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Category: Unrest, Conflict and War / Food and Beverage / Foreign Affairs / 20th Century / Refugees

Protest prompts owners of Uncle Ho Vietnamese restaurant to change name

Monday, 11 Apr 2016 06:12:19

About 100 people protested near the Uncle Ho restaurant on Sunday. (ABC News: Anna Macdonald)

Owners of a new Vietnamese restaurant in Brisbane say they have decided to change the name from Uncle Ho after a protest and death threats.

The name refers to the communist North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, and about 100 Vietnamese protestors turned up at the Fortitude Valley restaurant on Sunday to express their anger.

They protested peacefully, but said the restaurant's name had links to a dark and terrifying past in Vietnam.

The owners closed the eatery on Sunday, and told the ABC that people had threatened to burn it down.

On Instagram yesterday, the restaurant posted that it had closed due to "death threats".

Uncle Ho director Anna Demirbek said they had always been "fully conscious that the brand Uncle Ho would be sensitive".

Last night, the owners confirmed they had decided to change the trading name to Uncle Bia Hoi.

Protester Phoung Nguyen said the crowd had decided to rally after attempts to contact the owner failed.

A post from Uncle Ho's director Anna Demirbek Photo: A post from Uncle Ho's director Anna Demirbek. (Instagram: unclehonewfarm)

"For people who don't know who is Uncle Ho … we hate that name because why would you name a restaurant Uncle Ho, just like why would you name a restaurant Osama Bin Laden?" she said.

"For Vietnamese, especially from the south, who risked their lives and ran away from their country by boat in the 70s and 80s, we hate that name."

The owners said they did not set out to offend anyone, and have already instigated moves to change the business name in coming weeks.

Millions fled Vietnam as a result of Ho Chi Minh's communist regime.

Since its opening earlier this year, the restaurant's Instagram feed has drawn criticism for making light of that history.

One post a month ago, featuring a red tank and military saying "gather your squadron and mobilise the troops" offended a number of people.

The Uncle Ho restaurant draws its name from communist dictator Ho Chi Minh. Photo: It is not only the name which has angered the local Vietnamese community, but the advertising material. (Instagram: Unclehonewfarm)

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