The end of the year 2017 marks the destruction of several
buildings in Saigon, in between “La maison du combattant” on Lê Duẩn.
The venue opened its doors in 1932 on what was then the
Norodom Boulevard.
It was erected to honor the victims of the Great War from all
origins. Many men for the colonies joined the army to support war effort.
Beside the restaurant and bar, it became popular for its
auditorium suitable to theatre, music-hall and even meetings. And the proximity
of the Colonial Infantry barracks could assure the early days success.
In the fifties, Radio France Asia was regularly holding young
talent contest on the site.
In 1954, singer Thuy Nga, 18 years old, freshly arrived from Hanoi with her family, won the first prize!
In 1954, singer Thuy Nga, 18 years old, freshly arrived from Hanoi with her family, won the first prize!
After 1954, the site became the Norodom Radio Theater but
continued to hold Asia-French singer Contest.
In 1956, singer Khanh Ly (Nguyễn Lệ Mai) won a second prize.
Khanh Ly was born in 1945.
To take a chance in the talent search contest, she hided in a
transport truck to make the trip from Đà Lạt to Saigon.
Her career only started officially in 1962, when she reaches
17. She became the Diva of Saigon pop between 1967 and 1975.
in 1978 site became the City Lottery Company on 23 Le Duan,
Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.
