To The Walt Disney Company, Disneyland Resort, and Walt Disney World Resort,

We, the undersigned, respectfully call upon Disney to include authentic Vietnamese cultural representation in the iconic attraction “it's a small world” at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

For generations, “it's a small world” has stood as a celebration of cultural diversity, global unity, and the belief that people from different backgrounds can share a common humanity. As one of the most beloved attractions at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, it has introduced millions of children and families to the beauty of cultures from around the world.

Yet despite being one of the largest Asian-origin populations in the United States, Americans of Vietnamese heritage remain absent from this iconic celebration of the world's peoples and traditions.

This omission is particularly striking given that Orange County, California, is home to the largest community of Americans of Vietnamese heritage in the United States and one of the largest communities of people of Vietnamese heritage outside Vietnam. For more than 50 years, refugees from Vietnam and their descendants have helped shape the cultural, economic, and civic life of California and our nation through their contributions to business, education, healthcare, public service, faith communities, the arts, entrepreneurship, and military service.

The story of Americans of Vietnamese heritage is an important chapter in the American story. Following the Fall of Saigon in 1975, hundreds of thousands of refugees rebuilt their lives in the United States, creating vibrant communities that continue to contribute to every aspect of American society. Many settled in Orange County and established what is now known throughout the world as Little Saigon, a thriving center of Vietnamese culture, commerce, and community life.

Today, more than 2.2 million Americans of Vietnamese heritage contribute to the cultural, economic, and civic life of our nation. As the fourth-largest Asian-origin population in the United States, they have helped strengthen America through entrepreneurship, public service, education, military service, healthcare, faith communities, and the arts. Their heritage and experiences are an integral part of our nation's diverse cultural fabric.

This story extends far beyond Southern California. Communities with roots in Vietnam have flourished throughout the United States, including Florida, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Louisiana, and many other states. Millions of Disney guests share this heritage and visit Disneyland and Walt Disney World each year, yet they do not see their culture represented in one of Disney's most beloved celebrations of world cultures.

By incorporating authentic Vietnamese cultural representation, Disney has an opportunity to more accurately reflect the diversity of the world that children and families come to appreciate through “it's a small world.” Such representation would not only honor this important part of the American experience, but would also enrich the educational and cultural experience of all guests by fostering greater understanding, appreciation, and respect among cultures.

Therefore, we respectfully request that Disney:

• Add authentic Vietnamese cultural representation to “it's a small world,” including the traditional áo dài, Vietnamese music, lantern festivals, folk art, traditional architecture, and other cultural elements that reflect the richness and beauty of Vietnamese heritage.
• Consult with community organizations, historians, educators, cultural leaders, veterans, artists, and refugee families to ensure historical accuracy, cultural authenticity, and meaningful community involvement.
• Respectfully acknowledge the heritage, history, resilience, and lived experiences of the refugee families who helped build thriving communities across the United States.
• Recognize the historical heritage carried by many Americans of Vietnamese heritage. For many refugee families and their descendants, the Yellow Flag with Three Red Stripes remains an enduring symbol of heritage, identity, freedom, and the refugee experience. The three red stripes traditionally represent Vietnam's three historic regions: North, Central, and South, united as one people and one motherland. We respectfully ask Disney to consider this historical and cultural significance when consulting with community members regarding their representation within the attraction.

This request is not about division. It is about recognition, historical understanding, and ensuring that one of the world's most beloved celebrations of global culture reflects the diverse communities that have helped shape the United States.

For more than 50 years, Americans of Vietnamese heritage have enriched American society through their hard work, perseverance, cultural traditions, and commitment to future generations. Their story, heritage, and contributions deserve meaningful recognition, and future generations deserve to see their culture represented in one of Disney's most beloved attractions.

Because when Disney celebrates the cultures of the world at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Americans of Vietnamese heritage deserve to see their history, culture, and contributions represented as part of the American experience.

Respectfully,

Tri Ta, Assemblyman, 70th District
Chuong Vo, Candidate, U.S. House California District 45
Dr. Christina Cao, PharmD, MBA
Lanney Tran, Legal Advocate, US/UK