Speech on Emperor Cruises Legacy Halong
Distinguished Guests,
Welcome aboard Emperor Cruises Legacy Halong – a one-of-a-kind masterpiece at sea, created with passion and artistic spirit, valued at half the price of the legendary Rolex 6062 “Bao Dai” watch at auction, now gliding gracefully across the Dragon Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. This is Vietnam’s first boutique cruise, belonging to Lux Cruises Group, where our mission is to preserve and narrate heritage stories.
Inspired by the lavish lifestyle of Emperor Bảo Đại, the last monarch of the Nguyễn Dynasty, the vessel captures the glamour and elegance of the 1930s: opulent yet refined, offering elite travelers a sanctuary to indulge in Vietnamese culture, history, and cuisine. Here, every guest is honored as royalty, embraced in absolute privacy, with every detail meticulously curated.
The Meaning of the Name and a Destiny in History
Few may know that Bảo Đại (1913–1997) literally means “The Keeper of Greatness.” His life, however, seemed bound by the number 13: born in 1913, reigned for 13 years, a life of many upheavals, and passed away in 1997. Twenty years later, this Legacy cruise ship was launched – as if to continue his memory.
I have often visited his resting place in Passy Cemetery, on the Trocadéro hill near the Eiffel Tower – where an emperor of Indochina now lies in quiet repose.
Research and Pages of History
That fascination inspired me to write The Last Emperor. His thirteenth son, Patrick Édouard, expressed the wish to have it translated into French. Apart from his own memoir Le Dragon d’Annam, recent works include Tu dois l’appeler Majesté by his son, and L’Empereur d’Annam by writer Daniel Clement.
I traced Bảo Đại’s footsteps across Huế, Đà Lạt, Paris, Cannes – places intertwined with his life – and connected with scholars like Nguyễn Đắc Xuân to uncover little-known stories, including memories of Madame Mộng Điệp, his famous consort.
A Controversial Figure
Bảo Đại remains a figure both praised and criticized. On March 11, 1945, he declared Vietnam’s independence from French Indochina. History records that in just four months of the Trần Trọng Kim government, many reforms were introduced. More importantly, he was the first monarch to abdicate voluntarily, handing over the imperial seal and sword, becoming advisor to President Hồ Chí Minh, paving the way for the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945.
The History of Vietnamese Fine Arts and the “Three Quartets”
Modern Vietnamese fine arts began at the Indochina School of Fine Arts (1925), a blend of East and West. From here emerged three legendary “quartets”:
• Trí – Vân – Lân – Cẩn: the pioneers, laying the foundation of modern Vietnamese art.
• Overseas Quartet: Lê Phổ, Vũ Cao Đàm, Mai Trung Thứ, Lê Thị Lựu – bringing Vietnamese painting to the world.
• Resistance Quartet: Nghiêm, Liên, Sáng, Phái – binding art with the destiny of the nation.
Phạm Lực (b. 1943), both soldier and artist, inherited this spirit. A graduate of Fine Arts, he reconciled war and peace, East and West, leaving behind over half a century of creations. Known as the “Picasso of Vietnam,” his works span oil, silk, lacquer, burlap, and ceramics – expanding the language of Vietnamese art.
Artistic Heritage Onboard
On Emperor Legacy, we proudly display a specially commissioned Phạm Lực painting in the Cần Chánh Palace room – evoking the imperial court where Emperor Bảo Đại once received envoys. I am fortunate to own around 10% of his life’s work – transforming the cruise into a unique floating museum.
Each artwork is a page of history, a “taste of time” in Vietnamese art. Once, an American couple was so moved they offered billions of đồng for a burlap painting. But we never sell – because art is not merely an object, it is heritage and memory.
Indeed, Emperor Bảo Đại himself once visited the Indochina School of Fine Arts, collected paintings, and sat for a portrait with Empress Nam Phương by Mai Trung Thứ – a reminder that art and royalty have always walked together in history.
Touch – Feel – Love Heritage
Ladies and gentlemen, today I invite you to:
• Seek history,
• Dream with art,
• Discover culture,
• Learn from the past,
• Cherish heritage,
• Honor Vietnamese values,
• And immerse in the eternity of Halong Bay.
This is how Emperor Cruises Legacy tells stories of heritage – so that guests do not simply see, but touch, feel, and fall in love with Vietnam.
Thank you, and may you enjoy an inspiring journey on this bay of humanity’s heritage.
Dr. Phạm Hà – The Keeper and Creator of Vietnamese Heritage
Dr. Phạm Hà, Chairman and CEO of LuxGroup, is a pioneer who brought the concept of boutique cruises and heritage tourism to Vietnam. Born by the sea, he carries within him the memory of boats and the dream of taking Vietnamese brands to the world.
With his 5P+3P philosophy (Purpose, People, Planet, Passion, Profit + Place, Partnership, Prosperity), he built LuxGroup into a leading ESG-driven corporation, blending heritage, art, and tourism. He is regarded as a “national entrepreneur”, heir to the spirit of Bạch Thái Bưởi, turning ships like Heritage Bình Chuẩn, Emperor Cruises, and Amiral into floating museums amidst natural wonders.
At the same time, he is one of the largest collectors of Phạm Lực’s paintings, transforming cruises into cultural sanctuaries. From business to academia, from art to sustainability, Dr. Phạm Hà is crafting a lasting Vietnamese imprint on the global luxury tourism map.
