About five years ago Duc Tran noticed a trend in the Renton Highlands. New housing developments were sprouting up in the area and Asian families, who according to Tran, “traditionally love to buy new homes,” were moving in to fill them.

Tran, chairman and CEO of the Viet-Wah Group, an Asian grocery-store chain, decided to act and opened the Renton store. His decision has proven foresighted, as Renton now has the largest Asian population behind Bellevue and Seattle with 19,298 residents.

Two years ago, Tran decided to act again, this time to create the International Festival and Night Market behind his Renton store to foster community in the Highlands between all the groups of people that call the area home.

“So, I thought that if I can create something for the whole community to participate, then maybe get more traffic to this Highland area,” Tran said. “It’s good for the business, all the businesses around here.”

The second annual International Festival starts today (Friday) and runs through the weekend at the Greater Highlands Center, Viet-Wah Plaza, 2820 Sunset Blvd. in Renton.

Tran came to the States in 1976 as a refugee from Vietnam, although he is Chinese.

He worked different jobs before opening the first Viet-Wah store in Seattle in 1981.

Viet-Wah essentially means Vietnamese and Chinese, the two primary groups to whom the store caters, said Tran. He carries mainstream products for non-Asian customers, too.

The 2010 Census showed there are 5,236 Vietnamese residents in Renton and 3,691 Chinese residents.

Sales for the store have increased by about 10 percent every year, as more people become familiar with it, Tran said.

To find the sort of items Viet-Wah offers, people had to drive to Seattle to buy their food, he said.

The store is known for its large variety of produce, seafood and meat.

“For non-Asians it’s something special,” Tran said. “Some of the non-Asians who happen to have some relationship with Asians, who get married to Asians or something like that, they also love it here.”

In the past, when refugees came to the area, like him they needed everything in the way of support, Tran said. He is involved with charities and cultural associations, such as the Indochina Chinese Refugee Association in Seattle, that help facilitate support.

They helped families register children in school, interpret and helped them navigate the medical system, he said.

But now government programs are doing what the associations did before and the newcomers are more immigrants, Tran said. Now, he said, family members who have come before newcomers and settled in the area, give support to the newest immigrants.

Associations keep the traditional and cultural activities going such as festivals, holidays and get-togethers, he said.

Tran saw an opportunity with the Renton Viet-Wah shortly after he moved here. Saying the City officials concentrate activities in the downtown core and at the Landing like the recent Art and Antique Walk. He noticed there weren’t many activities like that in the Highlands. So, he wanted something the whole community could come out and support, realizing, too, that a lot of minorities live in the Highlands.

“And we’re so lucky that the City of Renton is very, very supportive,” Tran said. “The mayor and also the staff are very supportive of the idea and very supportive of the festival.”

Tran sees Renton as an attractive place for residents and businesses with the current leadership and the prosperity of companies such as Boeing.

This year the International Festival has more vendors than last year, Tran said.  Organizers have more than 30 booths, lots of ethnic food and three full days of performers.

“So I hope in the next couple more years more people will know and then hopefully it will become a tradition that in the Highlands we have the International Festival and Night Market,” said Tran. “Just like the Bite of Seattle.”

FESTIVAL DETAILS

WHEN: 3 p.m.- 9 p.m., Friday

11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday

11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Sunday

WHERE: The Greater Highlands Center, Viet-Wah Plaza, 2820 Sunset Blvd. N.E. in Renton

COST: Free

INFO.: www.rentonifest.org

PROGRAMS: Cultural performances, car show, children performances, arts and crafts booths, food booths, merchandise, games, kids fun center, live bands, modern to traditional multi-cultural entertainment, beer garden, etc.

RIBBON-CUTTING: 4 p.m., Friday, includes an appearance by Mayor Denis Law and event organizers, followed by a Lion Dance performance

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Kaze Daiko (Japanese Taiko Drumming), PAYO (Philippines), Huayin Performing Arts Group (Chinese), Thailand Cultural Performance, Rhythm of India, Heart in Motion ,Vietnamese Pop, Latin music performance (Mexican, Salsa and South American music), Joel & Allen (jazz, R&B), Tony Au Martial Art (Lion Dance & Chinese Martial Arts) and Vovinam (Vietnamese Martial Arts).

BOOTHS: Food vendors with Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Philippine and Thai cuisine as well as sausages, hot dogs, shaved ice, lemonade and other beverages. Merchandise vendors include gemstones, flowers and  gift and accessories.