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Provincial city in Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Photo: Ml31415, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
During the colonial era, Da Lat (Đà Lạt), also Dalat, in the South Central Highlands of Vietnam, was the playground of the French, who built villas in the clear mountain air to escape the heat and humidity of the plains and coastal areas.
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The three palaces and summer home of the colonial era, last emperor of Vietnam Bao Dai, which is of great interest once you visit these three heritage sites, named Palace I, II and III, the Dalat Palace Hotel being one of them, with its adjacent Dalat Du Park Hotel, all from the 1920s, together with the Dalat Palace Golf Club, which was built in 1922, to give his majesty the opportunity to practice his golf skills picked up during his years of study in France. The golf course is an awesome site, whether you enjoy the swinging and putting or not, as the coffee shop at the golf course has some wholesome meals of Asian and European food, with great view of the deep green fairways and classy environment. The Palace I is on the same street when you walk to the Crazy House. It is about a 15-30 minute walk depending on your pace (1.1 km from Tran Phu, 47 m elevation gain). Palace II is located on Tran Hung Dao, not far from the Xuan Huong Lake (next to Yersin Park). Palace III is a museum that displays the beautiful original 1930s furniture. It is open daily 07:00-17:00, 60,000 dong (Feb 2025).
A striking, not-quite-finished Gaudi-esque fantasy house designed by the daughter of an independence war hero. Well worth a visit, even if you are not too interested in architecture.
Filled with local specialities: strawberry jam, fruit conserves, avocado, artichokes.
A set of flower gardens centred around a reconstructed traditional Vietnamese teak wood house. If you go for a stroll around the lake, it can be visited as a stop.
Ho Suoi Vang
Unspoiled scenery.
Best to reach it via a cable car ride over the pine forest. Note that both men and women must wear pants and cover their shoulders to enter the monastery.
Lake of Sighs
The Lake of Sorrow is a common destination in Dalat. The Lake of Sorrow is so-named because of a tale of two lovers, one who committed suicide after the other was called up to serve in the army.
There are 2 peaks: 1915 m and 2167 m. First one is reachable by a steep paved path, you can ride in a Jeep (360,000 dong for 1 Jeep). The second one is 2-3 hours great hike. You don't need to enter the main gate and pay the fee if going to 2167 m peak, trail start on the right of the gate. Also visit the ethnic village at the foot of the mountain.
This kitschy temple is one of a kind in Vietnam. Broken porcelain is used to compose beautiful mosaics that adorn the whole of this 7-level pagoda, and it is still expanding.
A pink church on top of a hill, with a store selling various dried fruits and snacks from the local orchards run by the nuns of the monastery.
It's one of the largest and widest waterfalls in Vietnam and during the wet season is a magnificent sight. A dam built nearby has reduced the water flow. Toilets are pit latrines with no water, soap or tissue, so bring your own.
A very common stop on a typical Dalat tour, Prenn Falls is quite beautiful, but is a lot more fun when you're hiking it than just taking pictures of it.
The monastery has a magnificent view over the dams below and its gardens are full of landscaped shrubs in animal form. Extremely peaceful. A great place to relax and soak in the tranquility. People who do not want to complete the round trip could opt for a 4.1-km walk back to Tran Phu. Be sure to bring a map. On the walk back you can go down to Tuyen Lam Lake, visit nearby Datanla waterfall, and take the bus back to town. A 54-m-tall statue of the goddess of mercy, Guan Yin, was completed in 2019.
Hồ Tuyền Lâm
Its clean green waters flow from the beautiful Tia Spring and from the Da Tam River, which flows down from Voi mountain. Its waters stretch over an immense 350 ha and because of its various sources, Tuyen Lam is known as the lake where rivers, springs, and forests meet. The lake was built in the 1980s. It is one of the largest and most beautiful lakes in town. The other side of the lake is Voi Mountain which is a good place for hiking.
Thung Lũng Tình Yêu
The Valley of Love is common stop on Dalat tours and is very popular with honeymooners. The Valley of Love is also a great spot for canyoning.
Hồ Xuân Hương
Public lake in the centre. Approximately 5 km in length, this lake was made after two dams on the Camly River were destroyed during a storm in the 1930s. Now, Xuan Huong Lake is one of the main draws of Da Lat, and you can see honeymooners and locals strolling its banks. Many nice hotels have a view of the lake. The lake was drained in 2010, but is now filled again. Boats can be rented on both sides of the lake. The lake is adorned with a blindingly bright advertising sign, aimed directly at the lakeside hotels and coffee shops.
