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Patrick-Édouard Bloch, thirteenth and last child of the last emperor ofVietnam,Bao Daï , shares with his community the traditions of his ancestor while navigating the challenges of his present. The celebration ofTêt , the Vietnamese New Year, resonates as a poignant reminder of his roots, struggling to honor a past rich in history despite the prohibitions that exclude him from the country of his ancestors. This story explores the themes ofexile ,identity andresilience, paying tribute to an extraordinary destiny shaped by different eras and cultures.The destiny ofPatrick-Édouard Bloch, last child of Bao Daï , the last emperor of Vietnam, is a poignant illustration of cultural tensions and identity struggles. Living in Alsace, he prepares to celebrate theTet festival
, while being seduced by memories of his royal heritage, but also enduring the prohibitions that limit his return to his native country. In this article, we explore how this emperor’s son navigates between exile and his roots, between the memory of his father and his own quest for identity. A childhood rocked by nobilityPatrick-Édouard Bloch was born on April 21, 1958in Strasbourg. As a
thirteenth child
of Bao Daï, it represents a symbol of Vietnamese royal heritage. Raised in Alsace, he not only shares a unique family history, but also the heritage of a country struggling for its identity. Although he is an atheist, he is preparing to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year, the Tet , a period marked by respect for ancestors and the celebration of traditions. Memories of an heirThe complexity of his legacy shines through his stories. Patrick tells of his dream of going to Vietnam, of visiting the grave of his ancestors and the mythical Hue Palace, who meant so much to his father. Unfortunately,
government bans
prohibit him from returning to his original land, a restriction which reveals the anguish of exile. “The Vietnamese authorities forbid me from going there. I don’t know why I scare them so much,” he confides, smiling. Reflections on identity and exilePatrick-Édouard recalls a tumultuous childhood, marked by questions about his identity. “I lived in Erstein with my mother and her husband, who was regularly absent. At school, people made fun of me because of my Asian features” , he remembers. This struggle with her identity taught her many things about resilience and self-acceptance. The emotional bonds he forged with his father are also a central pivot in his story. While his father instilled in him values such as respect and dignity, Patrick was never able to call him dad
, but always had to address him by
Majesty .“Promise me you’ll never get involved in politics; you’ll lose your soul.”
Bao Daï told him at the end of his life, emphasizing the responsibility that weighed on the shoulders of the heir. An autobiographical storyPatrick-Édouard Bloch decided to share his journey through a work entitled You must call her Majesty. This book, which tells his story and that of his father, reflects his quest for identity and the need to understand his past. He discusses his relationships with other important figures in his family history and how they shaped his experiences in France and Vietnam. A living legacy In addition to his book, Patrick keeps his father’s memory alive through different groups on
social networks
and invests in actions that honor what it represents. He regularly talks about what it means to be a son of emperor, taking care to salute the influence of Ho Chi Minh, despite the antagonisms of a tumultuous past.
In an increasingly interconnected world, Patrick-Édouard Bloch’s journey constitutes a vibrant testimony to the identity struggles of exiled people and their ability to marry the imprints of a historical heritage with contemporary realities.
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