Introduction about Da Lat

Overview

The City of Da Lat is the capital of Lam Dong Province and can be found 5000 feet about sea level towards the south of the Central Highlands Region of Vietnam. Surrounded by thousands of pine trees it is home to almost a quarter of a million people. Da Lat has its own weather system, being temperate as apposed to Vietnam’s normally tropical climate. The valleys around the city are often shrouded in mist giving rise to the city’s nickname of City of Eternal Spring. Because of the climate, the area has become the centre of agriculture of produce like cabbages and cauliflowers. The large flower industry here produces Hydrangeas and Strawflowers also known as Golden Everlasting. Strawberries and Mulberries are also grown and the local preserve of these and Sweet Potato is also very popular. The city itself is quite unique for this part of the world looking as it does like a mixture between a small Vietnamese city and A town in the French Alps. The centre is quite small and is something of a tourist town. It is however a very pleasant setting and makes for a superb holiday destination; often used as a stop off between the north and south of the country, a purpose for which it is ideally suited. It is fast becoming a centre for trekking and mountain biking. There is a quite well known monastery here. Thien Vien Truc Lam Monastery is accessible by means of a cable car ride above the pine forest and makes for a pleasant few hours. [divider]

How to Get There?

By Plane: The airport is just 19 miles south of the city and a modern highway connects the two. The journey in by shuttle bus or taxi is scenic and enjoyable. Always state your hotel clearly to the driver. Vietnam Airlines customer service: +84 (0) 20 3263 2062 Vietjet customer service: +84 (0) 1900 1886 By Bus: Buses bring visitors from all parts of the country. The well known Sinh Café open tour bus from Hanoi to Saigon stops off here. It is worth bearing in mind that even from Saigon the journey will take up to 9 hours. For Western travellers it is worth finding a bus without a TV on board, if you wish for some peace and quiet. [divider]

Getting Around

Da Lat city is quite small and most parts can easily be reached on foot. Motorbike taxis (Xe Om) can be found on many street corners and for further trips, metered taxis are readily available. As always watch the meter. Motorbikes, bicycles and even tandems can be hire to give the tourist more freedom of movement.

Tags: Vietnam tours

Attractions

Bao Dai Summer Palace

History: The palace was built from 1933 to 1937 under the dynasty of King Bao Dai, the last king of Vietnam feudal court. The palace was designed in the art deco style and lies in the middle of a pine forest near the Pasteur Institute. In the past, this villa was constructed as a retreating […]

Domaine de Marie Church

History: No one can deny that Dalat has a reputation as one of the most attractive cities in Vietnam, which can be accounted for by the fact that its architecture was the combination of French and Vietnamese style. The Domaine De Marie (Dominion of Marie) Church is one example of that interaction between the two […]

Linh Son Pagoda

Located on a hill of 4ha on Nguyen Van Troi Street, nearly 1 kilometer northwest of Da Lat city, Linh Son Pagoda was built from 1936 to 1940 through donations from Buddhists everywhere, especially the efforts of Vo Dinh Dung and Nguyen Van Tieng. The entrance path is in the shade of pine rows and […]

Valley of Love

History: Just as true love has to surpass several obstacles, the Valley of Love in Dalat had to surpass many challenges in the past in order to gain its rightful name today. In the beginning, the valley was called Vallée D’amour (Valley of Love) by the French before being renamed The Valley of Piece. In […]

Liang Biang Mountain

In the Highlands of Da Lat, Lam Dong Province, we have the Mountains Lang Biang, with an altitude of 2167m represent the highest point in the city of Da Lat. With a privileged view of the city of Da Lat and the Valley, Lang Biang mountains are known as the roof of Dalat. The most […]

Dalat Flower Park

Being the top must-see in Dalat, this 7000 m² park is located at the end of Xuan Huong Lake, close to the romantic Cu Hill, just about 2km from the city centre. This used-to-be Bich Cau Flower Garden has been renovated and renamed to a flower garden of the city, where visitors can enjoy the […]

Crazy House

This house in Vietnam is officially called Hang Nga Guesthouse. However all locals refer to this architecture masterpiece as Dalat crazy house. Well, this house is indeed strange because it doesn’t compile to any building conventions. All these unusual turns and twists make Dalat house look like a fairy tale castle. By the way, tourists […]

Prenn Falls

The Prenn Fall is located at the foot of the Prenn Mountain Pass. The 10-km long pass is on the highway 20 that links Dalat with Ho Chi Minh City to the south. The famous Prenn water fall is situated right at the approach to Dalat city. Just get off the car and a walk […]

Truc Lam Monastery

Truc Lam Temple is a Zen Buddhist Pagoda outside of Da Lat in Phuong Hoang Hill some 1300 meters above sea level. The temple was built in 1993 (opened to public 1994) and it’s located on the area of 24 hectares With the goal of renovating Vietnamese Zen of Tran dynasty, the Master started to […]

Datanla Falls

The water fall is situated in the middle of the Prenn Pass and about five kilometers from Dalat. From the Highway 20 you just turn to a small descending path for about 300 meters to a small and narrow valley where you can see a small water fall in front of you. Unlike Prenn Water […]

Xuan Huong Lake

History: Xuan Huong Lake lies charmingly at the very heart of Dalat City, surrounded by Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Tran Quoc Toan, Le Dai Hanh and Yersin St. Used to be the site in which many indigenous people of Langbian highland inhabited, this man-made lake is nowadays the most beautiful lake of […]