Vietnamese Community Events in Illinois

A once-in-a-lifetime concert event celebrating Vietnamese American heritage starring Carol Kim and a talented ensemble from New Orleans Step back in time with us! Saigon Jazz Revival features legendary Vietnamese singer Carol Kim with a talented jazz ensemble from New Orleans for a live performance. This event kicks off the Vietnamese Association of Illinois 50-year anniversary celebration! HAI QUÊ, MỘT HỘI (Two homes, one VAI) honors those that carried this community forward and uplift those who will continue leading it into the future. This collaborative project brings together artists across oceans and generations to celebrate jazz and its influence on Vietnamese and Chicago culture. Rooted in the sounds and spirit of old Saigon and reimagined in New Orleans, this performance celebrates our diverse backgrounds, expansive homelands, and shared love of timeless songs. Starring Vietnam’s Queen of Soul, Carol Kim, this concert features musicians from Vietnam, Honduras, Cuba, Mexico, Japan, and New Orleans and will showcase original collaborations with various Vietnamese diasporic artists as well as dynamic re-creations of Vietnamese folk songs. Saigon Jazz Revival is not just a moment of nostalgia; it is a living collaboration celebrating our Vietnamese American community past and present. Join us for a one-night only portal into the electric nightlife and emotional landscape of Old Saigon celebrating continuity, migration, cultural memory, and our collective joy. -- CREATIVE DIRECTOR: MARION HOANG NGOC HILL MUSIC DIRECTORS: STEVE LANDS, OSCAR ROSSIGNOLI VOCALISTS: CAROL KIM, TRACE LE -- Visit our website or follow us on Instagram to be the first to know of our future 50th anniversary celebrations! Interested in sponsoring Saigon Jazz Revival? Please contact Tran Ma or call (331) 806-3155 for more information. ABOUT THE VIETNAMESE ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS The Vietnamese Association of Illinois (VAI) is one of the largest and oldest Southeast Asian refugee organizations in the United States. This year is VAI’s 50th anniversary in solidarity with our community. Since its founding in 1976, VAI has been shaped and sustained by the efforts of community members from different generations and waves of migration—each with their own distinct connection to the community. The first wave of Vietnamese refugees began to organize and help people resettled in Illinois following the Fall of Saigon and created an organization to help fellow Vietnamese people, anticipating the influx of those who were to come. Today, we continue to serve our community to fit changing needs through direct service and community organizing.

Founded in 1983, the Vietnamese Student Association represents a longstanding commitment to cultural preservation and community building at the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL. As a student-led organization, VSA has spent decades creating meaningful connections among students while honoring Vietnamese heritage and fostering appreciation for Asian American cultures. At its core, VSA strives to establish a supportive environment where individuals of Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese descent can come together to interact, learn, and celebrate shared cultural values. The organization recognizes that cultural awareness strengthens communities, and it actively works to build bridges between students from diverse backgrounds through thoughtfully planned events and activities throughout the Champaign area. VSA's mission extends beyond the university walls. The organization is deeply invested in supporting the broader Vietnamese American student community by maintaining active involvement with regional and national networks. Through partnerships with the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of the Midwest and other affiliated groups, VSA contributes to a larger movement of cultural preservation and mutual support among Vietnamese American students across North America. The organization also plays an important role in strengthening the campus's Asian Pacific Islander American community. By collaborating with other APIA organizations and supporting initiatives like the Asian Pacific American Coalition, VSA demonstrates its commitment to intersectional community building and solidarity. Open to everyone interested in learning about or sharing Vietnamese culture, VSA welcomes students of all backgrounds to join its growing community. Members enjoy exclusive benefits and discounts from local partners, creating tangible value alongside the deeper rewards of cultural connection and lifelong friendships forged through shared experiences and mutual respect.

Since its establishment in 1976, the Vietnamese Association of Illinois has grown into a vital community institution serving Chicago, IL with a steadfast commitment to unity, mutual assistance, and cultural preservation. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, VAI's mission centers on fostering stronger relationships among Vietnamese Americans while welcoming and supporting people of all ethnicities and religious backgrounds. The organization was founded on the principle of mutual assistance spirit—the belief that community members thrive when they support one another through life's transitions and challenges. Over nearly five decades, VAI has touched the lives of thousands of Vietnamese Americans and members of other ethnic communities, helping families navigate resettlement, secure employment, access healthcare, pursue educational goals, and maintain their cultural identity. What distinguishes VAI is its holistic approach to community development, addressing not just immediate needs but also long-term integration and success. The organization recognizes that thriving communities require attention to youth development, senior care, business entrepreneurship, and cultural continuity across generations. By expanding from its original Uptown Chicago base to establish a DuPage County satellite office in 2016, VAI demonstrates its commitment to serving the broader Illinois Vietnamese American community. The organization actively collaborates with other Vietnamese groups and community partners, strengthening networks of support and advocacy. VAI's work reflects a deep understanding that cultural heritage, community solidarity, and practical assistance are interconnected—each essential to building vibrant, resilient communities in Chicago and throughout Illinois.

Founded in 2007, the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of the Midwest (UVSA-Midwest) represents a vital community resource for Vietnamese-American students and youth organizations throughout the Midwest, with headquarters in Lincolnwood, IL. This non-partisan, community-based organization emerged from a vision to unite Vietnamese youth across the region, creating a supportive ecosystem where emerging leaders could connect, learn, and grow together. At its core, UVSA-Midwest is driven by four fundamental pillars: Community, Leadership, Activism, and Philanthropy. These values are reflected in every initiative, from regional conferences to the Collective Philanthropy Project, which channels the collective power of Vietnamese student associations toward meaningful social change. The organization celebrates its geographic position in the heartland of America, where members travel significant distances—sometimes over 13 hours—to gather and support one another, embodying a deep commitment to community solidarity. UVSA-Midwest serves as more than just a networking platform; it is a cultural guardian and advocate for the Vietnamese-American community. By providing resources for personal and professional development, organizing cultural awareness programming, and facilitating social advocacy on issues affecting Vietnamese communities, UVSA-Midwest empowers the next generation of community leaders. The organization's recent rebranding initiative, symbolized by its lotus logo, represents the organization's evolution and its commitment to providing a safe, inclusive community for Vietnamese, Vietnamese-American, and Vietnamese-interest students across the Midwest and beyond.