Da Lat is considered Vietnam’s dream city with its unique landscape. While northerners are proud of Sapa, southerners love Da Lat equally. These two cities are a cool and green retreat all year round for those looking for a place to escape. This is the complete guide to Da Lat!
1. Where is Da Lat?
Da Lat is the capital of Lam Dong Province. Just 300 kilometers from Saigon, Da Lat is an ideal place to relax and escape from the modern city life. With an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level, Da Lat is always cool and green. In the early 20th century, Da Lat was a resort town under the French protectorate, so it still retains many French colonial buildings. Da Lat is also considered a green valley with many types of flowers and vegetables. Da Lat’s tea and coffee are of the highest quality in Indochina.
2. The Best Time to Visit Da Lat
Da Lat's climate is divided into two seasons: The rainy season in Da Lat is unstable; in some years it starts as early as April, while in others the first rains of the season do not appear until July. The dry season lasts from November to April of the following year.
Best times to visit Da Lat:
Each season in Da Lat has its own beauty. Depending on your preferences, you can choose the right season to travel to Da Lat:
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From late October to late November is the beginning of winter. This is considered by many to be the best time to visit Da Lat. This is when Da Lat's weather transitions from autumn to winter, with cold weather and mist spreading in the early morning and evening. During this time, wild sunflowers begin to turn the hills yellow, and on the other hand, white mustard flowers begin to bloom.
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From the second half of November to mid-January is winter. During this period, it is quite cold, often reaching its peak around Christmas. The characteristics of this season are cold, mist, and fields of white weeds.
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From January to late March: Sweet and warm sunshine, good weather, and especially flowers and grass everywhere in the city. This is the time when Da Lat’s typical flowers bloom: Himalayan wild cherry blossoms (January-March), mimosa flowers (February-April), and jacaranda flowers (March-April).
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From July to October: It is the rainy season in Da Lat. During this season, sunny days are rare, with rain all day often concentrated in the evening hours.
3. How to Get There and Move Around Da Lat
3.1. How to Get to Da Lat?
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By Air: There are direct flights from Hanoi, Danang, or Ho Chi Minh to Lien Khuong Airport, with flight durations ranging from 50 minutes to 1 hour and 40 minutes.
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By Bus: The most economical way to reach Da Lat from Saigon is by bus. From the bus window, you can see the beautiful scenery on the road from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat. There are 2 types of buses: Day buses (daily routes) and Night buses (night routes). Tickets for these buses are sold at travel agencies in tourist areas and hotels. These buses depart directly from tourist areas and often pick up passengers from hotels as well. Most night buses arrive in Da Lat early in the morning (around 7 or 8 am). The travel time ranges from 7 to 9 hours.
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Intercity Buses: There is a more affordable way to reach Da Lat from Ho Chi Minh City: intercity buses. These buses stop at some tourist locations, run several times a day, and are comfortable. From Saigon, buses No. 26 and No. 14 depart from Mien Dong Station (292 Dinh Bo Linh Street, Binh Thanh District). The buses run 8 times a day, and the journey takes about 7 hours. Ticket prices range from 90,000 to 170,000 VND depending on the company and route.
3.2. Getting Around Da Lat Da Lat is a small city, and there are 3 main ways to get around:
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Taxi: You can rent a taxi with a driver for the whole day for about 25 dollars.
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Bicycle: You can rent a bicycle for 25,000 VND (~1$) per day. Some hotels offer free bicycles to their guests. With a bicycle, you can only visit the main attractions of the city, not the outskirts or mountains.
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Motorbike: Some local agencies offer motorbike rental services for about 100,000 VND per day without fuel. You can ask for the address at your hotel’s reception
4. Hotels in Dalat
In Dalat, you can choose from many hotels, ranging from budget to luxury. You can select hotels in the following areas:
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Central Dalat: 4-star and 5-star hotels are concentrated in the city center, while others are mostly 3-star hotels. In this area, you can conveniently visit major tourist attractions such as the Dalat Market, Xuan Huong Lake, and shopping centers.
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Villa Area and Old Villas: Located on Tran Hung Dao, Tran Phu, and Le Lai Streets. This area is part of a development project for villa-style accommodation, allowing tourists to rent a room or a villa for short-term stays. From old French colonial villas to Villa Hotels, and luxurious villas with gardens in modern European architectural style, the rental prices are very reasonable. The space here is extremely quiet and peaceful.
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Tuyen Lam Lake: Known for being the most concentrated ecotourism area with high-class resorts in Dalat.
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Homestays: Family-run accommodations (homestays) are also very popular in Dalat, often located in small alleys with affordable rents and full services.
5. What to See in Dalat?
Dalat Market
The Dalat Market is located in the city center and is the most visited place in Dalat. It is an interesting place to experience the vibrant atmosphere of Vietnam. The market is always crowded, with over 1,000 shops and hundreds of products such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, and souvenirs. There are many photo opportunities.
