi
A small vegetarian banh mi from Duc Huong Sandwiches is a budget-friendly $4. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)
It’s no secret that Duc Huong makes great banh mi — the line out the door speaks for itself. But the queue moves swiftly at this sandwich shop, which boasts four locations around San Jose. Their baguettes alone make it well worth a visit. The crispy-on-the-outside, pillowy-inside bread is layered with pork, beef, chicken, fish or tofu, plus pickled vegetables, cilantro and the zing of freshly-sliced jalapeño. It’s not only a winner, it’s a budget-friendly triumph: a small vegetarian sandwich comes in under $5. The shop also sells banh tet, steamed sticky rice cakes wrapped in tropical leaves, a classic Lunar New Year dish.
Details: Open 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily at 1020 Story Road and 2345 McKee Road and 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily at 2090 N. Capitol Ave. and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily at 2569 S. King Road, San Jose; duchuongsandwiches.com.
Vietnamese American Service Center hub
People arrive to celebrate Tet at the Vietnamese American Service Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Designed as a one-stop shop for neighborhood residents to access government services, this Little Saigon building is just three years old and provides not only health care, legal and food aid, but serves as a hub to celebrate Vietnamese culture. On a recent Saturday morning, the community center was bursting with activity as people gathered to celebrate the kickoff to Tết. Children from Windmill Springs and Ben Painter elementary schools, two dual language immersion schools, performed in their finest attire. San Jose State’s Lion Dance Crew was on hand too. Games had participants of all ages exploring the various corners of the center, one housing a calligraphy station for writing well wishes for Tet, and another with kids activities, including two different play kitchens — one American and the other traditional Vietnamese.
“As people assimilate, they may not know what their parents went through,” says Jasmine Liu, program manager. “We make it educational.”
A bilingual children’s library is coming soon.
Details: Opens at 8 a.m. Monday-Saturday at 2410 Senter Road in San Jose; vasc.santaclaracounty.gov.
Pho Dang soups
Pho tai chin ($18.50) at Pho Dang in San Jose’s Little Saigon neighborhood is one of many pho varieties on offer at this new restaurant. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)
This new Vietnamese restaurant opened in October, serving up vibrant, hearty bowls of pho ($18.50-$19.50) with steak, brisket, meatballs or oxtail. The broth is somehow both rich and light, a translucent vessel carrying good-for-the-soul warmth and nutrition, with soft, slurpable noodles. Pair it with one of the fruit-forward drinks, perhaps a nuoc mia ep kumquat ($8), sugar cane juice with kumquat.
Details: Open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays and 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. weekends at 779 Story Road #10, San Jose; phodang.com.
Tay Ho ban cuon
Ban Cuon Tay Ho’s vegetarian banh cuon combo plate is a great way to sample some banh cuo or filled rice rolls. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)
Named after the Tay Ho district in Hanoi, Tay Ho specializes in banh cuon or rice rolls filled with, say, pork and mushroom or ground shrimp. We opted for the vegetarian banh cuon combo which is a great way for anyone — especially a newcomer — to sample a range. Tay Ho is also known for their garlic noodles, served with steak, chicken, shrimp or tofu and mushrooms.
Owned by Vivian Yenson, who represents the third generation of the family that founded the small chain in 1968, there’s a location in Santa Clara, as well.
Details: Open 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily at 2895 Senter Road #110, San Jose; tayho.com.
The Viet Museum exhibits
Everything you’ve read about so far is forward looking, the culture, celebrations and delicious flavors as they are now and as they evolve. But you can catch a glimpse of the past at The Viet Museum — or Museum of the Boat People & the Republic of Vietnam — at History Park nearby. The museum, which opened inside the park’s Greenwalt House in 2007, traces the journey from Vietnam after the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 to the West through artifacts, documents and stories.
Details: History Park at Kelley Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose; https://historysanjose.org/
