It was leased to the AmericanCulturalCenter in 1960, at which time the Abraham Lincoln Library was established on the ground floor. During the Vietnam war the American Information Service made its base at the hotel, which soon became the favorite haunt of U.S. officers and the scene of daily press briefings to foreign correspondents, or “five o’clock follies”, as they were called.

Since 1975, the development and prosperity of the country has come full circle. The Rex Trading Centre became the property of Saigontourist Ho Chi Minh City and was upgraded into an international hotel, renamed Ben Thanh. The “RexHotel” was adopted as its international trademark.

In 2008, the RexHotel was classified as an international 5-star hotel. With its traditional charm, wide range of international standard services and 289 well-appointed rooms, the luxurious new refurbishments have been thoughtfully designed to preserve the historic integrity of the RexHotel while at the same time introducing sophisticated postmodern architecture. The Rex is really “Your Vietnam Home”, a choice venue for international VIPs as well as visitors and friends.

“Ho Chi Minh is not the Saigon it once was. Everything changes following the developing trend”.   However, the memories remain and, not unsurprisingly, U.S war veterans choose to stay here today: “The Rex is still the Rex! Central location. The RooftopGarden. For a Vietnam vet, there really Is no place else to stay if you are in the country on a nostalgia trip.”