Westminster in Orange County has an unlikely claim to fame: U.S. News & World Report ranks it the most expensive place to live in America. The cost of living runs about 65% above the national average, and the median home sale price sits well over $1 million — in a state where the median already tops $770,000. But price tags aside, this suburb of roughly 90,000 people, about 45 minutes from Los Angeles and minutes from Huntington Beach, has quietly become one of the most rewarding day trips in Southern California.
The heart of the city is Little Saigon, the largest Vietnamese community in the United States. It took root in the mid-1970s when refugees settled in Westminster and neighbouring Garden Grove, and it has grown into a food destination that punches far above its weight. Bolsa Avenue is the main drag: Carrot & Daikon Banh Mi draws long lines for crispy pork belly and grilled pork sandwiches, while Phoholic — listed in the Michelin Guide — ladles out bowls of pho that have earned thousands of five-star reviews.
Asian Garden Mall anchors the neighbourhood culturally. In summer, its weekend Night Market packs in vendors selling fried bananas, jewellery and more, with live music throughout. Ahead of Lunar New Year, the mall hosts a Flower Festival with orchid displays, lion dances and street food — expect tight parking if you go. Serious market fans can extend the day to the San Gabriel Valley, home to the largest night market in the country.
Westminster is also greener than its strip-mall reputation suggests. The city maintains 24 parks. Sigler Park has a splash pad popular with families, Liberty Park offers picnic tables and a playground, and Sid Goldstein Freedom Park holds a Vietnam War Memorial designed by artist Tuan Nguyen — a moving site surrounded by lawn and shade. Coronet Park adds a small conservation garden with labelled native plants and rotating local art.
For proper trails, drive a short way to the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach. This 1,300-acre protected wetland has a network of walking paths and excellent birdwatching, with Bolsa Chica State Beach just across Pacific Coast Highway for an easy finish to the day.
Why go? Because few places in America offer this depth of Vietnamese food and culture within a compact, walkable stretch, all a short hop from the beach. Come hungry, bring a hat for the parks, and skip the housing market. Fly into Long Beach Airport (LGB) or John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana, which is known for some of the shortest security wait times in the country.
Story via Islands.
