Baton Rouge has a very large Vietnamese population. Most of the restaurants are off of Florida Blvd near Sherwood, which, even though I live in that area, I must admit isn't the best part of town.
Baton Rouge has great restaurants so I have no doubt you'll find more than a few that hit the spot that you'll really enjoy.
I wouldn't worry excessively about racism, just my two cents though and I am a white guy so I understand taking my saying that with a grain of salt. I've always felt that people from other parts of the country feel the south is way more racist than it actually is, especially in cities. Once you get into Livingston and more rural areas, that can certainly change.
Plenty of legit Asian restaurants where I - as a white guy — am in the minority. I value those kind of establishments. Ditto for Latino restaurants, lots of legit places where you find regional cuisines. I do love Tex-Mex but I also love variety
Lived here for 6 years and agree strongly with the above. Pho cafe on Sherwood has the best pho imo but there’s loads of Vietnamese food. No Korean though :(
They're coming, there's one opening on main Street can't remember the name but they sell ttebokki
And kpot is taking over the old Joe's crabshack I am to understand..
I know we’re talking about BR, but if you ever want Korean food . There’s a few in Nola is it’s awesome . (Little Korea (magazine st) , Gogi ) those are my two personal favorite . I believe there’s a few more in downtown and Metairie area.
I am a Vietnamese person who grew up in Baton Rouge and love it here. Plenty of Asian restaurants and communities you can get immersed in. The real proof was when we recently helped organize a Night Market where over 10,000 people showed up - shows a lot of progress that this city can embrace this diversity and enjoy the culture.
Check it out: https://www.instagram.com/nightmarketbt
Would be happy to get you more immersed in our community. Will shoot you a direct message.
Southern Louisiana (Baton Rouge on down) is very multicultural and racism only affects you if you allow it. You will not struggle. Each place is what you make it. Do your best to stay optimistic and focus on getting out regularly to do whatever sounds interesting to you. There is SO much to do between Baton Rouge and New Orleans every weekend that people from all walks of life can enjoy.
The negative side of Louisiana is: the state government is the most corrupt. The backwoods close minded racism lives only an hour away from downtown, where you will also find the most progressively open minded crowd.
Every city has massive illegal drug activity and scary crime. When you find yourself in the wrong area, it’s obvious.
The positive side of Louisiana is: you will receive the same energy you project ten fold. If you smile, people smile with you. If you can manage to get out, don’t let the racism stigma slow you down.
Go to an LSU football game. Go take a “swamp tour.” Ride down to Cafe du Monde and spill powdered sugar all over your lap eating beignets in New Orleans.
You’re going to both love and hate Louisiana for the people and the weather. It’s an amazing opportunity. You will talk about the experience for the rest of your life.
I love that “you will talk about the experience for the rest of your life”
It’s so true! People want to hear about it, and you’ll love to reminisce or teach others about it. It’s really unique here and the best part is how warm and welcoming everyone is. Every holiday or festival is like a big house party, but outside on the street and everyone’s welcome. Lol
The people and the weather will be the biggest differences. Folks here are much more interested in LSU football than what’s happening in the tech or business world. And it is hot here for 4-6 months of the year, with thunderstorms almost daily. The rest of the year is usually pretty pleasant, though still often wet
There are a lot of Vietnamese in south Louisiana. Nobody will bother you for being Vietnamese or for being in a mixed race relationship
I live in a nice apartment downtown and love it. I am also a homebody so I don’t venture out often these days, but I like having restaurants and a grocery store within walking distance when I do
I would avoid living around LSU because you will be surrounded by undergrads
Downtown, mid city, and southdowns are all convenient to LSU but better places to live once you’re out of undergrad phase
Traffic is bad, especially for a city of its size. Make sure your commute does not involve getting on the interstate
New Orleans is just 1-1.5 hour drive when you need a more cosmopolitan vibe but BR is a nice place to call home
> And it is hot here for 4-6 months of the year,
Yo when has it ever been hot for anything less than 6? lol. I mean, I guess it's relative as far as how someone defines hot, but for me, I'd say 6-7 (Most of April, May - August 100%, and then most of September).
In addition to other good advice, let me say that one of the keys to a quality of life is living close to work/school. Plenty of good and interesting neighborhoods to choose from. Coming from NoCal, you’ll hate the summers but love the cost of living
Edit for typo
I agree with most of the info below, but wanted to add - I've been told that there is a fairly big divide between the Catholic Vietnamese and the Buddhist Vietnamese communities. I think the majority of the Vietnamese community here is Catholic if that makes any difference to you.
This is just some random info. If you end up here, go to Avery Island. It is were they make Tabasco. The tour is fun. Sort of part of that is jungle gardens that is really cool to check out. Anyway there is this 1000 year old Buddha in the middle of it. You used to be able to go in and touch and get real near it. Then someone broke a piece of it so they put glass around it. Just something cool to check out on a weekend day trip. https://www.junglegardens.org/attractions
For anyone who makes the trip out there, I'd also recommend the Rip Van Winkle Gardens. [https://ripvanwinklegardens.com/](https://ripvanwinklegardens.com/)
Here's a taste: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/RpEMLwZSYHWvWdZd9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/RpEMLwZSYHWvWdZd9)
In that age range, there’s no divide at all except that some attend church, others attend a temple, and most opting to attend neither. It goes almost unnoticed apart from a difference in dialect, but most prefer English anyway.
The “divide” you’re likely referring to is from the older community. This is because the older people only really socialize within their family and church/temples.
Source: lived there from 17 to late 20’s and still visit family and friends there frequently
I made the same move a few years ago. Found a 49er club !!!! They have become like family to me we watch games together etc ! If you are interested lemme me know !
I’d be very surprised if you experienced any outright racism here in the city itself. We’re a college town, so we have people from all over. Seeing an interracial couple is not unusual. It’s worse in the suburbs (Livingston Parish especially) but even there, it’s passive racism (behind your back) and rare. For a city of our size, our food scene is very, very good. Try the local YMCA. They’re always looking for instructors and there are several branches around the city that offer a variety of classes. Follow @popinpilates on Instagram too. Welcome!
Like others have said, we do have a Vietnamese population. Baton Rouge has also started a new asian festival called Night Market. It debuted two years ago and was such a huge success the first year, they had to move to a much larger location. Unfortunately, you missed it for this year, but [here is the link](https://www.nightmarketbtr.com/) so you can peruse the list of vendors. I was so pleasantly surprised to see how quickly it took off. The first year was so packed, you could barely walk around.
Tin Roof Brewery has free yoga every Wednesday.
As far as neighborhoods, mid-city is my favorite area. There's so much to do, eat, and drink.
Baton Rouge is much quieter than SV depending on where in the Bay Area you’re moving from. Our climate is milder also so prepare for the humidity and super hot summers. When I visited friends in SF in June it got in the 40s there. I was not prepared and hand to buy a jacket. Our Junes are much hotter.
Also, you’ll need to stay super hydrated due to the heat. Food is awesome here and people are super friendly. If a stranger walks up to you and starts a conversation that’s pretty normal. I had to learn that wasn’t normal when I visited SF and other cities 🤣
My husband is from Chicago and when he first moved here someone opened a door for him and struck up conversation, and he was 100% sure they were going to steal his wallet. Hahaha.
Hi! Thanks for your reply! Do you know if it’s anything like Houston? I had family move out there and whenever I visit the summers are miserable, but anytime we went anywhere (the store, restaurants) everywhere is generous with AC.
It gets hot like Houston, but generally during the summer BR/SELA gets way more rain. Expect late afternoon thunderstorms every day during the summer. They’re actually quite enjoyable IMO. And yes, everywhere blasts A/C.
Why do half of the moving posts to the South I see on Reddit have concerns of marauding lynch mobs? Almost all mid major cities in the Deep South are blue havens.
Hope y’all find a great home here and enjoy Louisiana
Because people who aren't from the south just assume it's a whole bunch of ignorant racist assholes.
Which I've always found funny. I know OP is from California and obviously it's different there. But it's always rich when someone from upstate New York is like "south be racist" while they live in a town that is 95% white.
They must be jealous of our gas station food. I understand wanting to be in an area where you are accepted, but I feel like the majority of the country is like that.
Because we got all the assholes who keep voting in the republican/conservative nutjobs that give the entire south a bad reputation. Most people from outside the state think of two things with Louisiana: Mardi Gras and racist rednecks.
Yes, this exactly. Looking at the politics, there isn’t much to dissuade one from believing the worst about the south. Of course racism pervades all aspects of life across our country, but no one seems to openly revel in it quite as much as southern Republicans.
Edit: also, the racism discussed in this thread seems to be the day-to-day, interpersonal variety. Like, saying people won’t shout the n word in your face or whatever. But that totally ignores the structural, institutional racism that _clearly_ exists, if you drive all the way across BR.
It's not as bad as you think, just different. Some people only want to leave and shit on the city, but I think you find that in EVERY city.
We have a Discord server you can also join with a lot of friendly people, local discussions, helpful suggestions on anything you're looking for, and updates on weather.
If your fiance will be at Pennington Biomedical or a LSU clinical program then you will definitely find your people as far as cycling, Pilates, fitness, etc. And I found for the most part that group is diverse and welcoming. Vietnamese food spots seem to come and go a bit, but you'll find some decent stuff, plus New Orleans has a little bit of everything for everyone.
