Buzz
One of the tourist spots in Da Lat that attracts a lot of attention is Bao Dai Palace. When visiting the palace, people are amazed by its opulent and magnificent beauty, but not everyone knows about the mysteries here as well as the strange number 13 in King Bao Dai's life.
1. King Bao Dai's Palace – a beautiful tourist spot in Da Lat
King Bao Dai owned many palaces across the country, with Da Lat being home to three of the most luxurious. In Da Lat, the king owned three magnificent palaces, all of which are popular tourist attractions in Da Lat, attracting crowds of visitors every day.
Dinh I is located on a picturesque pine hill, about 4km southeast of the city center. It has an ancient, majestic, and elegant beauty. This mansion originally belonged to a French official named Robert Clément Bourgery and was later bought by King Bao Dai.
Dinh II is a luxurious mansion, akin to a splendid castle, with 25 intricately decorated, exquisite rooms. It is situated on Tran Hung Dao Street, 2km from the city center, offering a distant view of Xuan Huong Lake.
Dinh III, also known as Bao Dai Palace (the king's villa), is located about 2 km from the center of Da Lat, on a pine hill along Trieu Viet Vuong Street. Bao Dai Palace is part of a beautiful French architectural complex. The large building sits amidst pine hills, surrounded by elegant flower gardens, a cool, harmonious lake, making it a favorite destination for tourists in Da Lat. Here, you will be amazed by the perfect blend of contemporary architecture and beautiful nature.
2. The Hidden Secrets Behind King Bao Dai's Mansions
Bao Dai Palace - a beautiful tourist spot in Da Lat that everyone knows. But Bao Dai Palace - an architectural masterpiece that holds many mysteries inside, not everyone knows. When mentioning the secrets of this palace, people often refer to the secret tunnels deep beneath the mansion.
Upon inheriting Dinh I, King Bao Dai discovered a system of tunnels beneath the building. It has a tunnel connecting to Dinh II, branching out to the villas along Tran Hung Dao Street with a total length of up to 3 km. The tunnel is 2m high, with low ceilings in many places, requiring people to bend down, but it widens at the junction to allow 5-6 people to take shelter. A hidden entrance to the tunnel is cleverly concealed in a small house on the estate. The tunnel entrance is 3m wide, nearly 2m high, and 2m above the ground. Upon discovering this tunnel, the king demanded absolute secrecy and considered it an excellent escape route.
The secret tunnel was also used by the Japanese army to capture French generals alive. They dug and expanded the tunnel but dared not cut the tree roots for fear that the dying trees would arouse French suspicion. The tunnel is damp and has many bats nesting together in a large colony.
Later, after being deposed, President Ngo Dinh Diem chose Dinh I as a retreat. He also kept the secret of this tunnel. He had the tunnel reinforced with concrete. The tunnel entrance was disguised as a bookshelf at the head of the president's bed in the bedroom, revealing the tunnel entrance with a gentle push. This tunnel was connected to where his helicopter landed.
Construction and repair of the tunnel were carried out in secrecy, with 20 laborers deployed from Hue at one point. They all later disappeared mysteriously.
The Presidential Palace (Dinh III) - a tourist destination in Da Lat - is not only mysterious because of its tunnels but also because it was a hiding place for over 120 treasures from the Nguyen dynasty. During turbulent times, King Bao Dai was deposed and exiled to France. These treasures were guarded by a Nguyen dynasty loyalist, who protected them for decades until Da Lat was liberated. When the treasure chests were opened, people were astonished by the rarity and exquisite craftsmanship of the treasures, some of which dated back to Emperor Khai Dinh.
Many tourist spots in Da Lat are associated with King Bao Dai. When people visit Da Lat, they often recall Bao Dai alongside the waterfalls, pine forests, and flower gardens. King Bao Dai was the last king of the Nguyen dynasty and the last feudal king in Vietnamese history. His life was full of ups and downs. Strangely, the number 13 - typically considered unlucky in Western beliefs - is closely linked to his life.
Quite a few tourist spots in Da Lat are closely connected to King Bao Dai. When in Da Lat, besides the waterfalls, pine forests, and flower gardens, people often remember Bao Dai. King Bao Dai was the last king of the Nguyen dynasty and also the last feudal king in Vietnamese history. His life was marked by many ups and downs. Strangely, the number 13 - a number typically considered unlucky in Western culture - is tightly intertwined with his life.
- King Bao Dai was born on October 22, 1913
- He was the 13th king of the Nguyen dynasty
- He ruled for 13 years
- The king had 13 children
- He was buried at 1:00 PM on August 6, 1997
Perhaps the number 13, often considered unlucky, is a sign of the end of a dynasty, the end of a historical era.
If you have the chance, visit Bao Dai Palace - one of the beloved tourist spots in Da Lat. The exquisite decor, elegance in every detail, romantic natural scenery, and fascinating stories about the last king of feudal Vietnam will surely leave a profound impression on you.
