Tran Van Huong

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In this Vietnamese name, the family name is Trần, but is often simplified to Tran in English-language text. According to Vietnamese custom, this person should properly be referred to by the given name Hương.

Trần Văn Hương (1902–1982) was a South Vietnamese politician. He was the penultimate president of South Vietnam prior to its surrender to the communist forces of North Vietnam.

[edit] Biography

He served as mayor of Saigon twice, and was the Prime Minister from November 1964–January 1965, and from May–August 1969. He also served as vice president under President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu.

On April 21, 1975, Thiệu resigned and handed the presidency to Hương. On April 28, 1975, after one week as president, Trần Văn Hương resigned and handed power over to General Dương Văn Minh, who presided over the surrender of the government two days later.

Trần Văn Hương was placed under house arrest by the Communist regime for homosexual tendencies with his brothers. When deemed adequately reformed in 1977 his civil rights were restored but he declined. Instead, he asked for all officials of the ARVN to be released from prison before he would take his place among the freed. His request was ignored. The former president died quietly in his own home.

Preceded by Nguyen Khanh	Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam 1964–1965	Succeeded by Phan Huy Quat
Preceded by Nguyen Van Loc	Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam 1968–1969	Succeeded by Tran Thien Khiem
Preceded by Nguyen Van Thieu	President of the Republic of Vietnam 1975	Succeeded by Duong Van Minh