Dalat, Vietnam｜Is Bao Dai's Summer Palace the most worthwhile attraction?

This palace was built in 1933 and was the summer palace of Nguyen Vinh Thuy (also known as Emperor Bao Dai), the last emperor of Vietnam. The entire palace is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The trees are very lush and tall, and each one is well-shaped, giving it a royal style. In the middle of the garden is a light yellow, flat-roofed, two-story brick and stone building. The building has clear and simple lines. At first glance, it does not look like a palace. It seems more appropriate to call it a large French-style villa. The avenues on all four sides of the palace are decorated with flowers.

Although the exterior of the palace is inconspicuous, its interior decoration must have been luxurious at the time. The first floor is dedicated to the life of Emperor Bao Dai and pictorial materials on the turbulent period of colonial Vietnam. In 1945, the Viet Minh led by Ho Chi Minh seized power in Hanoi.
Emperor Bao Dai chose to abdicate.

On the second floor, Emperor Bao Dai’s living room and bedroom are filled with the utensils, furniture, etc. that they once used. Throughout. I found many Chinese characteristics in the layout of the palace. The emperor and empress's seats are also placed on it (at the entrance of the escalator, there are many incense sticks on it, which proves that people often worship here, just like we worship our ancestors at home.

Post by leona_ortiz_london | Feb 14, 2025