Serving Austin’s Vietnamese Community
for nearly thirty years
Our
Mission
The mission of the Vietnamese American Community of Austin Texas (VACAT) is to create new opportunities for both businesses and individuals, as well as to elevate cultural community awareness.
We accomplish this through sharing best practices, collaborating with local non-profits, and advocating social services that can change lives.
Our
History
Founded in August 1997, The Vietnamese American Community of Austin, Texas (VACAT) is a 501c(3) non-profit and community-based organization.
Since inception, VACAT has touched many lives in Central Texas - through charitable, educational and cultural events and has gradually expanded its operations and services to respond to the evolving community needs and interests of the local Vietnamese-American population (est. 20,000).
By partnering with many great sponsors over the years, our annual Tet New Year festival has attracted thousands of people in attendance.
Our
Programs & Initiatives
We actively engages with the greater Austin community to promote cultural awareness and appreciation, and provides social and educational services. Our programs and initiatives currently include:
Cultural arts
Networking and outreach
Educational and social justice advocacy
All of VACAT's activities focus on the importance of preserving the Vietnamese cultural heritage and developing capacities required by Vietnamese Americans in making key decisions that promote long-term sustainability, including economic prosperity, a healthy community, and social well-being.
Our
Community Outreach
25 years of free community health fair with translation services in Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Burmese
27 years of cultural events like Tet, Black April, Tet Trung Thu and Vietnamese Cultural Celebrations
Helped more than 70,000 people in the Great Austin area
Donations of Water and Food and Volunteer Check Ups on those impacted by the Texas 2021 Snow Storm
100 Homeless Care Kit and Distribution during the Holiday
Scholarship initiative with VAUSA Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund and Lein Phat
Job and Career Fair + Networking Events
Acessible Yoga Program with Black Swan Yoga
Annual CelebrASIA Austin (Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival) hosted by Asian American Resource Center
City of Austin to celebrate cultural diversity
Leadership Development Camp Retreat
Community Outreach for Census and Voting
College Prep Planning
During COVID we raised $6,000 and donated 27,500+ masks to the Austin community.
Partnered with Austin Vietnamese American Medical Professional Society (AVAMPS) to provide additional 22,500 gloves, 56 gallons of hand sanitizer, 62 gallons of alcohol, and more than 7,000 masks to the medical community/essential workers in need.
Our
Partnerships
VACAT works with a wide range of other communities and organizations from greater Austin communities regarding employment, social service, senior care and health related issues. Our collaborative partnerships include:
Asian American Resource Center (ARCC)
Network of Asian American Organizations (NAAO)
Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce (GAACC)
Asian Desi Pacific Islander American Collective (APAC)
CommUnityCare
Vietnamese American Medical Professional Society
Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA)
Vietnamese Senior Association
SVSQ Thu Duc
Union of Vietnamese Student Association (UVSA)
Saigon Broadcasting Television Network (SBTN)
Bao Tre Magazine
Local dance groups
Local Vietnamese Buddhist temples and churches
American Red Cross
Childrens Hospital
Travis County Sheriff Office
Austin Police Department
