Dalat

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Dalat Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 2-3 days

Best Time: December to March Read More

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Also Refered As:

Da Lat

"City of Eternal Spring"

Dalat Tourism

Da Lat is a refreshing hill station located in the southwestern highlands of Vietnam and is about 6 hours away from Ho Chi Minh City. It is the capital of Lam Dong Province, known as the 'City of Eternal Spring' for its distinctive temperate climate. A far cry from the tropical heat of the south, Da Lat's crisp and cool weather attracts honeymooners, backpackers as well as luxury travellers.

Da Lat's most striking feature is its ubiquitous awe-inspiring French colonial-style architecture, apparent in Emperor Bao Dai's Summer Palace, French Quarter, and Dalat Palace Golf Club. Surrounded by pine trees, lofty hills, blossoming flowers and home to a world-class golf course, this hill town is often called Mini Paris for its relaxing environs. 

The climate of Da Lat also makes it a great place for farming local produce such as fruits, vegetables and, of course, the Robusta Coffee. Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Linh Son Pagoda and Lam Ty Ni Pagoda are excellent examples of Thai craftsmanship seen in the town. To unwind, go boating on Xuan Huong Lake and the Lake of Sighs, both of which are lined by sprawling flower gardens.

Da Lat attracts numerous nature enthusiasts visiting Vietnam. Hike through lush jungles and hilly grasslands to the Datanla Waterfalls, Elephant Falls, Pongour Falls and Prenn Falls. Follow local guides through Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, or blaze your own trails on Lang Biang Mountain. Complete your Da Lat tour with a glimpse of rural life in the bustling farming community of Lat Village, offering cotton textiles, local wine and traditional silk.

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Travel Tips for Da Lat

  • While most of the attractions are free to visit, some may incur tourist charges. Keep a VND worth a million handy while travelling.
  • If you do wish to exchange money, jewellery stores are the way to go. National banks can also be used for the purpose, such as VietCom. However, their exchange rates are a little low.
  • Do try some of the local coffee at one of the cafes in Da Lat.

Nightlife in Da Lat

From creative cocktails, guest DJs, Vietnamese platters, fine arts, and night camping to lakefront night shopping, Da Lat’s nightlife attracts families, tourists and backpackers alike.

Here are the best ways to enjoy the nightlife in Da Lat -
  • Dance till dawn with exotic drinks and live music at Rain Nightclub Dalat, V Club, Heyla Cocktail Bar, and BLISS Ultra Lounge.
  • Sample the best authentic Vietnamese wine at 13 Cafe-Bar, B21 Bar, Le Cosy Bar and 6th Floor Bar.
  • The Western-style Truong Cong Dinh Street is flanked by European-style restaurants, cafes, bars, and pubs. Make a stop at Rumours Night Pub, Fox's Den and Beepub.
  • Admire city views while fine dining at 100 Roofs Cafe and Du Parc Hotel.
  • Camp overnight at Lang Biang Mountain's peak, which is considered the 'roof of Da Lat'.
  • Shop for local snacks, trinkets and woollen garments at Da Lat Night Market's colourful stalls, and watch skateboarding and hip-hop dances.

Shopping in Da Lat

Among Vietnam’s most important coffee, silk and persimmon producers, Da Lat features vibrant markets and fruit farms. Shopping in Da Lat is a rewarding experience as visitors can shop for anything from handcrafted trinkets, clothing and souvenirs to exotic herbs, flowers, Vietnamese snacks and jams. Contrary to most Saigonese markets, the fashion in Dalat is more fitting for cold weather.

Here are the best ways to enjoy shopping in Da Lat -
  • With over 1,000 shops in a few multi-storey buildings, Da Lat Market is the best spot for buying woollen garments, handicrafts, brocades, flowers, cosmetics, souvenirs, grilled delicacies and strawberry sweets.
  • Watch hip-hop dances and skateboarding at Da Lat Night Market, where colourful stalls sell local snacks, modern and ethnic apparel and handbags.
  • Shop for local paintings, photographs, embroidered clothing, silks and gems at XQ Historical Village and the French Quarter.
  • Sample Dalat’s strawberries, Cau Dat Moka coffee, artichokes and tea at Biofresh Organic Farm, where you can pluck them yourselves.

History of Da Lat

The name of the town itself means 'river of the LAT Tribe'. Da Lat was discovered by Dr Alexandre Yersin in 1893. And the town was established in 1912. It was the Federation of Indochina's capital during World War II (1939-1945). The numerous French-style buildings all over the town make it quite evident that many French Europeans had lived here before independence.

