Saigon For Saigon Movement launches global outreach ahead of July 5 events in Westminster

The SAIGON FOR SAIGON MOVEMENT has started an international campaign ahead of two July 5, 2026 commemorations in Little Saigon, Westminster, Calif., marking 50 years since Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. The events are designed to draw Vietnamese communities worldwide into remembrance, cultural preservation, and historical reflection. Why it matters: - The July 5 programs are meant to mark 50 years since Saigon was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City on July 2, 1976. - Organizers say the effort is aimed at preserving historical memory, strengthening cultural identity, and helping younger generations understand Saigon’s role in modern Vietnamese history. - The events center on Little Saigon in Westminster, home to the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam. What happened: - Father Andrew Nguyen Huu Le, founder and representative of the SAIGON FOR SAIGON MOVEMENT, launched an international outreach campaign after a community gathering in Montreal on June 14, 2026. - The Montreal event was organized by the Vietnamese Canadian Community of the Montreal Region to mark the movement’s 20th anniversary. - The campaign calls on Vietnamese communities worldwide to take part in two commemorative events on Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Westminster, California. The details: - The SAIGON FOR SAIGON MOVEMENT was founded in Westminster on Jan. 15, 2006. - The movement describes itself as an international civic and cultural initiative focused on preserving awareness of Saigon’s historical and symbolic significance. - Over the past two decades, the movement has organized educational programs, international conferences, documentary projects, publications, and community outreach across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. - The movement has joined seven Vietnamese organizations in support of the July 5 events: the GREAT VIET PARTY, the HUMANIST SOCIALIST PARTY, ASSEMBLY FOR DEMOCRACY OF VIETNAM, the VIETNAM DEMOCRACY FEDERATION, the VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK, the MOVEMENT OF THE VIETNAM LAITY IN DIASPORA, and the VIETNAMESE NATIONALIST PARTY. - Venerable Thich Minh Tuyen, Third Supreme Patriarch of the World Mendicant Buddhist Sangha, is providing spiritual guidance and moral support. - SAIGON DAY 2026 starts at 10 a.m. at Vietnamese American War Memorial Park, 8192 13th Street, Westminster, Calif. 92683. - A NIGHT IN REMEMBRANCE OF SAIGON starts at 5 p.m. at Lavender Reception Hall, 14190 Beach Boulevard, Westminster, Calif. 92683. - SAIGON DAY 2026 will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the renaming, honor Saigon’s legacy, and create a space for remembrance and reflection. - A NIGHT IN REMEMBRANCE OF SAIGON will feature music, cultural presentations, personal reflections, and community fellowship. - The July 5 programs are open to the public and welcome individuals, families, veterans, religious communities, youth organizations, cultural associations, and others interested in Vietnamese heritage. - Event chairman for SAIGON DAY 2026 is Mr. Phan Thanh Chau of the Vietnamese Nationalist Party. - Event chairman for A NIGHT IN REMEMBRANCE OF SAIGON is Mr. Nguyen Kien of the Humanist Socialist Party. Between the lines: - The coalition brings together civic, cultural, religious, human-rights, and community groups around a shared historical memory campaign. - Father Andrew Nguyen Huu Le framed the effort as both remembrance and inheritance, saying history and identity remain linked for Vietnamese communities across generations. - The designation of 2026 as “The Year of Saigon” signals that the commemoration is intended to extend beyond a single day of events. - The Montreal gathering also suggests the campaign is using diaspora communities outside the United States as part of a broader international push. What’s next: - Organizers are urging Vietnamese communities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and elsewhere to share information and participate in the July 5 commemorations. - The two Westminster events are expected to serve as the main public milestones for the 2026 remembrance campaign. - Media contact for the movement is Mr. Ly Thanh Liem, Executive Director, at Contact@Saigon4Saigon.org and (408) 567-4493. - More information is available from the movement’s website , LinkedIn page , Facebook profile , and YouTube video . The bottom line: - The SAIGON FOR SAIGON MOVEMENT is turning the 50th anniversary of Saigon’s renaming into a global diaspora campaign, with Westminster set to host the main public gatherings on July 5.