Address: In front of Anh Dao Hotel, Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, central Dalat.
Bao Dai Palace
Bao Dai was the last emperor of Vietnam and ascended to the throne in 1926. Known for his love of parties and luxury, Bao Dai spent much time in Dalat. He also built several colonial-style palaces that are still in good condition today. The Summer Palace or Palace III is the most famous and beautiful, featuring Art Deco architecture and Rococo-style interior decorations.
Opening Hours: Daily from 07:00 to 17:00
Address: On a pine hill on Trieu Viet Vuong Street, about 2 km southwest of Dalat city center.
Dalat Railway Station
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Built in 1932, Dalat Railway Station is the most beautiful station in Indochina with an Art Deco design combined with local ethnic style. Visitors can experience a short journey of about 5 kilometers along the historic line to a small village called Trai Mat and enjoy the countryside along the way. The train operates about five times a day and requires at least a group of 4-5 people for the trip.
Opening Hours: Daily from 08:00 to 17:00
Address: Northeast of Xuan Huong Lake, Nguyen Trai Street.
Domaine de Marie Church
Domaine de Marie Church is a Catholic church built in 1940. Inspired by 17th-century cathedrals in Normandy, France, and local ethnic style, it features pink limestone walls, colored stained glass windows, and a 3-meter statue of the Virgin Mary. The church also hosts the Catholic Missionary Sisters and has an orphanage for disabled children, which can be supported through donations, volunteering, or by purchasing souvenirs in the gift shop.
Opening Hours: Daily from 05:00 to 17:00
Address: No.1 Ngo Quyen Street, Dalat City.
Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Linh Phuoc Pagoda is one of the most famous pagodas in Vietnam because it has the tallest bell tower in the country. Located 20 minutes by car from downtown Dalat, many locals call it the "bottle pagoda" because the park features a 49-meter-long dragon statue made from 12,000 recycled beer bottles. Meanwhile, the main hall contains colorful paintings depicting the life of Buddha. The famous bell tower reaches 37 meters in height; visitors can write their wishes on a note and attach it to the center of the bell before ringing it three times to send it to Buddha.
Opening Hours: Daily from 09:00 to 17:00
Address: No. 120 Tu Phuoc Street, Dalat.
Crazy House
One of Dalat’s most eccentric attractions is known as Crazy House, though its real name is Guest House and Art Gallery Hang Nga. The name comes from the fact that the house is built in the shape of a tree and was designed in 1990 by Dang Viet Nga, daughter of the Vietnamese communist leader Truong Chinh. This complex of houses is inspired by Soviet architectural style and surrealism. Crazy House is a place for taking hundreds of photos and admiring the whimsical rooms. It is also possible to stay here at a relatively low price.
Lam Vien Square
The unusual attraction of this unique project has given a new face to the dreamy city of Dalat. Built in early 2016, Lam Vien Square quickly became an attractive destination. What strikes visitors is the giant wild anemone flower designed with a slight tilt in colored glass.
XQ House
XQ House, also known as the XQ Embroidery Museum, is located at No. 258 Mai Anh Dao Street, Ward 9, Dalat. Visitors can explore the traditional Vietnamese embroidery art space and admire a collection of embroidered garments, images, and decorations. Dalat’s embroideries are inspired by local ethnic styles and French colonial design.
Cau Dat Tea Hill
Located 25 km from the city center, you can reach it by taking the Xuan Truong bus or a taxi. However, for those who love adventure, you can rent a motorbike in Dalat, go straight on Tran Hung Dao Street, then turn right onto Highway 20 towards Trai Mat, where the tea hill is located southeast of the city. In the midst of the vast tea hill, with pure green surroundings, you can take many beautiful photos.
Tuyen Lam Lake
Located more than 6 km south of Dalat, Tuyen Lam Lake is famous for its poetic scenery. You can enjoy the fresh air and the unique beauty of Tuyen Lam at any time of the year. Various local agencies offer kayaking tours on Tuyen Lam Lake.
Pongour Waterfall
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Pongour Waterfall is a suitable place for camping. Located 50 km from the city center, in Tan Hoi Commune, Duc Trong District, tourists can reach Pongour by car or motorbike from Dalat city south along Highway 20, following the signs to Pongour Waterfall. From afar, visitors will see the waterfall, about 50 meters high. Many travelers visit Pongour Waterfall to admire its beauty and take photos.
Datanla Waterfall
Located on Pren Pass, hidden in Dalat’s mist, Datanla is one of Dalat’s major waterfalls. Tourists come here not only to admire its poetic beauty but also to try various adventurous experiences. You can reach this waterfall from Highway 20 by motorbike in 20 minutes. The entrance fee is 40,000 VND/person, and the cable car fee is 50,000 VND/one way. Various adventure experiences are organized by local travel agencies.
