Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Today in History: Protests Erupt in Little Saigon Over Ho Chi Minh Image

1/17/2026

32 5

Summary

Story summary

On January 17, 1999, protests erupted in Little Saigon, California, after Tran Van Truong, owner of Hi-Tek Video, displayed the flag of communist Vietnam and a portrait of Ho Chi Minh. This incident sparked the largest protest in the area’s history, reflecting ongoing tensions within the Vietnamese American community regarding their homeland's communist regime.

1 of 1

Story summary

On January 17, 1999, protests erupted in Little Saigon, California, after Tran Van Truong, owner of Hi-Tek Video, displayed the flag of communist Vietnam and a portrait of Ho Chi Minh. This incident sparked the largest protest in the area’s history, reflecting ongoing tensions within the Vietnamese American community regarding their homeland's communist regime.