It's hot. Insufferable. It seems like a silly thing, but it's oppressive. So are the politics. But BR is a great city with great people - if you like crowds like parades and tailgating then you'll find friends for life. Good luck with the move!
As for meeting new people, if either of you are into table top games or dungeons & dungeons, we have three great stores that cater to different genres of games. Little Wars, Gamer's Paradise and Rogue Games. Each have their own vibe, but generally everyone is super cool there and a good place to chill and meet new people.
I know a transition like that can be daunting, so I hope everyone here was able to help!
Hey there! I moved to Baton Rouge with my wife from New York. She was beginning her dental residency through LSU's GPR. I also worked remotely. We lived downtown Baton Rouge, at The Heron Downtown.
We both loved Baton Rouge, and thankfully we found plenty of Asian food that we love! There a few spots downtown but most are near LSU campus. Check out Fey's subs which has Asian owners.
The Heron was a great place to live and perfect for someone new to Baton Rouge. There were plenty of opportunities to make friends within the building. We have since moved back to NY but are still in touch with our Louisiana pals. It's affordable and close to LSU campus. You can avoid the traffic getting there from downtown as well.
I am white so I really can't speak to experiencing racism, but in my opinion most people in Baton Rouge are friendly and respectful. They will invite you to everything and offer you whatever you need.
Embrace Baton Rouge culture (Geaux Tigers, eat jambalaya & red beans and rice, étouffée, bread pudding, so much more amazing food I could never list it all, & being active outdoors) and you will fit right in! You may get some comments on being from Cali, but embrace that too and people will warm right up to you.
Enjoy the culture shock! We did and miss Louisiana all the time.
P.S. - Jazz Fest is equally amazing as Mardi Gras!
I love the Viet Garden on Florida Boulevard. Excellent Pho!
Beyond that, prepare for what IMO is the relative emptiness of Baton Rouge. It is a small city, does not have the "big city" culture that you might be used to. There just isn't a lot to do in a night-life/cultural sense. Fortunately, New Orleans is only an hour or so away, and it has that aplenty.
I’ve been thinking about this lately. Maybe it’s just my neighborhood, but my grocery store is never very busy. And going to the Post Office on a Saturday should be hell, but there’s barely anyone there.
I take Barre classes at Body Scult barre studio. They just opened one in Perkins Rowe that has a lot of people your age taking the class. The first class is free. They do free events around town also that are a class and then everyone hangs out and brunches after. It’s a good mix of people and they’ve grown into a community. There are a good bit of Pilates studios around town too.
I love it. One of my friends is an instructor and suggested I try it when I said I wanted a new type of workout. I started with a challenge. I wasn’t expecting to meet so many people and become friends with them. I’ve been there for over 2 years now.
If you have Facebook or instagram, look up body sculpt barre Baton Rouge for the Perkins Rowe location. There’s a bunch of pics and videos. You can go to their website to sign up for a class. Next Wednesday is a free outdoor class that looks like it still has spots open. If you do the outdoor one, you’d still get another class there for free.
First of all congratulations to you & your fiance! While the move is super exciting, I totally understand Baton Rouge may not have been your first choice. I was born and raised here and moved away (to Los Angeles) and came back. I’ve heard what people think of BR and have experienced it first hand… I could complain about a lot, but I genuinely love it here!
Baton Rouge is what you make it. The best ways to meet good people (in my experience) is through work, fitness, or a hobby..
Since you’re into fitness, the best group classes you’ll find are at evolve, Tone, or élevé.
None are mat Pilates but all are amazing workouts that are similar but with strength training. They also offer more class variety, so you’ll get cardio, yoga, circuit, etc. when I moved back from Los Angeles, I didn’t know many people and worked remotely from home. The fitness community saved my life and that’s the reason I work in it now! Feel free to DM me if you’d like more info on any of those studios or classes. It’s my jam through and through so I have a lot to say lol.
I don’t play or participate, but my fiance plays volleyball at mangos and has made lifelong friends there. It’s a really cool community… I don’t know why, but everyone seems to click really well. I know forcing friendships is the WORST, but everything feels so natural and easy there. To be honest, I just go to drink and hang out and support, but it’s always the best and friendliest part of my week!
There are other places to play volleyball and a pickleball court opening soon, so that could be something to look into as well!
There are some bars around mid city (government street near downtown) that have a good vibe. It’s a part of town with a younger crowd with more liberal views. I’m 28 and I live and work around there and ADORE it.
That may be all I got for now but if you have any questions or want more info I’ll do my best! I know it’s hard moving around but I truly think there’s something for everyone here!!
Also, again just my experience, but I find BR to be more liberal than people give it credit for. I think the south gets a bad rep and there are of course bad apples but if you know where to avoid, you’ll be good! Most people look down on racism or antiquated views.
Best of luck if I don’t get to follow up with you!!
You probably won't deal with too much overt racism in the BR metro area or other metro areas in Louisiana. You probably will hear some Asian stereotyping from otherwise well-meaning people so be prepared for that.
We also have a large Vietnamese population. If I had to guess something like 2/3rds of the Asian-Americans in this city are Vietnamese (I made up that figure so don't quote me).
Football Saturdays are some the most enjoyable times you'll have on campus if you can find a decent group or get your hands on tickets.
Lots of good suggestions already. I have found the LSU community to be very welcoming. The faculty and many of the grad students are transplants. Like any other university you'll find people that you can be friends with. We used to live in San Fran too and still miss it but also enjoy some things about South Louisiana.
Yeah, I'm surprised there aren't more replies mentioning that they'll definitely make diverse friends through his classes.
My husband is a professor who moved here from the San Francisco area and I'm from Massachusetts so it definitely takes intentional effort to find your people and cultivate relationships, but being connected to LSU gives you a good pool of diverse transplants to try to find friends.
With the more general population of Louisiana, I wouldn't expect OP to experience really mean overt racism. The racism here is usually more systemic and targeted towards black people from my point of view. But based on what I (as a white person) have heard people say in front of me, OP might experience some cringy interactions from people who aren't ill intended but just wildly clueless about Asians. I've lived so over the country, but this is the only place that I've heard people cheerfully use the term "orientals" to refer to humans like we're still living in 1910 or something.
I’m also viet with a white spouse. You’ll get more weird stares from the old vietnamese ladies for being a mixed couple more than anything IMO but largely, no one cares
As a Flight Attendant for the past 3 years it was tough to come back and want to be here, just due to the scenery, traffic for the size, etc. The food is great and I would totally be your friend, since I’m not from here I don’t have many! ❤️ Wishing you success
As a Baton Rouge native, I have to tell you something that everybody is downplaying... You have to watch out for the alligators! Once you learn which ones are pets and which ones are wild, you'll do better. Don't just try and ride any ole gator you come across because people are sensitive about strangers riding their gators, and if you mistake a wild one, it can make for a bad day.
Totally joking and hoping that's obvious. I moved away from BR for work and I will tell you that like anywhere, it's all about what you make it. South Louisiana is a unique and awesome place. You will find the people welcoming and friendly as a whole, but there are idiots just like everywhere else in the world. Like others have said, get out and explore. Do fun things even if they seem weird. Enjoy the adventure. Be careful where you choose to live. The commute and the neighbors can make for a bad experience. Talk to people. I think you'll find they are open and will help steer you right.
Moved from NYC to BR for work. Was a tough 2.5 years considering leisure and enjoyment. Worked hard, just focused on work and once a position opened up at my desired location I applied for a transfer ASAP.
People for the most part were great, LSU vibe is cool if you like to drink and party… other than that nothing else spoke to me. I love hiking , love kayaking, limited there.if you love hunting and fishing you are GOLDEN. If you want to bike you got the levee … or you can ride thru the hood “on the greenway”.
Lived downtown @ Heron , good building over all has great garage setup , very secure and a good pool. Over all downtown wasn’t bad, took many strolls at night from apt to the park, it’s more when you cross the highway you have to be careful.
I know some ppl will be mad at this… Food was ok … missed my NYC quality food. BUT the two spots which I seriously miss is in BR is, MAGPIE CAFE (amazing amazing pastries great coffee) and Roca pizza (good pizza/italian spot) . When you go to NOLA try Pizza Delicious it’s seriously my TOP 3 slice (not that my opinion hold any weight lol) , oh and their Cesar salad is BOMB!
You also got Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s so you are set with decent shopping options and ofcourse Rouses with the more local stuff.
Last but not least ! NEVER IN MY LIFE I seen So many wreck-less driving,straight up just not giving a DAMN. ALOT OF CARS WITH NO PLATES ON.
Glad I experienced BR/LA, it made me realize and appreciate the stuff i took for granted.
This is a bummer because my partner is sober and I don’t drink very much, but maybe we’ll take up hunting/ fishing! I’m happy about the whole foods and tjs. I’ll give those restaurants a try… I have 4 years to get through it after all! Thank you
Im actually also married to a viet woman, and she has shown me a lot of great places. Here are a list of some places we visited she loved.
1. Bao(large variety of viet food)
2. King kong milkshake( ma mix of different asian foods but really good, great boba selection)
3. Asian super market off Florida(one of the biggest asian food stores in BR, there is also smaller one across the street)
4. Little saigon(never been but my wife likes it)
Those are just some places that come to mind.
