Third Ending*
The Dinh Vua Mèo, or Hmong King’s Palace, was built in the early 20th century by Vuong Chinh Duc, a powerful Hmong leader whose wealth stemmed from the opium trade. The palace is a stunning fusion of architectural styles, combining Chinese feng shui principles, French colonial influences, and Hmong cultural motifs.
Local folklore surrounding the palace tells of a forbidden love between a Hmong prince and a commoner, a romance that defied the rigid social expectations of the time. When their secret was uncovered, the couple faced the wrath of the king, who forbade their union. The tale diverges in its endings: one version recounts their tragic separation, with sorrowful echoes said to haunt the palace halls; another imagines a daring escape into the remote mountains, where they lived in anonymity but free to love. This duality—tragedy and freedom—adds an air of mystery and poignancy to the palace’s storied past.
*Third Ending: After 3 weeks on the road we started to get a little silly. Perhaps a third version of the ending? Model Trang Nguyen was a great sport.
Third Ending*
The Dinh Vua Mèo, or Hmong King’s Palace, was built in the early 20th century by Vuong Chinh Duc, a powerful Hmong leader whose wealth stemmed from the opium trade. The palace is a stunning fusion of architectural styles, combining Chinese feng shui principles, French colonial influences, and Hmong cultural motifs.
Local folklore surrounding the palace tells of a forbidden love between a Hmong prince and a commoner, a romance that defied the rigid social expectations of the time. When their secret was uncovered, the couple faced the wrath of the king, who forbade their union. The tale diverges in its endings: one version recounts their tragic separation, with sorrowful echoes said to haunt the palace halls; another imagines a daring escape into the remote mountains, where they lived in anonymity but free to love. This duality—tragedy and freedom—adds an air of mystery and poignancy to the palace’s storied past.
*Third Ending: After 3 weeks on the road we started to get a little silly. Perhaps a third version of the ending? Model Trang Nguyen was a great sport.