Laotian Community

During the Vietnam War, the country of Laos — sandwiched between Vietnam and Thailand — became a major battleground. Despite the U.S. military and CIA's support of the Laotian government, the United States bombed Laos with more explosives than it had used during all of World War II. It was one of the most intense bombing campaigns in world history; as a result, Laos is still riddled with nearly 80 million buried explosives.

After the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 and the passing of the 1980 Refugee Act, over 31,000 Laotians sought refuge in the United States. They mainly settled in California, including here in East Oakland, forming a strong cultural community. Today, International Avenue in Fruitvale features a noticeable concentration of Laotian and Cambodian restaurants. The area hosts many cultural events, such as the Cambodian New Year festival in Peralta Hacienda Park every April.

As you continue the tour, take special note of the Cambodian and Laotian imagery mixed in among the primarily Latino/a murals in the area.