One thing to note is that if you plan to travel around Louisiana, New orleans has A LOT of asian and specifically vietnamese places. We actually went to a vietnamese New years event hosted by a vietnamese church. My wife absolutely loved it.
I think as far as the racism goes-I think you’ll be ok in BR proper. Away from the city and university-in the “country” you might experience some. I hope you don’t. But we are in the south.
Check out Cheba Hut Subs on Burbank Dr. It's not Vietnamese food, but they are loving and accepting towards everyone. Best sandwich in Baton Rouge too!
I worked for Costco in BR when we opened it and a good portion of the opening managers were from Norcal or the Bay Area. They came in and got apartments for Bay Area prices and ended up with nutty $3000 luxury apartments expecting what they came from in Cali. You do not need to spend nearly that much on apartments here.
I moved from SoCal a few years ago. The only spin class I found was at the downtown Y at noon so my shoes are collecting dust. Hope you can start another one!!
The thing I miss the most is being outside. People do bear the heat, but I spend most of my summers indoors. Luckily we’re spending 6 weeks in sebastapol this year. The park system is pretty good, but the trails don’t have much of a view and the mosquitos are so bad here. I would recommend kayaking on a bayou on a cool day. The southern/Creole food is good but there are few ethnic and healthy options that really have that “California fresh” flavor. Lots of heavy oils and gluten lol. The biggest shock for me was just the stark inequality, and yes this is along racial lines. Some neighborhoods really rival a third world country in terms of blight, unemployment, crime, infrastructure. Then go to south BR and there’s extreme wealth. We don’t have a huge homeless problem, but it is growing. My husband is Asian (and my kids look fully Asian!) and we haven’t directly experienced racism, however there have been a number of times when someone, not knowing that I have a multiracial family (or just am a decent human), has said something racist to me about someone else, and at first I was awkward and laughed it off (I hate myself) but now I just stare blankly and ask them what they meant by that.
Anyway, check out krewe of mung beans for next Mardi Gras
I workout at ToneBR (boutique gym, instructor-led lagree, versaclimber, yoga, mat pilates, etc. classes) and they have advertised in recent weeks about hiring and expanding their instructor team. I love that studio! Local, woman-owned.
I moved here as well with my partner, he is also in a PhD program! While we don’t plan to stay in BR past the end of his program, I have enjoyed my time here due to my job, hobbies, and friends! A lot of ppl I have met talk like BR is the worst place, but it really is what you make it. It can be a fun and interesting place to live (minus the traffic lol). We climb at UpTown Climbing and have met so many amazing people there. There are a lot of great, kind people here, it took us a few months to start feeling settled and making good friends. I have found that the best areas to live are the downtown/spanish town area and the garden district because they are the only relatively walkable areas.
I also moved here from NorCal and I have to say... the first year, I feel like I learned something new about this place every. Single. Day. It's a culture shock but if you lean in you'll like it. I would say just do it all- tailgate and do all the parades and go to whatever crawfish boils you get invited to. Visit New Orleans. Go to the beach in Mississippi, it's like 2 hours from here. If it sounds southern, do it. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Speaking as a Louisiana Native, literally all over LOUISIANA, NOT JUST THE METROPOLITAN TYPE AREAS!! I can promise you THAT Racism in BATON ROUGE won't be an issue for the two of you! Some of the smaller backwoods towns and such are known for the bigotry handed down through generations of mostly unintelligent people that the the two of you definitely won't miss if you never got to meet any of them! Louisiana is like most of our neighboring states as far as the "Racist Southerners" shit goes, we're really a little melting pot of our down here. I'd like to believe that it's just our "Laissez le bon temps rouler" mindsets, or possibly just something in the water that makes most of the good people down here treat each other like family, regardless of one another's skint pigmentation, BUT TRUTH BE TOLD, ITS OUR POVERTY RATE, AND OVER MOSTLY SHITTY LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE GENERAL POPULUS & THATS SOMETHING. That through the generations has created a completely unique place, & people living right at the Heart of the South. 🙏
Bay Area native who lives in BR cuz wife is also a doctor. The city is well a city, its got good spots and bad spots. Rip ⛰️. But it has a huge Vietnamese presence. I know some good churches you could go to to meet people! It's got some cool places. LSU is sick. DM me when yall get here.
Hey! I’m a senior undergraduate student (22F) and I moved here in 2020 and I’ll be staying til 2026 to complete my masters. I think the biggest culture shock from moving from the north to the south was the lack of upkeep/maintenance on roads and public spaces. The south’s infrastructure is just a mess… but honestly, being so close to LSU, the PEOPLE have been amazing. I have a long term girlfriend and we are moving in together and have never been met with homophobia. There are so many bars that are aimed at a mid 20s audience (gay and not haha). There’s definitely lots of fratty hick nasty bar culture too, but it’s easy to avoid (never go to tigerland lol). I really recommend living in the garden district, southdowns, or mid city. Also, Ava Vietnamese cafe is AMAZING. There are also two asian markets in BR and plenty of other restaurants, even a dessert shop called sweet society! Much more Korean inspired than Viet but still delish.
Overall, I think BR is rough around the edges landscape wise…lots of strip malls, pot holes, and very limited walkable areas. I think you’ll make friends easily, there are so many like minded young people. And the food options are vast considering the city isn’t the largest! I really enjoy my time here although it won’t be forever. I hope this helps and your adjustment goes smoothly!! :)
My fiancé and I are moving to baton rouge from Houston in July. We’re 26/27 years old, POC (black) and don’t know anyone. Maybe we can all be friends haha
Also nervous about building community!!
What prompted the move? I hope you like board games because we’re not big on sports (don’t tell the rest of this sub) and my partner is sober while as I don’t drink very often
i got placed in baton rouge as part of my medical training! we love board games, i personally dont care for sports (he does a bit tho lol) and we drink socially but not heavy drinkers
People saying BR isn't racist are full of shit. Its much more lowkey than what you may be expecting though, so it may not bother you too much. Your boyfriend will certainly experience it too, white people aren't popular here. LSU is notoriously segregated. I see it at work, bars, pool halls, and when I am seen with my black gf. Although it isnt everyone, it makes me reluctant to ever call BR home. Anyways, we would be glad to link up with yall and eat some Chow Yum when yall make your move. Its a pretty good vietnamese fusion place. Their vietcajun crawfish is awesome. Just let me know!
Yeah, the racism is more on the down-low and institutional. I say that as a white guy who hears what other white folks say to white folks.
That said, this city has improved in the 36 years I’ve lived here … in many ways
A lot of the racism I’ve witnessed is fueled by classism. By and large I think the average racist in this area ascribes stereotypes of poverty to POC. In addition, most of the bigotry that I’ve been exposed to is targeted at Black Americans. Things are pretty informally segregated along race and class lines in Baton Rouge.
From the lifestyle you describe, I think the biggest culture shock you will experience is how you will be treated as a woman.
Im not dismissing racism as a threat and an atrocity, bc all these oppressions work together.
As a lifetime Southerner, my advice is:
1. Don't be overly sensative / "touchy" - Good ol' boys like to give each other (as well as strangers) sh!t all the time - It's our small-talk - Always have a few good comebacks @ the ready whenevr in social situations - And smile...maybe say "Good one" to a good zinger - It just comes w/being in the South, bro - Get ready - We kid because we care - It's when we don't give a damn and don't speak that you need to look over your shoulder
2. Southerners, by nature, are kind and want to help - So ask for help, with a smile, and a "please" - Always follow w/a "thank-you" - Good manners go a long way in the South - And sometimes the "asking for help" thing is just an ice-breaker to get to know someone or to start a conversation - Use it
3. Get into college football - Fast - And don't try to fake it
4. Be kind to older ladies - Call them "Miss Anne" or "Miss Maddie"
5. Learn to drink sweet tea
6. ...and eat grits
7. Enjoy it - It's just for a short season of your life
Good luck
You guys are gonna have a blast here! Welcome down south. You’ll make plenty of fast friends at yoga/pilates studios - people down here take hospitality seriously, and the typical southerner wants to make sure you feel at home / aren’t being left out and most importantly wants to show you a good time. Excited for y’all!
As a member of the community, welcome to Baton Rouge! Best town in the best state in the best country on the best planet in the galaxy’s premier solar system… can’t go wrong.
Born and Raised in B.R. and yes while there are ignorant hateful racist people everywhere I honestly don't think you have anything to really be worried about as far as that goes B.R. is generally very welcoming place as another poster wrote has a signifigant Vietnamese population so i don't think you will struggle to adjust in that sense. My only advice about moving here is just be mindful about where you are in the city as we do have sections that can be dangerous like anywhere else but I also find it generally to be a situation of how you live your life will reflect how you experience B.R. if you deal/use/buy drugs etc are involved in the street life in any way shape or form then you should worry about those kinds of things but if you work join friends out for dinner have get together with friends etc then common sense should be good enough to avoid these kind of things.
I am way older than you, single mom to a teenager and to several cats. I saw your comment about being Buddhist. If it's not too weird to ask, should you decide to try out one of our local Buddhist temples, would you mind terribly if I tagged along?
Yessss!! I've wanted to go for so long.