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How to Reach Dalat

How to Reach Overview

Da Lat is connected with the rest of Vietnam by air, train and bus.

How to reach Dalat by flight

Lien Khuong Airport (DLI) lies 30 km away from Da Lat. There are many domestic flights to and from Da Lat like Vietnam Airlines (for Da Nang, Hanoi and HCMC), VietJet (for Hanoi, HCMC and Vinh city) and Jetstar (for Hanoi). The flights are quite regular and it is common for tourists to take a direct flight from HCMC to Da Lat which takes about 45 minutes.

How to reach Dalat by road

Taxis are usually costlier than bus services. Nearby domestic travellers sometimes travel by their own car. Although cabs are available at Thap Cham Railway station too.
Another exciting route is the high road that connects the beach destination of Nha Trang to Da Lat, a scenic pursuit in itself. However, be sure to have a valid drivers permit if you are planning to self-drive.

How to reach Dalat by train

There is a train station in Da Lat is an attraction in itself. However, it only has a 7 km section of a track and has very limited service.

The nearest station to Da Lat is Thap Cham Railway station which is 100 km away serving the city of Phan Rang-Thap Cham. Buses are available from this railway station to Da Lat.

How to reach Dalat by bus

Phuong Trang (Futa Bus) services are provided by many companies in Da Lat. They are available at the railway station too. You can also book a Futa Bus service from Hanoi (135,000 VND), Hue (335,000 VND), Da Nang (270,000 VND), HCMC (220,000 VND) and many other cities.
The main bus station of Da Lat is located near the Xuan Huong Lake. Some operators such as Phuong Trang also offer hotel pick-ups and drop-offs.

Local transport in Dalat

The best way to go to destinations which are on the outskirts of the city is by taxi. Taxis are easily available at Da Lat city centre or you can even ask your hotel to make the arrangements. The taxi prices are reasonable. Another way to explore Da Lat is on a bicycle. There are many highs and lows though, but it is great fun! If you are planning to take the Easy Riders experience, make sure you choose the authentic ones. Easy Riders are basically motorcycle tours that will take you around the basic tourist places of Da Lat.

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FAQs on Dalat

What is the best time to visit Da lat?

January-March is the best time to visit Da Lat in Vietnam. The temperature during this time ranges between 20-28 degrees Celsius. The sky is less cloudy, the wind is slower, and the temperature is low, which makes it a good time to travel around. This is the spring season and the lush trees, and some magnificent flowers are in full bloom.

Summer months of April-June are basically warm, and the temperature stays between 24-31 degrees Celsius. Fog is common during this time, and you can even expect a bit of rainfall, especially in June.

The autumn season of July-September is all about heavy rains and humidity in the air. Travelling to Da Lat during this time is a big no-no. October-December is the winter season, and the temperature remains between 20-25 degrees Celsius. The weather is cold, and the humidity is present because of the seasonal showers. Travelling to Da Lat during the latter part of the winter season is a good idea if you wish to experience the best of the cool weather and beautiful flowers on the hills.
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What are the places near Da lat?

The top places near to Da lat are Nha trang which is 86 km from Da lat, Ho chi minh city which is located 234 km from Da lat, Buon ma thuot which is located 92 km from Da lat, Hoi an which is located 438 km from Da lat, Hue which is located 510 km from Da lat

What are the things to do in Da lat?

The top things to do in Da lat are Xuan Huong Lake, Datanla Waterfalls, Elephant Waterfalls, Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Thien Vien Truc Lam, Prenn Falls. You can see all the places to visit in Da lat here

What are the top hotels in Da lat?

There are 1512 in Da lat which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Da lat are Dong Quan Villa, Coffee Valley Homestay, Merry Yard Homestay Dalat, Thong Phong Guesthouse, Friendly house, Má»™c Lan Villa. You can see all the hotels in Da lat here

What is the best way to reach Da lat?

Da Lat is connected with the rest of Vietnam by air, train and bus.
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What is the local food in Da lat?

Being a major farming land, Da Lat's cuisine is rich in vegetarian fare that makes use of the fresh and local produce such as fruits, vegetables and of course, coffee. However, meats and savoury pancakes can also be found on simple but clean roadside stalls. Make sure you try out the soothing artichoke tea, which also has proven medical benefits. 

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Dalat Reviews

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Allen William

on Prenn Falls 5 years ago
This is a horrible place to visit. If you love animals, stay away! If you read some of the reviews and see the photos on Tripadvisor, you will see what I mean. Please help stop the animal cruelty. Re (Read More)ad, sign and share this petition to the Forest Protection Department of Lam Dong Province now! ***link hidden***
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