Da Lat

Dalat looks somewhat like a cross between Vietnam and rural France. Many of its hotels and houses are built in a European/French style. The city spreads across a series of pine-covered hills, with a small lake in the centre and surrounded by a man-made lake and higher peaks, making for some lovely scenery quite different from the rest of Vietnam. Temperatures are pleasantly warm by day, and cool at night, down to perhaps 10°C.

Dalat is surrounded by some of the best mountain biking, hiking and canyoning opportunities in Vietnam, with hills of coffee and tea plantations, which evoke images of the colonial hill stations of the north of India.

Dalat's high altitude (1,500–2,000 m) and fertile landscape make it one of Vietnam's premier agricultural areas, producing varieties of fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, and flowers that don't grow in the lowlands. In markets as far north as Hanoi and Haiphong, vegetable and flower vendors will tout their "grown in Dalat" produce.

Dalat is a favorite destination for company-sponsored weekend outings, family getaways, and honeymooners.

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. You can also book via app using Grab Bike. Taxi cars are also abundant and reasonable in price, yet watch the meter, as meter fixing is a common practice from north to south. As of July 2018, meter-fixing is a much diminished problem and almost all taxi meters click into life after the vehicle has traveled a few metres. The occasional taxi may take you on a circuitous route to get to your destination but opening Google maps and pointing out that you know the way reduces incidents of this kind. Taxis are cheap and an ideal way to get round Dalat.

There is a local bus which passes near most of the main tourist sites. Heading south you can catch it at the bus shelter by the lake. Otherwise, the bus hub can be found on Hoa Binh Square (Khu Hoa Binh - behind Hoa Binh theater), just up from the market. The last bus each day is at 17:30.

There are many places around town to rent a bicycle, tandem, or motorbike. Please consider carefully before you rent a motorbike, as according to the Vietnamese law you must be in the possession of a valid Vietnamese driver's licence to be able to drive a motor vehicle in the country. Failure to have one cancels any insurance that the bike might come with and makes you liable for any damages. In Southeast Asia, you are always liable, as you are always guilty, as you are presumed to have more money than the other party. Hence you will have to pay for damages to the bike and its full value, damages to other people and their property, as well as ruining your holiday. Need a private car, contact mrlee from Mimosatravel, excellent English guide and driver

• Colonial Palaces. 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, 30,000 dong (Feb 2020). 

• Crazy House, Huỳnh Thúc Kháng, Phường 4 (about 0.3 km off Duy Tan St). 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. 40,000 dong. 

• Dalat Market. Filled with local specialities: strawberry jam, fruit conserves, avocado, artichokes. 
• Flower Garden (at the northwestern end of Xuan Huong Lake). 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. 70,000 dong. (updated Sep 2022)
• Golden Spring Lake (Ho Suoi Vang). Unspoiled scenery. 
• Truc Lam Zen Monastery (public bus to south directions (e.g. Bao Loc) from Khu Hoa Binh, get off on turn to cable car station near bus terminal). Best to reach it via a cable car ride over the pine forest. Bus: 7,000 dong, cable car: 80,000 dong both ways, 60,000 dong one way. (updated Mar 2018)

• Lake of Sorrow (Lake of Sighs) (5 km northeast of town on Ho Xuan Huong Rd). 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. 
• Langbiang Mountain (public bus to Lac Duong from Khu Hoa Binh, 12,000 dong). Parking closes at 17:00. 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. (updated Mar 2018)
• Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Trai Mat, Da Lat (About 8 km from town). 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. free. 
• Nha Tho Domaine de Marie, Ngo Quyen (1 km from where Hai Thuong and Ba Trang Hai (3 Trang Hai) meet). 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. 
• Pongour Falls (30 km south of town on Hwy 20). 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. 10,000 dong per person. 5,000 dong per bike. 
• Prenn Falls (at the foot of Prenn Pass, about 10 km outside of town). Daily until 17:00. 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. 220.000vnd/per
• Thien Vien Truc Lam Monastery (at the top of where the cable car drops you off). 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. Free admission. The cable car to the monastery costs 50,000 dong one-way, return 70,000 dong.. 
• Tuyen Lam Lake (Hồ Tuyền Lâm) (5 km south of town on Hwy 20). 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. 
• Valley of Love (Thung Lũng Tình Yêu), Phu Dong Thien Vuong St (about 5 km out of town). Daily until 17:00. 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. 250000vnd. (updated Sep 2022)
• Xuan Huong Lake (Hồ Xuân Hương) (centre of town). 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. 

• Lak Lake. 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. 
• University of Dalat, 1 Phu Dong Thien Vuong St. Students from the Hand-in-Hand Club are eager to serve as free guides. 
• 🌍 Dalat Train Station. Take the steam train through the 7-km historical line to Trai Mat district. From there you can visit the Linh Phuoc pagoda. 128,000 dong. 

Most visitors to Dalat are Vietnamese, and most of them leave loaded with stuff. What they like to take home is dried and candied fruits, strawberry preserves, coffee, green and artichoke tea, local wine, dried venison, orchids, strawberries, avocados, and other fresh produce. If you take any sort of organized tour, chances are you will be off-loaded for a half hour at a shop selling these items. Local treats are also for sale in abundance in the large central market in the area around Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Le Dai Hanh. Partly covered and partly outdoors, the market has dozens of small stalls selling fruits and vegetables, clothing, and a variety of other goods. There is a supermarket on the top floor selling necessities for travellers. Strolling around the market is a favourite evening activity, and every night it buzzes with thousands of visitors.

Dalat does not offer lot of high-end handicrafts of the sort favoured by overseas tourists. Dalat is famous, however, for its beautifully crafted silk embroidered pictures, which can be purchased at a massive mark up from the many galleries around Dalat or at a fraction of the price from the central Dalat market.

Dalat also has an abundance of fruit, vegetables, and flowers available for purchase if you plan to stay for a few days and want to liven up your hotel room or cook your own meals.

• Cafe Noi, 74 Phan Dinh Phung St (near intersection Truong Cong Dinh). 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. 
• Cafe Tung'. Really nice cafe. The delicious Vietnamese coffee costs 8,000 dong and is served with tea. 
• Hangout Bar, 71 Truong Cong Dinh St (opposite Peace Hotel). Open after midnight. Classic backpacker bar. Free pool table, board games, and darts. Guests can choose their music. Good place to meet other travellers and expats. (updated Aug 2020)
• Larry's Bar, 12 Tran Phu (basement of the Dalat Palace Hotel). Happy hour 17:00-19:00. Library-style decorations with dark wood paneling, pool table, and darts. 
• Saigon Nite, 11 Hai Bà Trưng. Open until after midnight. Cheap beer, pool, and friendly staff. Lots of tourists and expats. 
• The Escape Bar, 18 Phan Bội Châu, tp., ☏ +84 63 3578 888. Live music every night, cosy and friendly bar. (updated Oct 2016)
• 100 Roofs Cafe (Duong Len Trang), 26 Phan Bội Châu, 1, Tp.. 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. (updated Jan 2017)

Buses leave regularly from the Phurong Trang (FuTa) Bus Terminal in the south of the city.

• Ho Chi Minh City, 350,000 dong, 7-8 hr trip
• Mui Ne, 200,000 dong, 4-hr trip
• