We spent 2 nights in Da Lat, a lovely (and significantly cooler) city in the highlands. There, we visited two main attractions, the Crazyhouse, a hotel with an artistic flair, and one of the summer palaces of Emperor Bao Dai. Emperor Bao Dai ruled Vietnam from the mid 20s until 1945. He started his rule while Vietnam was a French protectorate. In 1940, during WWII, Japan took over Indochina and ruled with the French through Bao Dai until 1945, at which point the Japanese forced Bao Dai to declare Vietnam independent of French rule. When the Japanese surrendered to the allies a few months later, Bao Dai abdicated the thrown. He left Vietnam a year later, but was convinced by the French to return in 1949 to serve as Head of State. He did not stay for long, choosing to move to France and live in exile (sailing often on his private yacht). He was disliked by the Vietnamese people as he was thought to be a political puppet of the French government. During his life he had a total of 5 wives (some at the same time) and many concubines. His last wife, whom he married in 1972, was French. He had (at least) 8 children. He died in 1997 and is interred in France.
Picture 1: Da Lat.
Picture 2: Downtown Da Lat.
Picture 3: French church.
Picture 4: Agriculture in the center of town!
Picture 5: Night market.
Picture 6: Interesting cafe.
Pictures 7-13: Crazy house.
Pictures 14-22: Bao Dai summer palace.
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