Seth Daniel, News Editor
The Dorchester Reporter
July 16, 2025
Twins Amanda and Emilia Vo Pham kept cool at the Night Market and kept an eye on each other at the same time.
Chefs from Lumi Vietnamese Bistro cooked dishes right in front of everyone on the street.
The 4th annual Night Market/Cho Đêm put on by Boston Little Saigon cultural district was another feather in the cap for Fields Corner and the neighborhood at-large with thousands gathering for food and entertainment in a showcase of Vietnamese American culture.
Britney Tran, Jeffrey Phan, and Andy Do enjoyed a refreshing drink at the corner of Adams Street and Dorchester Avenue.
Dorchester Avenue was shut down to vehicles from Adams Street to Gibson Street for the afternoon and evening, a move that turned the blocks into a lively street fair with Town Field serving as the entertainment hub.
While Red Line trains rumbled overhead, street food dominated the culinary senses, with meat skewers, corn on the cob, Boba/sugar cane drinks, banh mi sandwiches, and egg rolls of all kinds. Local merchants like Coca Leaf, Thai Oishi, Ba Le, and others led the way serving food and drinks to lines of customers that seemed endless.
The K-Pop dance crew, Ass6mble, was a highlight of the evening on the main stage. Seth Daniel photos
Entertainment on the Town Field stage featured traditional Vietnamese dance, folk singers, K-Pop dance crews, break-dancers, hip-hop, and lion dancers. A highlight of the night was trans dance performer Candace Persuasion, also known as Dorchester’s Candace Nguyen, who has garnered national attention from Beyonce in addition to her own dance act and advocacy for trans issues.
Dorchester’s Candace Nguyen, who performs as Candace Persuasion, returned home as one of the headliners for the evening with a huge following in the audience.
A particularly touching moment during the Lords At War hip-hop act came off to the side as one of the breakdance crews engaged in a fun “dance off” with a very confident 5-year-old from the neighborhood.
“The energy here is amazing, and the dance-off over here to the side was a great moment and we were just happy to be a part of that moment,” said Asa Peters, of Lords At War, from the stage.
The evening concluded with the annual eating competition. This year it was chicken wings sponsored by Pho Hoa Restaurant – but competitors couldn’t use their hands and had to clean the wings to the bone using chopsticks. It was another messy affair – won by the Banh Mi Blasters team.
The Dorchester Reporter was a media sponsor of the event, which organizers say drew an estimated 16,000 people.
Dorchester’s Katie McColgan powered her team to a second place finish in the chicken-wing eating contest.
“The 2025 Cho Đêm Boston Little Saigon Night Market brought more people than last year,” said Annie Le, executive director of Boston Little Saigon. “It is a true celebration of culture and community. The community is supportive as always to allow us to use space and resources to make the event possible. This year, the Labubu scavenger hunt brought out so many young people, adding playful energy to an already vibrant night of food, music, and connection.”
Organizers Quang Nguyen, Jaely Pereira, Quan Bach, and Boston Little Saigon Director Annie Le.
The Boston Little Saigon Night Market/Cho Dem turned Fields Corner upside down on Saturday . Here, Alan Kuang holds a one-armed hand stand during the Bulletproof Funk breakdance crew’s performance.
Thousands of visitors weaved in and out of the crowds to find their favorite foods, the Just Bookish beer garden, or any number of friends and family member in attendance.
Boba the dog showed off his “doggie onesie” for the crowds on Dorchester Ave with his owner Tu Huynh.
A street vendor haggles with a customer over the price of a necklace as others inspect his wares on Dorchester Avenue.
Nadine Moore and Council President Ruthzee Louijeune enjoyed the Lion Dancers.
Councillor Erin Murphy showed off her sugar cane refresher while visiting with Anna Duond.
Somath Om of Coco Leaf café served up tasty street food on the grill outside its brick and mortar location on Dorchester Avenue.
Khang Nguyen, board member of Boston Little Saigon, showed off his antique, restored Lambro555 taxi – a three-wheel vehicle that is very rare but was used in Vietnam as transportation.
The Vietnamese Lion Dancers took over Dorchester Avenue for a time, delighting young and old.
STAR Dance group graced the audience with traditional Vietnamese dance.
Emcee Jordan Huynh.
Dorchester’s Veronica Lai and Camryn Daniel.
Loan Pham, Stacy Dam and Donna Le packed into the back of the antique Vietnamese taxi, fully restored by Khang Nguyen. The ladies recalled taking such vehicles to school in Vietnam before the war.
Stefanie and Matt O’Shea with their daughter, Annie, enjoyed community at Town Field.
Storyteller and musician Vuong Nguyen played several of his original songs for the crowds.
Lords At War returned to the Night Market again and moved the crowd – including sparking a danceoff in the audience.
The Bulletproof Funk breakdance crew met a formidable foe in this confident little girl from Fields Corner, who engaged in a “danceoff” with the group.