The King of Vietnamese Silk

Nicknamed "The King of Vietnamese Silk", owner of a chain of uniquely impressive restaurants and ultra-luxury resorts, a self-made millionaire who built his empire with a string of successful multi-million-dollar investments, Mr. Hoàng Khải is a man of very fine taste. It comes at a price, however, as he believed himself to be a bad example when it comes to financial restraint. "Some times I say to myself that my taste for the finer things is too expensive," he once said jokingly.

Mr. Hoàng Khải. Courtesy of Giáo Dục.

This extravagance includes everything from food to real estate to automobiles. In 2007, a Rolls-Royce Phantom appeared out of nowhere and was parked in front of the Sheraton Hotel on Đồng Khởi Street in district One of Ho Chi Minh City. Immediately, the owner of this million-dollar-after-taxes car was none other than CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Khai Silk Group.At that time, his Rolls-Royce was regarded as the most expensive car in Vietnam.

Mr. Khải's Roll-Royce Phantom. Courtesy of VnExpress.

In the eyes of his employees, CEO Hoàng Khải is very friendly, open-minded and always wears a smile on his face. They even refer to him intimately as "World Peace" because he seems to bring a relaxed atmosphere with him wherever he goes.

Aside from his passion for silk from which he got moniker, Khải Silk reinforced his influence with successful ventures into real estate by building world-class resorts and restaurants. His first resort was opened in Hội An and was the first of its kind in Vietnam. It received the The Guide Awards for Best Boutique Resort in Vietnam in 2002. He also enlisted the help of Thủy Lộc Group to build Paragon - one of the most extravagant department stores in Vietnam. Paragon is situated in Phú Mỹ Hưng - an expensive residential area in district Seven of Ho Chi Minh City - and has 12 floors, four of which are for trading purposes. Paragon brought a new shopping experience to the Vietnamese upper-class consumers with its exclusivity.

"Just like with the Ming Dynasty restaurant, I didn't build it on the base of a antique house or villa. I built it from the ground up with a totally original idea. I believe it is more professional that way, and I am always professional in my work because it is what leads me to success," said Mr. Khải.

Hoi An Riverside Resort and Spa. Courtesy of Đô Thị.

Paragon. Courtesy of Zing.

Just recently, in 2012, his all-white castle - the Tamasago - made headlines around Vietnam because of its $15-million construction cost and the fact of it was built when all businesses are affected negatively by the global financial crisis. Mr. Khải revealed that after all his success, he thought it was only right if he aimed for the unthinkable. Besides, the purpose of his most recent creation is not just to reap profits, everyone - from the rich to the poor, from tourists to hard-working university students - is welcome for a visit. True, the leader of the Khai Silk Group has always believed that at the core of his success is his ability to immerse himself in the vibe of the people who surround him. "This isn't my personal castle. No, it stands here for anymore that can appreciate its beauty to see."

Tamasago. Courtesy of Nhóm Mua.

That maybe its core, but there is no denying that without his 17 years at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, he would not have made it to where he is today. According to the man himself, he was able to develop a keen sensitivity to arts and has utilized it from the first day he set foot in the business world. Whether he is designing fashion items or building restaurants, Mr. Khải pays careful attention to the details in order to cultivate the finest fibers of art and culture. This obsession with fine art and exotic cultures is reflected in his personal style and is also apparent in his every single creation.

When building the Au Manoir de Khai restaurant, he traveled to France extensively to soak in its culture. For the Ming Dynasty restaurant, he spent two years in China to learn everything from construction materials to interior design to their musical style. Even the terracotta warriors in the restaurant were actually transported from China to satisfy his desire for authenticity. Tourists from mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan has commented that even in their country, such a feat is a rare sight. Perhaps out of appreciation for the neighbouring countries of Vietnam, he went on to build the Cham Charm restaurant. During the design phase, he spent hours observing sunset between to determine where it last rays light can be caught. "I tell people that the best time to visit my Cham Charm is between five and six in the afternoon," Mr. Khải said laughingly. "They should get the most out of what they pay because it certainly isn't cheap," he added after being inquired about the price range of his services.

Au Manoir de Khai. Courtesy of Sóc Bay.

Cham Charm. Courtesy of Việt Báo.

Ming Dynasty. Courtesy of Zing.

His resorts, however, are all located near beautiful sceneries. Their patrons can enjoy the sight of vast rice fields or rivers in which there are many farmers and fishermen doing what they do best. It is not an exaggeration to say that Khải Silk has turned Vietnam's countryside into an animated painting for his patrons to appreciate.

But Mr. Khải is not only a man of the present. He never forgets the roots of his success - the Brother's Cafe in Hanoi. Renamed Khai's Brother in 2009, this is the first of two Brothers with the second in Hội An. It is a renovated antique house where the Vietnamese culture is reproduced faithfully with food such as bánh cuốn, chả, phở etc. All the later restaurants have their own vibe, but what they all have in common is a faithful representation of culture, whether it is Vietnamese, French, Chinese or Cambodian. "If I hadn't studied music, I wouldn't have been able to capture every fabric of these cultures," he says constantly as if not to answer my questions but to remind himself.

Khai's Brothers. Courtesy of Chợ Điện Tử.

On his departure from music, Mr. Khải shared that his father was a musician and he had wanted him to follow in his footsteps. He did, but found that being successful in business was much more alluring, especially when his mother herself was a businesswoman - a rare case at the time. After a long pause, the man known as Khải Silk said proudly: "I am very lucky that both of them repects me enough to let me earn success with my own two hands."