Stop on a bike-tour in the central highlands. It's a beautiful ride down to the elephant waterfall through coffee plantations and then up to Lak Lake over a mountain and then through sunny highlands with rice fields. The road is partly very bad, but doable.
Students from the Hand-in-Hand Club are eager to serve as free guides.
Take the steam train through the 7-km historical line to Trai Mat district. From there you can visit the Linh Phuoc pagoda.
Chợ Đà Lạt
Dalat's Central Market place is the best place in town to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Near the entrance, there is a lively and always busy vegetable restaurant that serves excellent soups. A tiny vegetarian food stall is in a corner of the second level.
Popular place for Western travellers. Diverse menu of international dishes and live music every evening.
Indian restaurant. Vegan and halal options available.
Korean BBQ
Cafe, pro shop and clubhouse, offering Mexican and Western food.
Lovely cafe with relaxed music and great coffee with chocolate flavour. Lots of young locals playing cards and board games here. Not yet spoiled by masses of tourists.
Really nice cafe. The delicious Vietnamese coffee costs 8,000 dong and is served with tea.
Classic backpacker bar. Free pool table, board games, and darts. Guests can choose their music. Good place to meet other travellers and expats.
Library-style decorations with dark wood paneling, pool table, and darts.
A small cocktail bar
Live music every night, cosy and friendly bar.
Duong Len Trang
The main attraction here is the building, which is a themed maze of indoor caves, tunnels, staircases, alcoves, ladders, a rooftop garden and everything in between, while built-in bar tables and chairs are plentifully scattered all around. Definitely not the place to get drunk (unless you sit at the 1st or 2nd floor). Definitely a unique, must-see experience in the city.
Clean, basic guesthouse.
Clean rooms, friendly staff and big breakfast. They also have sauna, steam, and hot tub free of charge for guests (16:00-19:00).
Friendly staff, clean rooms, good English spoken.
Friendly, cosy, clean, good atmosphere, centrally located, excellent English speaking, crazy, may have family dinner with you. Good price.
Peace Hotel 1
It is anything but peaceful, and fills to capacity on weekends, but staff are friendly. There is a cafe next door.
Clean family-run guesthouse a little outside city centre in a Vietnamese residential area (about 1½-km, 20-min walk). The family rents out scooters for USD5/day. They also have a convenience shop downstairs.
Nice view from the rooms.
Nice location with Xuan Huong Lake view and clean rooms, balconies facing the lake.
Free Wi-Fi, breakfast extra for USD1.
Cheap hotel near the student centre.
Renovated, clean rooms, free Wi-Fi and Internet in the lobby, breakfast for USD1 available.
Includes cable TV, Wi-Fi and fridge. Some rooms have balconies.
The staff speak good English, rooms are clean with cable TV, free Wi-Fi. Very motorcycle-friendly.
This is a new villa, with breathtaking views from all rooms, food, great coffee, tours, transportation options, live music and personal service.
Home on top of the hill overlooking the city. 3 min from King's summer palace, 10 min walk from crazy house. With kitchen.
Da Lat
In the heart of the city, Super comfortable beds, friendly staff, in the city center.
65 rooms within 17 refurbished French colonial villas. A bit far from the city centre and only recommended to those who like to walk, what with large distances between the accommodations and the other services of the resort. Charming and for the adventurous. Must like sharing living rooms and other services, as each villa houses several rooms, hence the sharing issue.
Hotel built in 1922, part of the original Dalat Palace compound, with 143 rooms and one ambassador suite. Style and glory of yesteryear, a very old fashioned lift and great views from the rooms at the back of the hotel.
Mountain and garden view, Eden suite, all equipped with 32-inch LCD TV, king bed and minibar. Free Wi-Fi. Nam Xuan, Eden Lake Café, and Riesling restaurants within the compound.
43 luxury rooms and suites, one presidential suite. Built in the art deco-style of the 1920s with imperial dining rooms and facilities. It has beautiful gardens. It was conceived as the very centre of the city and dominates with great views onto the Xuan Huong Lake. It also has an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and spa.
The resort covers five hectares, is comprised of six villas with 75 rooms in total.
Good place to sleep, great view, but far from the city
By bus
Most local and foreign travelers arrive in Dalat by bus, including those traveling on the famous Sinh Cafe Hanoi-HCMC open-tour buses.
By motorbike
Motorbikes are also a good choice for adventurous travelers who like to travel in an experiential style and save money.
Depending on where you stay, you can walk to most parts around town. You can catch a xe om (motorbike taxi) from most corners, so if you're going somewhere farther out of town, you have a fast way to get there.
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Da Lat · Regional · DLI
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