Little Saigon

The Vietnamese are one of the more recently established communities in London. The majority arrived as refugees from North Vietnam after reunification in 1975, augmented by the 'boat people' who fled to Hong Kong from the war with China. Thanh Vu was one of these, and he ended up in Hackney 20 years ago. "There are 4,000 of us in Hackney now," he says.

Any tour should start at Mr Thanh's own An Viet Foundation, where the restaurant serves a natty line in goi con nam bo (spring rolls of all stripes). Then stroll past Kingsland Road's garment factories ("We have 50 factories," says Mr Thanh proudly, "and two millionaires") and into a thriving network of bars and restaurants. In Mare Street you can pick up starfruit, lychees and fresh mint at the supermarket, get your hair done at the Dzung Salon, and jitterbug to the latest Saigon pop at the London Star Night CD store. One of the millionaires owns the 'Nam of London' building, which is being developed to house more supermarkets and restaurants.

Mr Thanh enthuses about the latest venture: nail bars. "We learned the skills quickly," he beams, "and we've now got nearly 400 nail shops in London."