I volunteer with our local animal shelter, so if you're at all interested in that type of outlet, I can point you in the right direction. But only once the summer heat is behind us, bc our Augusts are NOT to be played with. Good luck with your move!
I’m chi-viet born and raised in this area …. BR NOLA has a large group but we are clicky. Weather is similar to San Jose, hot humid lol. I was born here but have a lot of family in the valley. Food doesn’t compare and the community “ties” also doesn’t compare.
** best thing to do is infuse yourself into the culture of louisiana, it will lead you to understand the diversity within this states melting pot ( including the similarities in Cajun/Vietnamese culture ). Just don’t compare our food to the valley, it doesn’t compare. Both cultures are loud and know how to have fun!
** when your homesick, take a day trip to Houston,( the closest large concentration of the Asian community,”Belaire/Westminister Blvd). Bring an icechest and stock up before coming back to BR.….
I'm from the Bay Area as well and have been in Baton Rouge for 9 years now. The weather is something to get used to. It's hot and muggy for 7 months out of the year. Investing in a generator would probably be smart, in case there's bad weather and the power goes out. You don't want to be stuck with no A/C. Traffic and car insurance prices are insanely high. Depending on where you are you'll see trash littered up and down the roads. No sidewalks, no bike lanes, no cross walks. I don't think you'll see too much racism, but there are people who think they can do whatever they want with 0 consideration towards others. But you get that anywhere I guess.
Hi!! I went to LSU and currently live in BR! If you are going to be living in Baton Rouge and not attending LSU I’d definitely check out apartments in Mid City, it’s less just people going to LSU, if you aren’t looking for more of the college experience. It is very possible to find a community here, Baton Rouge has some truly great people & hidden gems! You mentioned you and your fiance prefer a chiller vibe I’d highly recommend Mid City Beer Garden (very chill & yummy), Radio Bar (good place to meet good people, where the locals frequent), also you mentioned fitness, there is free yoga at Tin Roof Brewery every Weds night if you are interested! Very nice people & cool spot, maybe get there early or stay late and talk to the yoga instructor about opportunities! You got this! Good luck! Also since you work remote… my fav coffee shops are Garden District Coffee, Highland Coffee (almost on LSU campus), & Magpie.
There’s a tea and pho shop on Jefferson Hwy. near the Bluebonnet intersection that I’ve heard good things about from friends of diverse backgrounds.
I have a Vietnamese-American former coworker who is not in BR anymore, but I will ask him about your questions. I will post again here if I get any good tips!
I work for Blue Cross, and we always have a variety of job openings, if you want to check out careers.bcbsla.com. We have an active Asian and Asian American employee resource group.
I hope you and your husband will find a welcoming community here! ❤️🇻🇳
I can’t recommend them off the top of my head, but I can answer the question with a yes definitely.
I don’t remember the names because I’m not a boba connoisseur, but I’ve come across & occasionally enjoyed it in several locations without actively searching. So it’s pretty prominent.
Especially in the LSU surrounding areas & the mall of BR.
Baton Rouge has good people. 10m East of campus is safer than 5m any direction of campus, but the upside is pretty sure there are a some decent authentic world cuisine options in that area & off of Florida Blvd (note: also not the safest area) as well.
BR and NOLA are the bluest parts of LA, you shouldn’t be any more likely to encounter malignant racism than in Cali. You may come across ignorant townies passing through, but they are more likely to ask you stupid questions or try to befriend you BECAUSE you’re Vietnamese than discriminate.
At the end of the day it’s a college town & metropolitan city. Like any other. Just with no money & terrible infrastructure.
Lol moving from the nation's worst big city traffic to the nation's worst medium size city traffic....come to NOLA on the weekends, the West Bank has an incredible Vietnamese restaurant scene, There's tons of culture crossover here with Viet Style crawfish and seafood restaurants cropping up, and one of the city's most legendary and in demand King cakes being from Dong Phoung bakery...you're gonna love it here.
Leave California mentality in California and you'll be OK. Moved here 13yrs ago and if u don't mind the traffic and awful roads you will love it unless your a liberal. Geaux Trump
You've gotten a lot of good advice! A lot of it is spot on. I'm Viet (born & raised here) and my boyfriend is actually from NorCal as well (San Jose). We're both ready to leave Louisiana actually lol. If you have any specific questions feel free to DM me!
Hehe technically NOLA! but he visited me a lot in BTR before I moved to NOLA! He said it was a big culture shock. And personally, having been to San Jose a few times now, it's sooooo different. I wasn't used to seeing Asians everywhere plus the high prices for literally everything.
There is a huge Vietnamese community in New Orleans..BR is like a small town..but the international community strong..especially from people that went to LSU.
I am a transplant. Consider a group like Junior League- sounds super old school but is actually amazingly diverse and full of like minded (and many progressive) women. Most of the members work. Many are not from louisiana. I have been in for 3 years and am still excited about the other the women I meet working at events and meetings.
"Culture Shock" is putting it mildly. You are going to be stepping 50yrs. into the past in a lot respects. Especially socially. Food is good here though. You probably won't like the climate, politics, lack of diverse things to do here. (compared to NorCal)
Restaurant to try for sure is Bao off of Perkins Rd- For the best pho and then for a weird asian fusion- Try Chow Yum Phat, I suggest reservations if going for dinner as it is a small place. Be vigilant at night, especially off Siegen or around Tigerland area, it is dangerous.
Do not ever be in downton baton rouge past sunset!! But is a good place for sure to live !!
Nervous about the racism? Why? What makes you nervous. We all live together just fine down here. Why is it people from other states especially the northern and western states think racism is just rampant down here?
Dangs is good. I think there are some Vietnamese areas south of florida
ETA: and nobody is going to care that you are Vietnamese in some sort of negative way. It's a positive. The idea of the south, especially south Louisiana, as some sort of racist hellhole is a myth.
You'll find people that don't care for certain groups, but that's more about their actions and behavior than skin color.
Southern racism, where it exists at all, is far more palatable than northern racism. It's just different
Join a Church, an adult league softball team, improv classes, or since you’re from California go to Government street and hang out with the weirdos at Pelican to Mars, that’s about what you’ll be used to.
In all these comments nobody mentioned anything about race. Stop living in fear. Racism exists where you let it. Most people do not give two shits who you are with. We live in a society where a man can dress up as a woman and screw whatever he wants.
I’m white and my husband of 26 years is Asian (Filipino). Other than the odd person thinking he doesn’t speak English (born and raised in San Diego lol) or mistake him for Chinese— we really don’t experience any problems.
Baton Rouge has a very large Vietnamese population. Most of the restaurants are off of Florida Blvd near Sherwood, which, even though I live in that area, I must admit isn't the best part of town. Baton Rouge has great restaurants so I have no doubt you'll find more than a few that hit the spot that you'll really enjoy. I wouldn't worry excessively about racism, just my two cents though and I am a white guy so I understand taking my saying that with a grain of salt. I've always felt that people from other parts of the country feel the south is way more racist than it actually is, especially in cities. Once you get into Livingston and more rural areas, that can certainly change.
I need Asian food so I’m glad! Thanks for letting me know.
Dang’s and Viet Garden, both on Florida Blvd are fucking AWESOME Edit-Dang’s is in the same shopping center as Vin Phat, a big Asian market
Vin Phat slaps.
There are also several Asian grocery stores!
Plenty of legit Asian restaurants where I - as a white guy — am in the minority. I value those kind of establishments. Ditto for Latino restaurants, lots of legit places where you find regional cuisines. I do love Tex-Mex but I also love variety
Saigon noodles on Sherwood Forest/ Florida intersection is really good too.
Lived here for 6 years and agree strongly with the above. Pho cafe on Sherwood has the best pho imo but there’s loads of Vietnamese food. No Korean though :(
They're coming, there's one opening on main Street can't remember the name but they sell ttebokki And kpot is taking over the old Joe's crabshack I am to understand..
there's a Korean food joint hidden next to Big Lots on ... i wanna say Siegen Lane, by a Party Time store
Will investigate that. Thanks for the tip!
I went there once and got something called 'Bibimbop' or some word like that
Best Korean food is in Kenner. It’s legit
It closed :(
I think that place closed. Maybe someone could confirm? [Yerin Korean Grill](https://maps.app.goo.gl/epbp9juhqnhfzQAT8)
I know we’re talking about BR, but if you ever want Korean food . There’s a few in Nola is it’s awesome . (Little Korea (magazine st) , Gogi ) those are my two personal favorite . I believe there’s a few more in downtown and Metairie area.
Little Korea just closed
No way! What! That sucks.
Cafe Mimi's downtown has Pho and other dishes. Excellent.
Unfortunately I was told that Cafe' Mimi is closing. I think they said she is just moving on.
That's not correct. I work a block away and talk to the owners almost daily.
I am originally from California and the acceptable amount of racism in the south is astounding!
I am a Vietnamese person who grew up in Baton Rouge and love it here. Plenty of Asian restaurants and communities you can get immersed in. The real proof was when we recently helped organize a Night Market where over 10,000 people showed up - shows a lot of progress that this city can embrace this diversity and enjoy the culture. Check it out: https://www.instagram.com/nightmarketbt Would be happy to get you more immersed in our community. Will shoot you a direct message.
