Cartoon drawing of the former Vietnamese emperor Bao Dai (1913-1997) in exile in Hong Kong with attendant Chinese hostesses; c. 1956.

B?o ?i (22 October 1913 - 30 July 1997); born Nguy?n Ph鷆 Vinh Th?y; was the 13th and last ruler of the Nguy?n Dynasty. From 1926 to 1945; he served as emperor of Annam under French 'protection'. During this period Annam was a protectorate within French Indochina. Annam today covers the central two-thirds of Vietnam (Contemporary Vietnam being a merger of Annam & the former French Indochina provinces of 'Tonkin' to the north & 'Cochinchina' in the south). B?o ?i ascended the throne in 1932 at the age of 19. The Japanese ousted the French in March 1941 and then ruled through B?o ?i. At this time; B?o ?i renamed his country "Vietnam". He abdicated in August 1945 when Japan surrendered. He was chief of state of the State of Vietnam (South Vietnam) from 1949 until 1955. B?o ?i was criticized as being closely associated with France and spending much of his time outside of Vietnam. Prime Minister Ng?徐nh Di?m ousted him in a referendum held in 1955.