Sofitel Dalat Palace

Description:

• Built in 1922 as the address of choice for French colonists on holiday and once the home of Emperor Bao Dai, this recently renovated beauty, with its understated old-world opulence, is one of the finest five-star choices in all of Indochina. From the huge fireplace and mosaic floor in the lobby to the hanging tapestries, 500 oil reproductions of classic European art, and thick swag curtains, it's a French country château with a Southeast Asian colonial flair. The large rooms, with glossy original wood floors, are finished with fine fabrics and throw rugs, and all beds are crowned with an ornate wooden housing for a mosquito net (purely for decoration). The bathrooms feature hand-painted tiles and large claw-foot bathtubs with antique-style fixtures. Genuine antique French clocks and working reproduction telephones complete the picture, yet nothing feels overdone. All deluxe rooms and suites have a foyer and a fireplace. Lake-view rooms open to a huge veranda with deck chairs. The high, high ceilings and huge corridors with hanging lamps contribute to the palatial feeling. Service is superb. All in all, this is an exquisite place that should not be missed. Their in-house dining is unrivaled.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010