The last king of Vietnamese feudalism was King Bao Dai of the Nguyen Dynasty, he had only one official wife, Queen Nam Phuong. She is the most respected and loved queen in the world for virtue and sacrifice. Why do I care more about her, perhaps because she only agreed to marry King Bao Dai when he abolished the kings' polygamous concubine system in Vietnam, a long-standing tradition that There was no monogamy reform at that time. The fact that she represents some of the feminism in marriage and dealing with commoners gives her more influence and affection than just a tool for procreation and maintenance of the king's lineage. Today I visit an old mansion where she used to live in Da Lat city before she moved to France to live, when King Bao Dai abdicated and ceded power to the republic. .
Today you can visit her farm La Perche in the village of Chabrignac in the Corrèze department in central France and where her burial is located.
The building was the mansion her father (Nguyen Huu Hao) gave when she married King Bao Dai as a dowry gift. The fact that she was the daughter of a wealthy duke was then understandable given that she enjoyed good living conditions and education during the French colonization. The thinking of her and King Bao Dai who studied abroad in France before his coronation partly bears the true nature of civilizing civilization for underdeveloped peoples and in need of reform. So her father also built a residence with most of the French style in architecture and luxury items imported from France. Currently it is located next to Lam Dong Museum at No. 4, Hung Vuong Street, Ward 10, Da Lat City. It is very close to the city center and you can walk or basic means of transport. In my opinion you should visit it early in the morning from 8-12am, not too crowded by domestic tourists.
This mansion is where she and her children used to live most of the time while King Bao Dai had to stay in the imperial city of Hue to rule the country. I do not understand why she did not choose to live in the palatial palaces in Hue, or because she chose to live in Da Lat for the safety of her children while being protected by the French. When the last monarchy was faced by communist forces, and other opposing factions in the country were trying to destroy the Nguyen dynasty. Or simply the mansion here suits the lifestyle and culture where she can educate her children in French private schools and the pleasant temperate climate with many hills.
It has been repainted yellow, the outside paint is quite new, not old and peeling like some old villas of French officers nearby. They restored some details to keep it like a small museum, some of the broken walls have been restored to the original but don't look really real. The system of stairs and ceilings made of wood is also very impressive
clocks, etc.
Admiring them also helps people like me largely understand. How new things were introduced and influenced today's modern decor. In particular, there are still some items of the Empress herself that used to be here, such as traditional clothes, dressing table, piano.
Each room has different designs for princes and princesses. This diverse fireplace system must have been meticulously and accurately designed to suck out smoke to ensure that it does not store toxic carbon dioxide.
Some rooms I can understand more about the genealogy of the whole Nguyen dynasty by some description. A historical background is needed to gain a deeper insight into this last dynasty.
When I look at the black and white photos taken during that period I can see the difference when I visited the imperial citadel of Hue last year, now restored due to some damage and the war ravaged some. construction.
However, staying in this mansion for a long time is not very comfortable because it is not too bright and a bit quiet. The feeling of nostalgia for the old days of a place where many people used to live makes me want to go outside to the garden. Where there are many green trees and a larger space.
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