6. What to Eat in Da Lat?
Avocado Ice Cream
The perfect combination of sweet white ice cream balls and creamy, fatty avocado creates an extremely delicious dessert that can win you over with the first spoonful. Just mix the ice cream and avocado puree and enjoy. The flavor is enhanced with the addition of dried coconut. The price is about 15,000 VND per cup.
Strawberry Ice Cream
Another type of ice cream that many travelers remember when talking about Da Lat is strawberry ice cream. Strawberries are mixed with milk, eggs, and other ingredients to create a fantastic taste that can impress with the first bite.
Bread with Meatball Soup (Banh Mi Xiu Mai)
Meatball soup combined with bread is truly delicious. The meatballs are made with ground pork mixed with Judas ear mushrooms, chopped onions, garlic, and some spices. After preparing the meatballs, they are boiled in broth with chopped tomatoes. A serving of this dish includes a bowl of meatball soup and warm, crispy bread.
Artichoke
Artichokes provide many minerals that are good for health. This flower can also lower cholesterol and blood urea. It is also good for the liver. For this reason, many travelers try artichokes at every meal when they visit Da Lat.
Soy Milk
Soy milk is so popular that you can find it in almost every corner of Da Lat. Enjoying a warm cup of soy milk when it’s cold and when night falls is an essential experience for every traveler here. You will surely never forget the sweet and fresh taste of soy milk along with a slight pineapple fragrance in every cup.
Coffee
Da Lat is famous for its coffee culture. It is not as strong as Hanoi coffee and not as sweet as Saigon coffee. Da Lat coffee has a flavor with a subtle aroma and moderate bitterness that can enchant people with the first taste. The high quality of Arabica coffee and the local recipe make Da Lat coffee incredible. Most people here drink coffee in the morning at small shops along the streets and around Xuan Huong Lake.
Tea
Da Lat, the "tea capital" during the French colonial period, is still one of the best tea-growing areas in the country. The lush tea gardens stretching along both sides of the road are not only beautiful landscapes that captivate people but also produce high-quality tea leaves.
7. 2-Day Itinerary to Visit Da Lat
Day 1
In the morning, start your day trip at Robin Hill with the Da Lat cable car to get a panoramic view of Da Lat and enjoy the wonderful view of the pine valley extending southward. After taking some photos, you can choose to descend with the cable car for 300 meters, with a beautiful view of the flower and vegetable fields dotting the pine valley below, to visit Tuyen Lam Lake. Surrounded by pine forest, Tuyen Lam Lake looks like a paradise with the Truc Lam Zen Monastery, currently the largest Zen university in Vietnam. A very peaceful setting next to it is a beautiful flower garden, built on top of Phoenix Hill. On the way back to Da Lat city center, visit Bao Dai Palace. Then, make a surprise visit to the Crazy House, one of the ten most bizarre houses in the world voted by People's Daily Magazine. Lunch at a local restaurant along the way.
In the afternoon, continue your journey to the Da Lat Flower Garden (established in 1966), known as the flower paradise. You can take photos in the colorful flower garden, stroll through the bonsai park or along the romantic lakeside, go horseback riding or use the swan pedal boat. If you love art, the XQ Embroidery Village is an ideal place to see many miraculous hand-embroidered works of art and discover how these fantastic artworks are made. Continue to visit a gigantic golden statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. Next, the Rooster Church (Dalat City Cathedral), known for the bronze rooster placed on top of the tower and its European Gothic architectural style from 1931, is the largest church in Da Lat city, designed and built by the French. Enjoy artichoke tea and jams at the Dalat specialty showroom. Overnight in Da Lat.
Day 2
In the morning, enjoy the fresh air at Datanla Falls, nestled beneath the canopy of primordial jungle, with its white and soft waters flowing over rocky walls and falling into the valley, creating a beautiful natural scene. If possible, try the thrilling sensation of adventure on the roller coaster from the top of the hill to the falls.
The highlight of the day is Pongour Falls, considered the most beautiful and majestic in the Central Highlands with about 40 meters in height and over 100 meters in width. Surrounded by pristine forest, the waterfall cascades down numerous sandstone steps from top to bottom. The powerful water falling seven tiers produces sound that can be heard kilometers away.
In the afternoon, admire the clear water flowing through the granite mountain slopes, truly spectacular, making a shadowed area with the white splashes of Elephant Falls. Next to the falls is the Wind Cave, with a narrow entrance between two rocky walls, but inside the cave, there are many spacious and windy areas. Elephant Falls looks like a lively painting sculpted by nature with particularly interesting caves hidden behind steep cliffs and many rocks that now appear, now disappear as if many elephants were struggling to bathe. Overnight in Da Lat.
Source: Wikipedia