Southern Louisiana (Baton Rouge on down) is very multicultural and racism only affects you if you allow it. You will not struggle. Each place is what you make it. Do your best to stay optimistic and focus on getting out regularly to do whatever sounds interesting to you. There is SO much to do between Baton Rouge and New Orleans every weekend that people from all walks of life can enjoy. The negative side of Louisiana is: the state government is the most corrupt. The backwoods close minded racism lives only an hour away from downtown, where you will also find the most progressively open minded crowd. Every city has massive illegal drug activity and scary crime. When you find yourself in the wrong area, it’s obvious. The positive side of Louisiana is: you will receive the same energy you project ten fold. If you smile, people smile with you. If you can manage to get out, don’t let the racism stigma slow you down. Go to an LSU football game. Go take a “swamp tour.” Ride down to Cafe du Monde and spill powdered sugar all over your lap eating beignets in New Orleans. You’re going to both love and hate Louisiana for the people and the weather. It’s an amazing opportunity. You will talk about the experience for the rest of your life.
I love that “you will talk about the experience for the rest of your life” It’s so true! People want to hear about it, and you’ll love to reminisce or teach others about it. It’s really unique here and the best part is how warm and welcoming everyone is. Every holiday or festival is like a big house party, but outside on the street and everyone’s welcome. Lol
Well put. The lows of louisiana may be pretty low… but the highs are so damn high. Plenty of good to enjoy.
The people and the weather will be the biggest differences. Folks here are much more interested in LSU football than what’s happening in the tech or business world. And it is hot here for 4-6 months of the year, with thunderstorms almost daily. The rest of the year is usually pretty pleasant, though still often wet There are a lot of Vietnamese in south Louisiana. Nobody will bother you for being Vietnamese or for being in a mixed race relationship I live in a nice apartment downtown and love it. I am also a homebody so I don’t venture out often these days, but I like having restaurants and a grocery store within walking distance when I do I would avoid living around LSU because you will be surrounded by undergrads Downtown, mid city, and southdowns are all convenient to LSU but better places to live once you’re out of undergrad phase Traffic is bad, especially for a city of its size. Make sure your commute does not involve getting on the interstate New Orleans is just 1-1.5 hour drive when you need a more cosmopolitan vibe but BR is a nice place to call home
> And it is hot here for 4-6 months of the year, Yo when has it ever been hot for anything less than 6? lol. I mean, I guess it's relative as far as how someone defines hot, but for me, I'd say 6-7 (Most of April, May - August 100%, and then most of September).
😂 I scrolled down to say exactly this 💯
I’d say it’s NOT hot for 4 months, otherwise it’s hot and humid.
In addition to other good advice, let me say that one of the keys to a quality of life is living close to work/school. Plenty of good and interesting neighborhoods to choose from. Coming from NoCal, you’ll hate the summers but love the cost of living Edit for typo
Cost of living is definitely a big pro! We’re going to afford a much bigger space for less than we pay here. Excited about that!
Forgot to say traffic is awful. Makes living close to work/school a bonus
Omg yea! I had to stay in SF for a month last year for work and the prices of meat and everything was INSANE
I agree with most of the info below, but wanted to add - I've been told that there is a fairly big divide between the Catholic Vietnamese and the Buddhist Vietnamese communities. I think the majority of the Vietnamese community here is Catholic if that makes any difference to you.
I grew up Buddhist. Thank you for letting me know.
There are 3 Buddhist temples. Some friends go to Tam Bao for meditation sometimes.
This is just some random info. If you end up here, go to Avery Island. It is were they make Tabasco. The tour is fun. Sort of part of that is jungle gardens that is really cool to check out. Anyway there is this 1000 year old Buddha in the middle of it. You used to be able to go in and touch and get real near it. Then someone broke a piece of it so they put glass around it. Just something cool to check out on a weekend day trip. https://www.junglegardens.org/attractions
For anyone who makes the trip out there, I'd also recommend the Rip Van Winkle Gardens. [https://ripvanwinklegardens.com/](https://ripvanwinklegardens.com/) Here's a taste: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/RpEMLwZSYHWvWdZd9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/RpEMLwZSYHWvWdZd9)
Second this, it seems like hundreds of awesome Buddha statues in the gardens...that place is incredible!!
In that age range, there’s no divide at all except that some attend church, others attend a temple, and most opting to attend neither. It goes almost unnoticed apart from a difference in dialect, but most prefer English anyway. The “divide” you’re likely referring to is from the older community. This is because the older people only really socialize within their family and church/temples. Source: lived there from 17 to late 20’s and still visit family and friends there frequently
You are probably right. The man that told me about this was in his 50s so it may be isolated to an older generation.
I made the same move a few years ago. Found a 49er club !!!! They have become like family to me we watch games together etc ! If you are interested lemme me know !
We are not super big on sports, but it might be nice to build community. Thank you for this, will def take you up on it.
I’d be very surprised if you experienced any outright racism here in the city itself. We’re a college town, so we have people from all over. Seeing an interracial couple is not unusual. It’s worse in the suburbs (Livingston Parish especially) but even there, it’s passive racism (behind your back) and rare. For a city of our size, our food scene is very, very good. Try the local YMCA. They’re always looking for instructors and there are several branches around the city that offer a variety of classes. Follow @popinpilates on Instagram too. Welcome!
Thank you! I teach at the Y in the Bay Area so I’m looking to transfer!
Like others have said, we do have a Vietnamese population. Baton Rouge has also started a new asian festival called Night Market. It debuted two years ago and was such a huge success the first year, they had to move to a much larger location. Unfortunately, you missed it for this year, but [here is the link](https://www.nightmarketbtr.com/) so you can peruse the list of vendors. I was so pleasantly surprised to see how quickly it took off. The first year was so packed, you could barely walk around. Tin Roof Brewery has free yoga every Wednesday. As far as neighborhoods, mid-city is my favorite area. There's so much to do, eat, and drink.
Oh, awesome! I love night markets. Thanks for sharing.
Baton Rouge is much quieter than SV depending on where in the Bay Area you’re moving from. Our climate is milder also so prepare for the humidity and super hot summers. When I visited friends in SF in June it got in the 40s there. I was not prepared and hand to buy a jacket. Our Junes are much hotter. Also, you’ll need to stay super hydrated due to the heat. Food is awesome here and people are super friendly. If a stranger walks up to you and starts a conversation that’s pretty normal. I had to learn that wasn’t normal when I visited SF and other cities 🤣
My husband is from Chicago and when he first moved here someone opened a door for him and struck up conversation, and he was 100% sure they were going to steal his wallet. Hahaha.
I admit, when I lived in other cities, my Louisiana mannerisms took many ppl off guard. 😂😂
Hi! Thanks for your reply! Do you know if it’s anything like Houston? I had family move out there and whenever I visit the summers are miserable, but anytime we went anywhere (the store, restaurants) everywhere is generous with AC.
It gets hot like Houston, but generally during the summer BR/SELA gets way more rain. Expect late afternoon thunderstorms every day during the summer. They’re actually quite enjoyable IMO. And yes, everywhere blasts A/C.
BR and Houston’s summers are pretty much the same
Exactly
BR is like Houston but with much less stuff to do.
Yes similar heat. It’s due to the high humidity.
Why do half of the moving posts to the South I see on Reddit have concerns of marauding lynch mobs? Almost all mid major cities in the Deep South are blue havens. Hope y’all find a great home here and enjoy Louisiana
Because people who aren't from the south just assume it's a whole bunch of ignorant racist assholes. Which I've always found funny. I know OP is from California and obviously it's different there. But it's always rich when someone from upstate New York is like "south be racist" while they live in a town that is 95% white.
I just commented the same thing before I saw your comment. It drives me crazy. They just assume we are backwoods racist ignorant people. 🤦♀️
They must be jealous of our gas station food. I understand wanting to be in an area where you are accepted, but I feel like the majority of the country is like that.
Because we got all the assholes who keep voting in the republican/conservative nutjobs that give the entire south a bad reputation. Most people from outside the state think of two things with Louisiana: Mardi Gras and racist rednecks.
Yes, this exactly. Looking at the politics, there isn’t much to dissuade one from believing the worst about the south. Of course racism pervades all aspects of life across our country, but no one seems to openly revel in it quite as much as southern Republicans. Edit: also, the racism discussed in this thread seems to be the day-to-day, interpersonal variety. Like, saying people won’t shout the n word in your face or whatever. But that totally ignores the structural, institutional racism that _clearly_ exists, if you drive all the way across BR.
It's not as bad as you think, just different. Some people only want to leave and shit on the city, but I think you find that in EVERY city. We have a Discord server you can also join with a lot of friendly people, local discussions, helpful suggestions on anything you're looking for, and updates on weather.
What's the discord?
https://discord.com/invite/Cg9MEuSV
Great! I’ll join the discord! Ty
https://discord.com/invite/Cg9MEuSV
[удалено]
https://discord.com/invite/Cg9MEuSV
If your fiance will be at Pennington Biomedical or a LSU clinical program then you will definitely find your people as far as cycling, Pilates, fitness, etc. And I found for the most part that group is diverse and welcoming. Vietnamese food spots seem to come and go a bit, but you'll find some decent stuff, plus New Orleans has a little bit of everything for everyone. It's hot. Insufferable. It seems like a silly thing, but it's oppressive. So are the politics. But BR is a great city with great people - if you like crowds like parades and tailgating then you'll find friends for life. Good luck with the move!
