“Chinatown — One of the Most Endangered Places”

As a first-generation Vietnamese-American, connecting with my heritage has sometimes been challenging. Growing up in the suburbs, I was surrounded by Vietnamese cuisine at my family home, but moving to Philadelphia alone in my 20s brought a new layer to that experience. Every visit to Chinatown fills me with a sense of familiarity—through the sights, smells, and tastes that evoke distant but cherished memories. I deeply appreciate how the vibrant food culture in Chinatown brings the Asian community together, providing all of us with a small taste of home.