Based on a study of Little Saigon, an ethnic enclave in Westminster, California, this paper examines the phy-
sical, social, symbolic and emotional signi¢cance of such places in the lives of immigrants.We focus on three
speci¢c aspects of the ethnic enclave: architectural elements, everyday social interaction within the enclave,
and public ritual events. We highlight how the built architectural environment and the immigrants' social,
commercial, and ritual activities interact to create and sustain a sense of place, foster community identity,
and structure social relations. We conclude that ethnic enclaves constitute an important aspect of an immi-
grant's place identity enabling him/her to simultaneously remain connected to the places left behind and yet
appropriating and forging signi¢cant new place ties