| The ethnic character of Paris' Chinatown is as much Southeast Asian as Chinese. . This is due to the French colonial presence in Indochina during the 19th and 20th century (which ultimately led to the US involvement in Vietnam). This area is dominated by a mix of Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian restaurants and grocery stores, as well as numerous gift stores. Many of the customers and workers come from the drab apartment buildings looming nearby. |