Hang nga

Though there are some very nice things about Da Lat, the main attraction (for us) was Hang Nga's Tree House, known to the locals as "The Crazy House". It's owned by the daughter of the ex-president of Vietnam, who studied architecture in Moscow. Being a celebrity, it was easier for her to get permission to build such a place than, say, you or me.

The place is Georgia O'Keefe-meets-Gaudi, with some Lewis Carroll thrown in for good measure. Hang Nga is a popular hotel name, and this wasn't the first Hang Nga we stayed at. In mythology, Hang Nga was a moon fairy, which points to yet another place where the designer might have studied.

That night, the whole place was empty. Apparently, all the sensible tourists spend the night elsewhere and come to see the place during the day. I found out why – when the construction work started at 7AM and people with cameras walked into my room.