Chicago street named after pioneer refugee from Vietnam

By Allen Yang

(This story is produced in partnership with the URL Collective)

The City of Chicago this month officially designated a stretch of Argyle Street in Uptown—from 1142 to 1102 W. Argyle—as “Tai Nham Chung Way.” This ceremony honored not only a beloved figure in the Chicago Vietnamese and Asian American communities, but a man whose life helped shape the identity, growth, and spirit of what is known as the “Asia on Argyle” area of north Chicago.

This street naming paid tribute to the late longtime Chicago resident Tai Nham Chung —a refugee from Vietnam, a visionary, a community elder, and a humble force behind decades of progress in Chicago’s Chinese and Vietnamese communities.

From Hai Phong to Chicago: A Journey of Quiet Impact

Born on October 28, 1924, in Hai Phong, Vietnam, Tai Nham Chung (Zhōng rèn cái / zung1 jam6 coi4)  came from a large merchant family with ancestral roots in Xinhui, Guangdong Province. Deeply influenced by both Vietnamese and Chinese culture, his life was one of constant bridging—of countries, communities, and generations. Following the Fall of Saigon in April 1975 50 years ago on April 30, Mr. Chung and his family sought refuge in the United States, part of a historic wave of Southeast Asian migration to the United States, then a safe haven for refugees and immigrants.

By 1980, he had settled in north Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood to be close to the growing Vietnamese and Chinese immigrant population. He was one of the earliest Vietnamese-Chinese community leaders to help revitalize this neighborhood, laying the groundwork for what would later become known as Asia on Argyle or Chinatown North.

Argyle Street and the Asian Immigrant Imprint

Argyle Street in the late 1970’s had become a neglected area, in decline, storefronts shuttered. Into this neighborhood came waves of Southeast Asian refugees, Chinese immigrants, and enterprising families determined to work and create opportunities after hardships in their own countries and here in the US. Among them was Tai Nham Chung, who advocated for the launch of the Viet Hoa Grocery Store—a vital resource for newly arrived families seeking food and familiarity in a foreign land.

But Chung’s vision went beyond business. He saw Argyle as a place where people could build identity, community, and dignity. He brought people together—immigrants and elders, workers and their families, cultivating connections amongst the disparate immigrant community.

Leadership Without Ego

Throughout his life, Mr. Chung served in many formal roles, including:

• Chairman of the Board of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA)
• Chairman of the Mid-America Chinese American Senior Citizens Association
• Chairman of the Hip Sing Association
• Founder of the International Buddhist Temple in Chicago Chinatown

Those who knew him well often point to what he didn’t do: seek credit, claim the spotlight, or raise his voice. Former CMAA Director Lian Zhuzhu recalled that “he contributed money and efforts, never cared about fame and fortune, was very approachable, and worked hard to help others.” His style of leadership was quiet, consistent, and unwavering.

It was during his tenure at CMAA that the organization grew significantly, supporting thousands of refugees with housing, employment, and legal services. Yman Vien, current CMAA leader and daughter of its co-founder, knew Tai for many years and thought of him like an uncle. “…a very kind soul…he devoted so much to [CMAA], this Argyle Street, to this community and to refugees.”

Warren Tai, Executive Vice President of the International Bank of Chicago, treasured his memories of Tai over the decade, calling him: “a saint – always smiling…I never heard him raise his voice. Always humble. Willing to help anyone.”

The Man Behind the Camera: “Mr. 123”

Nicknamed “Mr. 123” for his cheerful “1-2-3!” before snapping photos, Tai Nham Chung became a fixture at every celebration, community event, and family gathering. He captured countless moments across the Chinese and Vietnamese American experience, staying behind the camera just as he was behind so many Asian businesses and organizations on Argyle and Chicago.

His photography was more than a hobby, it was his mission. Every photo was labeled, curated and carefully preserved. Former Hip Sing Association president Joe Chen and others credited him with documenting Chicago’s “new Chinatown,” or “Chinatown North,” as the Uptown enclave came to be called. His camera was a tool of storytelling, memory, and preserving the history of the community.

In recognition of his role in chronicling community life, the Chicago Chinese Times appointed Mr. Chung as head of their North Chinatown bureau when the paper was founded in 1991. His contributions to the paper and the preservation of Chinese history in Chicago were described as “invaluable” by the editorial team.

Mentor and Advocate

State Representative Hoan Huynh the first Vietnamese American elected to Illinois state office, represents Illinois’ 13th District encompassing Argyle Street, and remembers meeting Mr. Chung while just beginning his run for office.

“He was an early supporter,” said Huynh. “Not just politically, but personally. He was one of the first to sign my petition to enable me to declare my candidacy. Then, he helped us translate campaign materials into Vietnamese, Chinese, and different dialects so we could reach seniors and others who were often overlooked.” He recalled Mr. Chung’s steadfast advice: “Keep working. Keep door knocking.”

This mentorship reflected Mr. Chung’s lifelong commitment to empowering the next generation. For many, including Representative Huynh and Chicago 48^th Ward Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (the first Filipina to sit on the Chicago City Council), their leadership journeys trace directly back to his steadfast influence. Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth was the key in creating the street naming honoring Tai, saying:

“Tai Nham Chung was instrumental in the revitalization of the “Asia on Argyle” community area of Uptown. Like many of our neighbors in Uptown, Tai Nham Chung was a refugee, and we are inspired by his story. As the first Asian -American to represent “Asia on Argyle” in [Chicago] City Council, it’s my sincere honor and privilege to uplift the legacy of Tai Nham Chung and his impact on our community with [an] honorary street sign.” 

How to Name a Street in Chicago

Mr. Chung passed away in 2023 at the age of 99 after a battle with liver cancer. His loss was deeply felt across Chinatown, Argyle, and the broader Asian American community.

Representative Huynh and Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth attended his funeral ceremony in October, 2023 and one of the things that stood out to them was the funeral procession as it made its way down Argyle one last time, honoring Mr. Chung’s last request.

Many people on Argyle Street got out of their stores and nonprofits to line the street, clapping and paying their respects. Huynh and Manaa-Hoppenworth could see how much Argyle Street meant to Chung and how much he meant to the Argyle community that he helped create over the decades.

They started discussing the idea of an honorary street sign for Chung in March 2024. Huynh met with key members of the Argyle community and Chung’s family in August 2024 to discuss the honorary street sign and to curate a biography of Mr. Chung for submission to City Council. In a January 2025 City Council meeting, the ordinance passed, and the Chicago Department of Transportation created the sign. Mr. Chung joins a very small handful of Asian -Americans who have been honored with a Chicago street sign.

A Celebration of Selfless Service

The re-naming Argyle Street as “Tai Nham Chung Way” is more than a ceremonial honor. It’s a recognition of a life lived in service to others, of a man who helped transform war-time displacement into peace-time community. It celebrates the long arc from the aftermath of the Fall of Saigon in 1975 to the rise of a vibrant community of Asian Americans here on the north side of Chicago, fifty years later and going strong.

His was a life built on contribution, not acclaim. Whether through community organizing, spiritual leadership, civic engagement, or an abundance of photos, Tai Nham Chung selflessly offered himself to his community, an example that many that followed him try to emulate.

As we walk this street and see his name, let us also see his spirit. Let us remember that from humble beginnings, extraordinary legacies can arise.

Let us acknowledge the strength of immigrants in their hard work, support for community and family, and quiet service. The qualities we salute in Tai Nham Chung. May we all learn from his life and his contributions to others.