Biographical information |
Lê Văn Viễn (nickname Bảy Viễn), was born in Phong Đước in the old district of Cần Giuộc, in Cholon, in a family originating from Cháozhōu (潮州). His father, was the a member of the Thiên Địa hội Chinese triad and he, quickly became himself a strong personality in the world of "brothers and sisters". His father, was the a member of the Thiên Địa hội Chinese triad and he, quickly became himself a strong personality in the world of "brothers and sisters" (anh chi) of the underworld. He joined in 1945 the anti-French resistance with the Bình Xuyên, a Vietnamese nationalist milice, while trafficking and smuggling until the end of the war in Indochina. He refused to submit to Nguyễn Bình, the Viet Minh General sent by Ho Chi Minh to lead the Southern resistance and rallied the Associated State of Vietnam in 1948 with some of the Bình Xuyên troops. and became in 1952 police chief of Saigon-Cholon. This position gave him the latitude to get hands on gaming and prostitution. He monopolized Le Grand Monde casino (Đại Thế Giới), previously operated by Lâm Giống, a Chinese citizen from Macao. Put away from the national army by Ngo Dinh Diem in 1955 he was exfiltrated to join France with the help of the Deuxième Bureau. King of the Cholon underworld, he ended his days in great solitude in Paris.
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