Bob and Ann in Vietnam 2005-2006 Eldertreks Tour

From ET Trip Log: We drive to Dalat, a former hill station of the French colonials, now known to the Vietnamese as the "City of Love". Our drive takes us along the central coast past garlic and tobacco plantations. As we headed West we saw the housing that the government has built for the displaced hill tribe people. Small villages with traditional houses also dot the countryside, one of which merited a short stop to watch the women husking rice in traditional basket pounding/shaking style. Nice stop with intriguing glimpses of what once was, and how difficult rice processing is.

Mountain View

We crossed the mountain pass of Preen with one pit stop and eventually enjoyed impressive views of Dalat with its French Villas and colorful flowers.

Palace of the Emperor Bao Dai

Upon arrival we visit the "Crazy House" and the former Palace of the Emperor Bao Dai. The former, a muddle of theme rooms cleverly tucked into mazes of stucco framed stairways and unconventional entrances, makes one wonder if anyone could ever comfortably stay in these imaginatively conceived cubbies and whether any codes were followed at all. The latter is preserved in its relatively modern form of regal, somewhat unencumbered elegance. That it is meant for Vietnamese royalty in the French/European tradition offers one of the most straightforward encounters of French influence on this trip so far.

View from Hotel Room

Dinner at a restaurant next to our touristy, but well located Golf 3 Hotel, is bountiful with artichokes first and banana’s flambe for dessert. It was an opportunity for some of our group to sample some Vietnamese wine they found in the market nearby. Lynns missed this but found wonderful candied ginger, strawberries and mulberries in same market.

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