Rex Hotel: Difference between revisions
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The first guests in the Rex came in December 1961, while it was still in its final construction phase. They were 400 U.S. Army soldiers, 200 each from the 57th Transportation Company from [[Fort Lewis]], [[Tacoma, Washington]], and the 8th Transportation Company from [[Fort Bragg]], NC. They were the first company-strength units to arrive in Saigon, equipped with twenty H-21 twin rotor Shawnee helicopters, on the [[USS Core (CVE-13)|USS ''Core'']], on December 11, 1961. They were billeted at the Rex for a week or so while their tents were being set up at [[Tan Son Nhat]] for the 57th, and the 8th at [[Quy Nhon]]. A [[Thanksgiving]] dinner, held a few weeks after the actual holiday, was cooked in the men's field kitchen on the rooftop of the Rex. |
The first guests in the Rex came in December 1961, while it was still in its final construction phase. They were 400 U.S. Army soldiers, 200 each from the 57th Transportation Company from [[Fort Lewis]], [[Tacoma, Washington]], and the 8th Transportation Company from [[Fort Bragg]], NC. They were the first company-strength units to arrive in Saigon, equipped with twenty H-21 twin rotor Shawnee helicopters, on the [[USS Core (CVE-13)|USS ''Core'']], on December 11, 1961. They were billeted at the Rex for a week or so while their tents were being set up at [[Tan Son Nhat]] for the 57th, and the 8th at [[Quy Nhon]]. A [[Thanksgiving]] dinner, held a few weeks after the actual holiday, was cooked in the men's field kitchen on the rooftop of the Rex. |
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Dduring the [[Vietnam War]], the hotel was the site of the [[Military Assistance Command, Vietnam|American military command]]'s daily press conference, derisively named [[Five O'Clock Follies]] by [[Cynicism (contemporary)|cynic]]al journalists who found the optimism of the American officers misguided. The daily event was hosted by [[Barry Zorthian]], chief spokesperson for the U. S. government in Saigon from 1964-68.<ref>Brown, Jonathan, [https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/famous-hotels-soft-beds-and-hard-battles-6269552.html "Famous hotels: Soft beds and hard battles"], ''The Independent'', 30 November 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-01.</ref> Its rooftop bar was a well-known hangout spot for military officials and war correspondents.<ref>Leech. Graeme, [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25156649-23375,00.html "In resurgent Ho Chi Minh City the scars are still visible"], ''[[The Australian]]'', March, 09, 2009.</ref> |
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== Decline and revival of the Rex == |
== Decline and revival of the Rex == |
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Revision as of 15:54, 15 December 2020
The Rex Hotel Saigon (Vietnamese: Khách Sạn Rex) is a famous luxury and business hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The 286-room, five-story building is located in District 1 of the city, close to the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica and the Municipal Theatre. In 2003, the hotel underwent extension and renovation works in its architecture, interior design and engineering services. It is owned by the state-owned enterprise Saigon Tourist.
History
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Constructed in 1927, for French businessman Bainier, during France's colonial rule of Vietnam, the building started out as a two-story auto dealership and garage complex, called "Bainier Auto Hall". The building showcased Citroën and other European cars. From 1959 to 1975, Mr. and Mrs. Ung Thi renovated the building into the 100-room "Rex Complex" hotel, which featured three cinemas, a cafeteria, a dance hall and a library.
The first guests in the Rex came in December 1961, while it was still in its final construction phase. They were 400 U.S. Army soldiers, 200 each from the 57th Transportation Company from Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Washington, and the 8th Transportation Company from Fort Bragg, NC. They were the first company-strength units to arrive in Saigon, equipped with twenty H-21 twin rotor Shawnee helicopters, on the USS Core, on December 11, 1961. They were billeted at the Rex for a week or so while their tents were being set up at Tan Son Nhat for the 57th, and the 8th at Quy Nhon. A Thanksgiving dinner, held a few weeks after the actual holiday, was cooked in the men's field kitchen on the rooftop of the Rex.
Dduring the Vietnam War, the hotel was the site of the American military command's daily press conference, derisively named Five O'Clock Follies by cynical journalists who found the optimism of the American officers misguided. The daily event was hosted by Barry Zorthian, chief spokesperson for the U. S. government in Saigon from 1964-68.[1] Its rooftop bar was a well-known hangout spot for military officials and war correspondents.[2]
Decline and revival of the Rex
After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the state's Saigon Tourism Bureau took ownership of the hotel and renamed it Ben Thanh ("The City Port").[3] The hotel was used as the location for the press conference announcing the reunification of Vietnam in 1976.
In 1986, the hotel was renamed Rex Hotel.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Brown, Jonathan, "Famous hotels: Soft beds and hard battles", The Independent, 30 November 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ Leech. Graeme, "In resurgent Ho Chi Minh City the scars are still visible", The Australian, March, 09, 2009.
- ^ Ben Thanh market Archived 2012-06-18 at the Wayback Machine, Vietscape website
External links
- Official Website
- The hotel's history at the SaigonScene website
- Saigon hotel