In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we continue to recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight Vietnamese American entrepreneur and inventor David Tran, the creator of one of the most recognizable condiments in the world: Sriracha.
David Tran was born in 1945 in Sóc Trăng, Vietnam, into an ethnically Chinese family. At age 16, he moved to Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), where he later served in the South Vietnamese Army. While serving for five years, mainly as a cook, Tran began experimenting with chili sauce recipes, unknowingly laying the foundation for his future business.
After the fall of Saigon in 1975 and the rise of Communist rule, Tran fled Vietnam in 1978 aboard a Taiwanese freighter named “Huey Fong.” He then spent eight months in a refugee camp in Hong Kong before the United States granted him entry. He initially settled in Boston, but soon moved to Los Angeles, where he had better access to its red jalapeños and a stronger Vietnamese community.
In 1980, with limited resources, Tran founded Huy Fong Foods, named after the ship that brought him to freedom. Operating out of his blue Chevy van, he sold his homemade hot sauce to local restaurants. His business model was unconventional – no advertising, no marketing campaigns, and no venture capital- just word-of-mouth, a uniquely flavored sauce, and the now-iconic clear bottle with a green cap and rooster logo.
Tran’s version of Sriracha was not intended to replicate the original Thai recipe, but rather to create something Southeast Asian immigrants could enjoy and share in their new American homes. What began as a local favorite quickly grew into a national phenomenon. By 2001, Huy Fong Foods sold over 6,000 tons of chili products annually, generating around $12 million in revenue. By 2019, annual sales soared to $150 million.
Today, Huy Fong’s Sriracha is the third-largest hot sauce brand in the United States, trailing only Tabasco and Frank’s RedHot, according to the market research firm IBISWorld.
David Tran, founder of Huy Fong Foods and creator of the iconic Sriracha hot sauce, remains at the company’s helm while preparing to pass leadership to his two children, ensuring that Sriracha remains a proud, family-run business for generations to come.
Others we are celebrating in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month:
2025
Betty Nguyen, award-winning Vietnamese American news anchor
Mazie Hirono, first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Senate
