Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce

Oakland’s Vietnamese community is clustered in the East Lake neighborhood that runs from 1st Avenue to 23rd Avenue and along International Boulevard and E. 12th Street. The Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce (OVCC) estimates that there are roughly 8,000 Vietnamese living in Oakland, making it the second largest Asian group in the city after the Chinese.

The OVCC works to bring attention to the role that small Vietnamese-owned businesses play in the local economy. Established in 1991, the OVCC supports Little Saigon, one of eleven designated Business Improvement Districts in Oakland. Today OVCC supports nearly 100 Vietnamese-owned businesses throughout the city.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Oakland’s Vietnamese community fell victim to many acts of anti-Asian violence, theft, and vandalism. According to Dr. Jennifer Tran, executive director of the OVCC, the Vietnamese business community was vulnerable during that precarious time because many Vietnamese business owners lacked the language, financial literacy, and technical skills to navigate the processes required to apply for the competitive emergency grants. The organization provides a variety of business-related workshops on commercial loans, realty services, legal assistance, city grants, state and federal policies, and public initiatives that impact business.

Another important mission of the OVCC is to preserve Vietnamese culture. Besides leading the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Tran is also an assistant professor of Ethnic Studies at Cal State University East Bay. The group sponsors the annual Mid-Autumn Festival and the Lunar New Year celebration.

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