The Dalat Palace

In 1893, Dalat was founded by the protégé of Doctor Louis Pasteur - Doctor Alexandre Yersin, who decided to analyze the climatic and geological conditions of this region. He drafted the first outline for the development of the plateau.

Four years later, the French General Governor of Indochina directed that a sanatorium be built in the area. Development progressed slowly initially, but accelerated as Dalat's potential was realised.

In 1915, new roads were built to improve access from Saigon, but it was the introduction a railway service from Dalat to the coastal city of Phan Rang in 1917 that stimulated the town's rapid expansion. Its construction was a remarkable feat considering Dalat was 1,500 meters above sea level - the unwelcoming terrain made the work very difficult and necessitated boring many tunnels through hard rock.

Dalat was the prototype for 'hill stations', alpine resorts designed to recreate France in the tropics, modelled on the colonial 'Simla' hill stations of the British Raj.

The striking Dalat Palace was the focal point of the city's development, and stands out amongst the few remaining historical hotels in Southeast Asia. Built in 1922 as the Lang Bian Palace, it rapidly established a formidable reputation. Its success led to the construction of the nearby Hotel Du Parc to meet the demand from tourists and hunting enthusiasts.

Its golden years in the twenties and thirties preceded a decline as the Vietnamese struggle for independence intensified. In 1945, the hotel closed to accommodate the Commandant of the occupying Japanese military forces.

After the WWII, the French resumed control until 1958 when the hotel was transferred to the South Vietnamese 'government '. During this period, the first meeting between the Vietminh and French Government was held in the Lang Bian Palace Hotel. The hotel also played host to many visiting Heads of States, usually personal guests of Emperor Bao Dai, then the titular 'President' of South Vietnam. He was a resident of Dalat with three Palaces built near the two hotels and a private 9-hole golf course.

When Saigon fell in 1975, and the country was reunified, the Lang Bian hotel transferred to Vietnamese ownership. In 1991, extensive renovations began and Bao Dai's golf course was extended to 18-hole championship standard.

Finally, in 1995, the Lang Bian Palace re-opened as the five-star Hotel Sofitel Dalat Palace, managed by the upmarket Accor group.