Religion Buddhist Role Nguyen Cao Ky\'s ex-wife | Name Madame Cao Children Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen | |
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Spouse Nguyen Cao Ky (m. 1964–1989) Similar People Nguyen Cao Ky, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, Madame Nhu, Trinh Hoi | ||
Đặng Tuyết Mai, also known as Madame Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (4 October 1941 – 21 December 2016) was the former wife of Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, former South Vietnamese air force commander and politician, who served as Prime Minister of South Vietnam from 1965 to 1967, and then as Vice President until his retirement from politics in 1971. Some sources have referred to Madame Đặng Tuyết Mai as the former First Lady of South Vietnam while others as the former second lady since her ex-husband's highest position in the former South Vietnam was Vice President and not President (the prime minister's position was head of government but not head of state.) She was an Air Vietnam stewardess before she married General Ky, then the chief of staff of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.
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While her husband served as Prime Minister and Vice President she would travel around South Vietnam along with him wearing a military flight suit to show solidarity with the armed forces. In December 1966, she traveled to Tokyo's Jujin Hospital of Cosmetic Surgery, for surgery under the name of Miss Dang Tuyet Mai of South Vietnam, which was reported by Time magazine.
Exile
During the Fall of Saigon, her husband had made arrangements for her and their children to be evacuated, while he fled by helicopter during Operation Frequent Wind, landing aboard the USS Blue Ridge, reunited they went into exile in the United States, settling in California. She has since divorced and moved back to Vietnam, where she manages the restaurant Phở Ta Her daughter, Kỳ Duyên, is a well-known personality in the overseas Vietnamese entertainment industry (usually in the role of MC for musical programs).
Death
On 21 December 2016, she died at 5:00 a.m. at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, California. She was 75 years old.
