3:26:20 PM | 8/7/2005
A Memoir of Rex: Standing as a Monument to Ho Chi Minh City’s History
The Rex Hotel is a remaining vestige of the historic Vietnam War. Over the past century, it has played an important role in the history of Ho Chi Minh City.
Originally, the building was designed as a French garage in the early 20th century. In 1959, it was extended and became a 6-floor trading centre, owned by Mr and Madame Ung Thi, King Bao Dai’s relatives. In 1960, it was leased to the American Cultural Centre and the Abraham Lincoln Library was established on the ground floor. From 1962 onwards, during the Vietnam War it became famous as the base for the American Information Service. It soon became a favourite haunt of US officers, and the scene of daily press briefings to foreign correspondents, or “five o’clock follies,” as they were called.
In 1973, the building was renamed the Rex Trading Centre, and it included three cinemas, a cafeteria and dance-hall, and became famous throughout South East Asia. The Trading Centre was to be transformed into an illustrious hotel, however, it was an unrealised dream following the conclusion of the war on April 30, 1975.
Since 1975, the development and prosperity of the country has done a full circle. The Rex Trading Centre became a property of Saigontourist Ho Chi Minh City and it was upgraded into an international hotel, renamed “Ben Thanh”. The “Rex Hotel” was adopted as a trademark internationally.
In 1995, the Rex Hotel was classified as an international 4-star hotel by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. With a total of 227 guest-rooms with modern amenities, a wide range of international standard services and facilities, and the charm of a traditional Vietnamese ambience, the Rex is really “Your Home in Vietnam ”, a choice venue for international V.I.Ps , as well as visitors and friends.
As proof of Vietnam’s rapid growth, the Rex Hotel will soon be the first state-owned five-star hotel, built and run by the Vietnamese. The tourism sector of Vietnam is proud of this high quality product, which is the pearl of Vietnamese tourism with its ‘new technology and high quality with the backdrop of national cultural characteristics’.
“Ho Chi Minh City is not the Saigon it once was. Everything has changed following the development trend.” However, the memories remain, not surprisingly, US war veterans choose to stay here today: “The Rex is still the Rex! A Central location. The Rooftop Garden. For a Vietnam vet, there really is no place else to stay if you are in the country on a nostalgia trip.” (quoted from an American veteran’s commentary, John EVANS, who stayed at the Rex in June, 2003).
Vietnamese