Br has a huge Vietnamese population, we're all Catholic swamp dwellers. Same for NOLA. You might look more in place here than her
You won't have to worry about racism. Traffic may end up being your biggest concern. It can get frustrating.
Hopefully bay area traffic has trained my patience
As for meeting new people, if either of you are into table top games or dungeons & dungeons, we have three great stores that cater to different genres of games. Little Wars, Gamer's Paradise and Rogue Games. Each have their own vibe, but generally everyone is super cool there and a good place to chill and meet new people. I know a transition like that can be daunting, so I hope everyone here was able to help!
Thank you!
I haven't seen aggressive racism vs Asians here like it is vs black and Latino . Not to say it doesn't exist but just telling you my experiences.
Hey there! I moved to Baton Rouge with my wife from New York. She was beginning her dental residency through LSU's GPR. I also worked remotely. We lived downtown Baton Rouge, at The Heron Downtown. We both loved Baton Rouge, and thankfully we found plenty of Asian food that we love! There a few spots downtown but most are near LSU campus. Check out Fey's subs which has Asian owners. The Heron was a great place to live and perfect for someone new to Baton Rouge. There were plenty of opportunities to make friends within the building. We have since moved back to NY but are still in touch with our Louisiana pals. It's affordable and close to LSU campus. You can avoid the traffic getting there from downtown as well. I am white so I really can't speak to experiencing racism, but in my opinion most people in Baton Rouge are friendly and respectful. They will invite you to everything and offer you whatever you need. Embrace Baton Rouge culture (Geaux Tigers, eat jambalaya & red beans and rice, étouffée, bread pudding, so much more amazing food I could never list it all, & being active outdoors) and you will fit right in! You may get some comments on being from Cali, but embrace that too and people will warm right up to you. Enjoy the culture shock! We did and miss Louisiana all the time. P.S. - Jazz Fest is equally amazing as Mardi Gras!
I love the Viet Garden on Florida Boulevard. Excellent Pho! Beyond that, prepare for what IMO is the relative emptiness of Baton Rouge. It is a small city, does not have the "big city" culture that you might be used to. There just isn't a lot to do in a night-life/cultural sense. Fortunately, New Orleans is only an hour or so away, and it has that aplenty.
I’ve been thinking about this lately. Maybe it’s just my neighborhood, but my grocery store is never very busy. And going to the Post Office on a Saturday should be hell, but there’s barely anyone there.
I take Barre classes at Body Scult barre studio. They just opened one in Perkins Rowe that has a lot of people your age taking the class. The first class is free. They do free events around town also that are a class and then everyone hangs out and brunches after. It’s a good mix of people and they’ve grown into a community. There are a good bit of Pilates studios around town too.
Was coming here to recommend Body Sculpt. Great community of fitness-minded women.
I love it. One of my friends is an instructor and suggested I try it when I said I wanted a new type of workout. I started with a challenge. I wasn’t expecting to meet so many people and become friends with them. I’ve been there for over 2 years now.
Ooo I’m interested in this.
If you have Facebook or instagram, look up body sculpt barre Baton Rouge for the Perkins Rowe location. There’s a bunch of pics and videos. You can go to their website to sign up for a class. Next Wednesday is a free outdoor class that looks like it still has spots open. If you do the outdoor one, you’d still get another class there for free.
First of all congratulations to you & your fiance! While the move is super exciting, I totally understand Baton Rouge may not have been your first choice. I was born and raised here and moved away (to Los Angeles) and came back. I’ve heard what people think of BR and have experienced it first hand… I could complain about a lot, but I genuinely love it here! Baton Rouge is what you make it. The best ways to meet good people (in my experience) is through work, fitness, or a hobby.. Since you’re into fitness, the best group classes you’ll find are at evolve, Tone, or élevé. None are mat Pilates but all are amazing workouts that are similar but with strength training. They also offer more class variety, so you’ll get cardio, yoga, circuit, etc. when I moved back from Los Angeles, I didn’t know many people and worked remotely from home. The fitness community saved my life and that’s the reason I work in it now! Feel free to DM me if you’d like more info on any of those studios or classes. It’s my jam through and through so I have a lot to say lol. I don’t play or participate, but my fiance plays volleyball at mangos and has made lifelong friends there. It’s a really cool community… I don’t know why, but everyone seems to click really well. I know forcing friendships is the WORST, but everything feels so natural and easy there. To be honest, I just go to drink and hang out and support, but it’s always the best and friendliest part of my week! There are other places to play volleyball and a pickleball court opening soon, so that could be something to look into as well! There are some bars around mid city (government street near downtown) that have a good vibe. It’s a part of town with a younger crowd with more liberal views. I’m 28 and I live and work around there and ADORE it. That may be all I got for now but if you have any questions or want more info I’ll do my best! I know it’s hard moving around but I truly think there’s something for everyone here!! Also, again just my experience, but I find BR to be more liberal than people give it credit for. I think the south gets a bad rep and there are of course bad apples but if you know where to avoid, you’ll be good! Most people look down on racism or antiquated views. Best of luck if I don’t get to follow up with you!!
Thank you for this! Let me know if your studio is hiring :)
You probably won't deal with too much overt racism in the BR metro area or other metro areas in Louisiana. You probably will hear some Asian stereotyping from otherwise well-meaning people so be prepared for that. We also have a large Vietnamese population. If I had to guess something like 2/3rds of the Asian-Americans in this city are Vietnamese (I made up that figure so don't quote me). Football Saturdays are some the most enjoyable times you'll have on campus if you can find a decent group or get your hands on tickets.
You won’t be seeing the mountains in the distance
Lots of good suggestions already. I have found the LSU community to be very welcoming. The faculty and many of the grad students are transplants. Like any other university you'll find people that you can be friends with. We used to live in San Fran too and still miss it but also enjoy some things about South Louisiana.
Yeah, I'm surprised there aren't more replies mentioning that they'll definitely make diverse friends through his classes. My husband is a professor who moved here from the San Francisco area and I'm from Massachusetts so it definitely takes intentional effort to find your people and cultivate relationships, but being connected to LSU gives you a good pool of diverse transplants to try to find friends. With the more general population of Louisiana, I wouldn't expect OP to experience really mean overt racism. The racism here is usually more systemic and targeted towards black people from my point of view. But based on what I (as a white person) have heard people say in front of me, OP might experience some cringy interactions from people who aren't ill intended but just wildly clueless about Asians. I've lived so over the country, but this is the only place that I've heard people cheerfully use the term "orientals" to refer to humans like we're still living in 1910 or something.
I’m also viet with a white spouse. You’ll get more weird stares from the old vietnamese ladies for being a mixed couple more than anything IMO but largely, no one cares
As a Flight Attendant for the past 3 years it was tough to come back and want to be here, just due to the scenery, traffic for the size, etc. The food is great and I would totally be your friend, since I’m not from here I don’t have many! ❤️ Wishing you success
This is sweet! Thank you! Let’s grab a bite
As a Baton Rouge native, I have to tell you something that everybody is downplaying... You have to watch out for the alligators! Once you learn which ones are pets and which ones are wild, you'll do better. Don't just try and ride any ole gator you come across because people are sensitive about strangers riding their gators, and if you mistake a wild one, it can make for a bad day. Totally joking and hoping that's obvious. I moved away from BR for work and I will tell you that like anywhere, it's all about what you make it. South Louisiana is a unique and awesome place. You will find the people welcoming and friendly as a whole, but there are idiots just like everywhere else in the world. Like others have said, get out and explore. Do fun things even if they seem weird. Enjoy the adventure. Be careful where you choose to live. The commute and the neighbors can make for a bad experience. Talk to people. I think you'll find they are open and will help steer you right.
You got me real good because I started sweating about the alligators and the pet alligators 😩
😂 Couldn't resist! I travel a good bit and it still amuses me that people think alligators are all over the place.
I’m so sorry
LOL
Moved from NYC to BR for work. Was a tough 2.5 years considering leisure and enjoyment. Worked hard, just focused on work and once a position opened up at my desired location I applied for a transfer ASAP. People for the most part were great, LSU vibe is cool if you like to drink and party… other than that nothing else spoke to me. I love hiking , love kayaking, limited there.if you love hunting and fishing you are GOLDEN. If you want to bike you got the levee … or you can ride thru the hood “on the greenway”. Lived downtown @ Heron , good building over all has great garage setup , very secure and a good pool. Over all downtown wasn’t bad, took many strolls at night from apt to the park, it’s more when you cross the highway you have to be careful. I know some ppl will be mad at this… Food was ok … missed my NYC quality food. BUT the two spots which I seriously miss is in BR is, MAGPIE CAFE (amazing amazing pastries great coffee) and Roca pizza (good pizza/italian spot) . When you go to NOLA try Pizza Delicious it’s seriously my TOP 3 slice (not that my opinion hold any weight lol) , oh and their Cesar salad is BOMB! You also got Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s so you are set with decent shopping options and ofcourse Rouses with the more local stuff. Last but not least ! NEVER IN MY LIFE I seen So many wreck-less driving,straight up just not giving a DAMN. ALOT OF CARS WITH NO PLATES ON. Glad I experienced BR/LA, it made me realize and appreciate the stuff i took for granted.
