Dalat

A palace where Vietnam’s last king Bao Dai lived from 1949-1955 in the resort city of Da Lat, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong,

Otherwise known as the “Crazy House,” this Gaudi-meets-Sesame Street theme park is one not to miss. It’s a wild mass of wood and wire fashioned into the shape of a giant tree house and smoothed over in concrete. It sounds simple, but there’s a vision to this chaos; just ask the eccentric owner/proprietor and chief architect, Ms. Dang Viet Nga. Daughter of aristocracy, Ms. Nga is well heeled after early schooling in China and has a degree in architecture from university in Moscow.

Da Lat Railroad Station It was designed in 1932 by French architects Moncet and Reveron, and opened in 1938.

City and around

Chicken Village

For a spiritual recharge, visit Truc Lam Pagoda, which enjoys a hilltop setting and has splendid gardens. It's an active monastery (ask about meditation sessions) and the grounds are expansive enough to escape the odd tour group. Be sure to arrive by cable car (the terminus is 3km south of the centre), which soars over majestic pine forests.