When everyone flocks to the beach to escape the blazing summer heat of Saigon, Vung Tau is one of the nearest beach city that tourists can visit on short weekends. Anyone swimming or strolling around Bai Truoc (Front) Beach will see a magnificent white palace standing imposingly in front of the beach. People call that palace Bach Dinh (White Palace).

Bach Dinh used to be called Villa Blanche, based on the name of the beloved daughter of a French general named Paul Doumer. The villa was built in 1898 as a resort for his family and French colonial governors. The French colony razed Phuoc Thang Fortress to build the palace.

The palace is located at 10 Tran Phu Street, Vung Tau City at the height of 30m above sea level. The palace faces the sea and leans on Lon (Big) Mountain. There are two ways to reach the villas. One is an asphalt road winding along the forest for motorbikes or cars and the other is a stone path between two lines of milk flowers.

The palace is 19m high, 25m long, 8m wide and includes three floors. Once visiting the palace, tourists can admire the European architecture of the late 19th century with elegant designs and meticulous decorations. The entire palace is painted white and decorated with many nice patterns, bas-reliefs and statues depicting Greek gods. The red tile roof is striking against the white paint of the structure.

The palace is also considered a museum displaying two statues of phoenixes, two blue-jade statues of peacocks spreading their wings as dancing, ceramic works made during the time of Chinese Emperor Kangxi and historical relics found in excavations such as guns and bullets.

The surroundings are romantic and peaceful with green trees, the endless red and white of flamboyant flowers and the fragrance of milk flowers. Standing in the palace, visitors have a panoramic view of Vung Tau Sea and Vung Tau City.

The heat day by day is getting crazy, making humans hot-tempered and easily furious. Why not take a short trip to relax, balance the soul and leave the scorching heat? Prepare a backpack and go to Vung Tau, not only to indulge in the cool sea but also to relax with old architecture, splendid landscapes and historical and cultural relics.

 
(Source: SGT)