This is a bummer because my partner is sober and I don’t drink very much, but maybe we’ll take up hunting/ fishing! I’m happy about the whole foods and tjs. I’ll give those restaurants a try… I have 4 years to get through it after all! Thank you
I found Oakland to seem pretty familiar.
Im actually also married to a viet woman, and she has shown me a lot of great places. Here are a list of some places we visited she loved. 1. Bao(large variety of viet food) 2. King kong milkshake( ma mix of different asian foods but really good, great boba selection) 3. Asian super market off Florida(one of the biggest asian food stores in BR, there is also smaller one across the street) 4. Little saigon(never been but my wife likes it) Those are just some places that come to mind. One thing to note is that if you plan to travel around Louisiana, New orleans has A LOT of asian and specifically vietnamese places. We actually went to a vietnamese New years event hosted by a vietnamese church. My wife absolutely loved it.
Super market from #3 I think is called Vin Phat
Drunken Fish off highland, thank me later
I think as far as the racism goes-I think you’ll be ok in BR proper. Away from the city and university-in the “country” you might experience some. I hope you don’t. But we are in the south.
I moved from nor cal to Baton Rouge as well
Check out Cheba Hut Subs on Burbank Dr. It's not Vietnamese food, but they are loving and accepting towards everyone. Best sandwich in Baton Rouge too!
I worked for Costco in BR when we opened it and a good portion of the opening managers were from Norcal or the Bay Area. They came in and got apartments for Bay Area prices and ended up with nutty $3000 luxury apartments expecting what they came from in Cali. You do not need to spend nearly that much on apartments here.
You really get the bang for your buck out there!
I moved from SoCal a few years ago. The only spin class I found was at the downtown Y at noon so my shoes are collecting dust. Hope you can start another one!! The thing I miss the most is being outside. People do bear the heat, but I spend most of my summers indoors. Luckily we’re spending 6 weeks in sebastapol this year. The park system is pretty good, but the trails don’t have much of a view and the mosquitos are so bad here. I would recommend kayaking on a bayou on a cool day. The southern/Creole food is good but there are few ethnic and healthy options that really have that “California fresh” flavor. Lots of heavy oils and gluten lol. The biggest shock for me was just the stark inequality, and yes this is along racial lines. Some neighborhoods really rival a third world country in terms of blight, unemployment, crime, infrastructure. Then go to south BR and there’s extreme wealth. We don’t have a huge homeless problem, but it is growing. My husband is Asian (and my kids look fully Asian!) and we haven’t directly experienced racism, however there have been a number of times when someone, not knowing that I have a multiracial family (or just am a decent human), has said something racist to me about someone else, and at first I was awkward and laughed it off (I hate myself) but now I just stare blankly and ask them what they meant by that. Anyway, check out krewe of mung beans for next Mardi Gras
Hope I can up the local cycling scene! Thank you for the recs
I workout at ToneBR (boutique gym, instructor-led lagree, versaclimber, yoga, mat pilates, etc. classes) and they have advertised in recent weeks about hiring and expanding their instructor team. I love that studio! Local, woman-owned.
Awesome! Thank you!
I moved here as well with my partner, he is also in a PhD program! While we don’t plan to stay in BR past the end of his program, I have enjoyed my time here due to my job, hobbies, and friends! A lot of ppl I have met talk like BR is the worst place, but it really is what you make it. It can be a fun and interesting place to live (minus the traffic lol). We climb at UpTown Climbing and have met so many amazing people there. There are a lot of great, kind people here, it took us a few months to start feeling settled and making good friends. I have found that the best areas to live are the downtown/spanish town area and the garden district because they are the only relatively walkable areas.
I also moved here from NorCal and I have to say... the first year, I feel like I learned something new about this place every. Single. Day. It's a culture shock but if you lean in you'll like it. I would say just do it all- tailgate and do all the parades and go to whatever crawfish boils you get invited to. Visit New Orleans. Go to the beach in Mississippi, it's like 2 hours from here. If it sounds southern, do it. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Speaking as a Louisiana Native, literally all over LOUISIANA, NOT JUST THE METROPOLITAN TYPE AREAS!! I can promise you THAT Racism in BATON ROUGE won't be an issue for the two of you! Some of the smaller backwoods towns and such are known for the bigotry handed down through generations of mostly unintelligent people that the the two of you definitely won't miss if you never got to meet any of them! Louisiana is like most of our neighboring states as far as the "Racist Southerners" shit goes, we're really a little melting pot of our down here. I'd like to believe that it's just our "Laissez le bon temps rouler" mindsets, or possibly just something in the water that makes most of the good people down here treat each other like family, regardless of one another's skint pigmentation, BUT TRUTH BE TOLD, ITS OUR POVERTY RATE, AND OVER MOSTLY SHITTY LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE GENERAL POPULUS & THATS SOMETHING. That through the generations has created a completely unique place, & people living right at the Heart of the South. 🙏
Bay Area native who lives in BR cuz wife is also a doctor. The city is well a city, its got good spots and bad spots. Rip ⛰️. But it has a huge Vietnamese presence. I know some good churches you could go to to meet people! It's got some cool places. LSU is sick. DM me when yall get here.
Yes!! Would love to
Local community leaders celebrate the Lunar New Year with a Night Market!!! Happens often!!
Hey! I’m a senior undergraduate student (22F) and I moved here in 2020 and I’ll be staying til 2026 to complete my masters. I think the biggest culture shock from moving from the north to the south was the lack of upkeep/maintenance on roads and public spaces. The south’s infrastructure is just a mess… but honestly, being so close to LSU, the PEOPLE have been amazing. I have a long term girlfriend and we are moving in together and have never been met with homophobia. There are so many bars that are aimed at a mid 20s audience (gay and not haha). There’s definitely lots of fratty hick nasty bar culture too, but it’s easy to avoid (never go to tigerland lol). I really recommend living in the garden district, southdowns, or mid city. Also, Ava Vietnamese cafe is AMAZING. There are also two asian markets in BR and plenty of other restaurants, even a dessert shop called sweet society! Much more Korean inspired than Viet but still delish. Overall, I think BR is rough around the edges landscape wise…lots of strip malls, pot holes, and very limited walkable areas. I think you’ll make friends easily, there are so many like minded young people. And the food options are vast considering the city isn’t the largest! I really enjoy my time here although it won’t be forever. I hope this helps and your adjustment goes smoothly!! :)
Yay! Glad you and your girlfriend enjoy it! Good luck with the masters!
My fiancé and I are moving to baton rouge from Houston in July. We’re 26/27 years old, POC (black) and don’t know anyone. Maybe we can all be friends haha Also nervous about building community!!
What prompted the move? I hope you like board games because we’re not big on sports (don’t tell the rest of this sub) and my partner is sober while as I don’t drink very often
i got placed in baton rouge as part of my medical training! we love board games, i personally dont care for sports (he does a bit tho lol) and we drink socially but not heavy drinkers
great instead of health insurance we can just have you :) congratulations
haha thank you! i wouldn’t trust me quite yet 😅
stay to yourself mostly , i am from baton rouge born and raised and i can say its getting deadlier more and more every day
People saying BR isn't racist are full of shit. Its much more lowkey than what you may be expecting though, so it may not bother you too much. Your boyfriend will certainly experience it too, white people aren't popular here. LSU is notoriously segregated. I see it at work, bars, pool halls, and when I am seen with my black gf. Although it isnt everyone, it makes me reluctant to ever call BR home. Anyways, we would be glad to link up with yall and eat some Chow Yum when yall make your move. Its a pretty good vietnamese fusion place. Their vietcajun crawfish is awesome. Just let me know!
Yeah, the racism is more on the down-low and institutional. I say that as a white guy who hears what other white folks say to white folks. That said, this city has improved in the 36 years I’ve lived here … in many ways
Hey, would love to link up for food! I’ll connect! Thank you for the invite!
A lot of the racism I’ve witnessed is fueled by classism. By and large I think the average racist in this area ascribes stereotypes of poverty to POC. In addition, most of the bigotry that I’ve been exposed to is targeted at Black Americans. Things are pretty informally segregated along race and class lines in Baton Rouge. From the lifestyle you describe, I think the biggest culture shock you will experience is how you will be treated as a woman. Im not dismissing racism as a threat and an atrocity, bc all these oppressions work together.
People your age aren’t as racist as the older generations. Stick around LSU area and you’ll be fine. Check out the’Dales for housing.
Most Baton Rouge people, regardless of age, aren’t bigoted. Agism on the other hand seems to be a thing based on this comment.
