Ung Thi
Encyclopedia
Ung Thi was a prominent Vietnamese business man who, together with his wife Nguyen Thi Nguyet Nga, built and operated the Rex Hotel and Cinema
in Ho Chi Minh City
. After the Fall of Saigon
, Ung Thi sought refuge in France where he lived until his death.
, classified as world heritage site
by UNESCO
.
In World War II, he voluntarily enlisted into the army and served alongside Duong Van Minh
in Savannakhet
, Laos
. He gained his law degree and worked as administrator for the Compagnie des Chemin de Fer in Hanoi
. He was subsequently appointed as chief aide to the French Resident Superieur
in Hanoi.
In 1946, Ung Thi married Nguyen Thi Nguyet Nga, great-granddaughter of Hoang Cao Khai
, Viceroy of Tonkin, and had seven children.
to Saigon in 1954, following the Geneva Convention. He built and operated the Dai Nam Cinema. In his daily commute, he passed in front of the Bainier Auto Center, in the heart of the city and was interested to acquire this prime location but it was not for sale.
One day in 1961, Ung Thi took his daughter to tea and learned that the Bainier property might be on sale. He purchased the lot and built the Rex Hotel and Cinema. The building was modern for its time and featured a large screen theater and the first escalator in Vietnam. It was the leading hotel and cinema
in Vietnam.
During the Vietnam War
, the hotel was rented to the United States Information Agency
, where it became a center of activity for military leaders and international journalists. In 1972, Ung Thi renovated the property and added two mini theaters, a coffee shop, a shopping mall and dance hall.
In early 1975, Ung Thi's wife went to Europe to source for interior design
supplies and could not return because of the advance of the Viet Cong. After the Fall of Saigon
on April 30, 1975, Ung Thi had to surrender under duress his properties to the Government. In 1976, Ung Thi joined his wife and children in France.
Rex Hotel
The Rex Hotel is a famous luxury and business hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.The 284 room five story building is located in the District 1, close by to the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica and the Municipal Theatre...
in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
. After the Fall of Saigon
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975...
, Ung Thi sought refuge in France where he lived until his death.
Early life
Ung Thi was born Nguyễn Phúc Ung Thi into the Nguyễn Dynasty, the last ruling monarchy of Vietnam. His grandfather was the renowned poet Tung Thien Vuong. His father, Hong Khang, founded the Lac Tinh Vien in HuếHue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
, classified as world heritage site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
In World War II, he voluntarily enlisted into the army and served alongside Duong Van Minh
Duong Van Minh
Minh was born on 16 February 1916 in Mỹ Tho Province in the Mekong Delta, the son of a wealthy landowner who served in a prominent position in the Finance Ministry of the French colonial administration...
in Savannakhet
Savannakhet
Savannakhet or Kaysone Phomvihane is a city in western Laos and the capital of the Savannakhet Province, previously known as Khanthabouli . This is the second-largest city in Laos, after Vientiane. The city is birthtown of Kaysone Phomvihane, former president of Laos, and was named after him in...
, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. He gained his law degree and worked as administrator for the Compagnie des Chemin de Fer in Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. He was subsequently appointed as chief aide to the French Resident Superieur
Resident (title)
A Resident, or in full Resident Minister, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of indirect rule....
in Hanoi.
In 1946, Ung Thi married Nguyen Thi Nguyet Nga, great-granddaughter of Hoang Cao Khai
Hoang Cao Khai
Hoàng Cao Khải was a viceroy of Tonkin , the northernmost of the three parts of Vietnam under French colonial rule. He is best known for his role in helping the French authorities to hunt down Phan Đình Phùng, the leading Vietnamese revolutionary of the time.-External links:*...
, Viceroy of Tonkin, and had seven children.
Rex Hotel and Cinema
Ung Thi and his family moved from HanoiHanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
to Saigon in 1954, following the Geneva Convention. He built and operated the Dai Nam Cinema. In his daily commute, he passed in front of the Bainier Auto Center, in the heart of the city and was interested to acquire this prime location but it was not for sale.
One day in 1961, Ung Thi took his daughter to tea and learned that the Bainier property might be on sale. He purchased the lot and built the Rex Hotel and Cinema. The building was modern for its time and featured a large screen theater and the first escalator in Vietnam. It was the leading hotel and cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
in Vietnam.
During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the hotel was rented to the United States Information Agency
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
, where it became a center of activity for military leaders and international journalists. In 1972, Ung Thi renovated the property and added two mini theaters, a coffee shop, a shopping mall and dance hall.
In early 1975, Ung Thi's wife went to Europe to source for interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
supplies and could not return because of the advance of the Viet Cong. After the Fall of Saigon
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975...
on April 30, 1975, Ung Thi had to surrender under duress his properties to the Government. In 1976, Ung Thi joined his wife and children in France.