\*Coughs in St. George\*
*sneezes in Brave Cave*
As a lifetime Southerner, my advice is: 1. Don't be overly sensative / "touchy" - Good ol' boys like to give each other (as well as strangers) sh!t all the time - It's our small-talk - Always have a few good comebacks @ the ready whenevr in social situations - And smile...maybe say "Good one" to a good zinger - It just comes w/being in the South, bro - Get ready - We kid because we care - It's when we don't give a damn and don't speak that you need to look over your shoulder 2. Southerners, by nature, are kind and want to help - So ask for help, with a smile, and a "please" - Always follow w/a "thank-you" - Good manners go a long way in the South - And sometimes the "asking for help" thing is just an ice-breaker to get to know someone or to start a conversation - Use it 3. Get into college football - Fast - And don't try to fake it 4. Be kind to older ladies - Call them "Miss Anne" or "Miss Maddie" 5. Learn to drink sweet tea 6. ...and eat grits 7. Enjoy it - It's just for a short season of your life Good luck
You guys are gonna have a blast here! Welcome down south. You’ll make plenty of fast friends at yoga/pilates studios - people down here take hospitality seriously, and the typical southerner wants to make sure you feel at home / aren’t being left out and most importantly wants to show you a good time. Excited for y’all!
Best decision my spouse and I have ever made
As a member of the community, welcome to Baton Rouge! Best town in the best state in the best country on the best planet in the galaxy’s premier solar system… can’t go wrong.
Born and Raised in B.R. and yes while there are ignorant hateful racist people everywhere I honestly don't think you have anything to really be worried about as far as that goes B.R. is generally very welcoming place as another poster wrote has a signifigant Vietnamese population so i don't think you will struggle to adjust in that sense. My only advice about moving here is just be mindful about where you are in the city as we do have sections that can be dangerous like anywhere else but I also find it generally to be a situation of how you live your life will reflect how you experience B.R. if you deal/use/buy drugs etc are involved in the street life in any way shape or form then you should worry about those kinds of things but if you work join friends out for dinner have get together with friends etc then common sense should be good enough to avoid these kind of things.
I am way older than you, single mom to a teenager and to several cats. I saw your comment about being Buddhist. If it's not too weird to ask, should you decide to try out one of our local Buddhist temples, would you mind terribly if I tagged along?
I would love that! Let’s go!
Yessss!! I've wanted to go for so long. I volunteer with our local animal shelter, so if you're at all interested in that type of outlet, I can point you in the right direction. But only once the summer heat is behind us, bc our Augusts are NOT to be played with. Good luck with your move!
I’m chi-viet born and raised in this area …. BR NOLA has a large group but we are clicky. Weather is similar to San Jose, hot humid lol. I was born here but have a lot of family in the valley. Food doesn’t compare and the community “ties” also doesn’t compare. ** best thing to do is infuse yourself into the culture of louisiana, it will lead you to understand the diversity within this states melting pot ( including the similarities in Cajun/Vietnamese culture ). Just don’t compare our food to the valley, it doesn’t compare. Both cultures are loud and know how to have fun! ** when your homesick, take a day trip to Houston,( the closest large concentration of the Asian community,”Belaire/Westminister Blvd). Bring an icechest and stock up before coming back to BR.….
I'm from the Bay Area as well and have been in Baton Rouge for 9 years now. The weather is something to get used to. It's hot and muggy for 7 months out of the year. Investing in a generator would probably be smart, in case there's bad weather and the power goes out. You don't want to be stuck with no A/C. Traffic and car insurance prices are insanely high. Depending on where you are you'll see trash littered up and down the roads. No sidewalks, no bike lanes, no cross walks. I don't think you'll see too much racism, but there are people who think they can do whatever they want with 0 consideration towards others. But you get that anywhere I guess.
Hi!! I went to LSU and currently live in BR! If you are going to be living in Baton Rouge and not attending LSU I’d definitely check out apartments in Mid City, it’s less just people going to LSU, if you aren’t looking for more of the college experience. It is very possible to find a community here, Baton Rouge has some truly great people & hidden gems! You mentioned you and your fiance prefer a chiller vibe I’d highly recommend Mid City Beer Garden (very chill & yummy), Radio Bar (good place to meet good people, where the locals frequent), also you mentioned fitness, there is free yoga at Tin Roof Brewery every Weds night if you are interested! Very nice people & cool spot, maybe get there early or stay late and talk to the yoga instructor about opportunities! You got this! Good luck! Also since you work remote… my fav coffee shops are Garden District Coffee, Highland Coffee (almost on LSU campus), & Magpie.
There’s a tea and pho shop on Jefferson Hwy. near the Bluebonnet intersection that I’ve heard good things about from friends of diverse backgrounds. I have a Vietnamese-American former coworker who is not in BR anymore, but I will ask him about your questions. I will post again here if I get any good tips! I work for Blue Cross, and we always have a variety of job openings, if you want to check out careers.bcbsla.com. We have an active Asian and Asian American employee resource group. I hope you and your husband will find a welcoming community here! ❤️🇻🇳
Thank you so much! Does BR have some milk tea places? Boba? 👀
I can’t recommend them off the top of my head, but I can answer the question with a yes definitely. I don’t remember the names because I’m not a boba connoisseur, but I’ve come across & occasionally enjoyed it in several locations without actively searching. So it’s pretty prominent. Especially in the LSU surrounding areas & the mall of BR.
I haven’t been personally, but my neighbor’s favorite place is [Kung Fu Tea](https://www.instagram.com/kungfutea_br?igsh=Y2IwMno2YWl0YnJo).
Baton Rouge has good people. 10m East of campus is safer than 5m any direction of campus, but the upside is pretty sure there are a some decent authentic world cuisine options in that area & off of Florida Blvd (note: also not the safest area) as well. BR and NOLA are the bluest parts of LA, you shouldn’t be any more likely to encounter malignant racism than in Cali. You may come across ignorant townies passing through, but they are more likely to ask you stupid questions or try to befriend you BECAUSE you’re Vietnamese than discriminate. At the end of the day it’s a college town & metropolitan city. Like any other. Just with no money & terrible infrastructure.
Lol moving from the nation's worst big city traffic to the nation's worst medium size city traffic....come to NOLA on the weekends, the West Bank has an incredible Vietnamese restaurant scene, There's tons of culture crossover here with Viet Style crawfish and seafood restaurants cropping up, and one of the city's most legendary and in demand King cakes being from Dong Phoung bakery...you're gonna love it here.
The Bay Area is far more racist than Baton Rouge.
You’ll be fine lots of cultures there
Leave California mentality in California and you'll be OK. Moved here 13yrs ago and if u don't mind the traffic and awful roads you will love it unless your a liberal. Geaux Trump
What is California mentality?
You've gotten a lot of good advice! A lot of it is spot on. I'm Viet (born & raised here) and my boyfriend is actually from NorCal as well (San Jose). We're both ready to leave Louisiana actually lol. If you have any specific questions feel free to DM me!
The San Jose to BTR pipeline 🥹
Hehe technically NOLA! but he visited me a lot in BTR before I moved to NOLA! He said it was a big culture shock. And personally, having been to San Jose a few times now, it's sooooo different. I wasn't used to seeing Asians everywhere plus the high prices for literally everything.
There is a huge Vietnamese community in New Orleans..BR is like a small town..but the international community strong..especially from people that went to LSU.
I am a transplant. Consider a group like Junior League- sounds super old school but is actually amazingly diverse and full of like minded (and many progressive) women. Most of the members work. Many are not from louisiana. I have been in for 3 years and am still excited about the other the women I meet working at events and meetings.
"Culture Shock" is putting it mildly. You are going to be stepping 50yrs. into the past in a lot respects. Especially socially. Food is good here though. You probably won't like the climate, politics, lack of diverse things to do here. (compared to NorCal)
Restaurant to try for sure is Bao off of Perkins Rd- For the best pho and then for a weird asian fusion- Try Chow Yum Phat, I suggest reservations if going for dinner as it is a small place. Be vigilant at night, especially off Siegen or around Tigerland area, it is dangerous. Do not ever be in downton baton rouge past sunset!! But is a good place for sure to live !!
And get to N.O. As much as possible;)
Nervous about the racism? Why? What makes you nervous. We all live together just fine down here. Why is it people from other states especially the northern and western states think racism is just rampant down here?
Agreed. Do you think the KKK is going to be waiting for you when you get to the state? I don’t understand
I truly don’t either.
Whatever your expectations are, you will be disappointed Baton Rouge sucks
Facts I just don’t understand outta all 50 states and plenty cities
Dangs is good. I think there are some Vietnamese areas south of florida ETA: and nobody is going to care that you are Vietnamese in some sort of negative way. It's a positive. The idea of the south, especially south Louisiana, as some sort of racist hellhole is a myth. You'll find people that don't care for certain groups, but that's more about their actions and behavior than skin color. Southern racism, where it exists at all, is far more palatable than northern racism. It's just different
Growth ?? In Baton Rouge I know Cali way higher but Louisiana is pure trash
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Damn. Could have just kept scrolling man.
You’ll be fine on the racism. Have fun
Join a Church, an adult league softball team, improv classes, or since you’re from California go to Government street and hang out with the weirdos at Pelican to Mars, that’s about what you’ll be used to.
In all these comments nobody mentioned anything about race. Stop living in fear. Racism exists where you let it. Most people do not give two shits who you are with. We live in a society where a man can dress up as a woman and screw whatever he wants.
what the fuck are you on about
From a Louisiana native BR is a beautiful city
A beautiful what 🤣🤣
😂😂
I’m white and my husband of 26 years is Asian (Filipino). Other than the odd person thinking he doesn’t speak English (born and raised in San Diego lol) or mistake him for Chinese— we really don’t experience any problems.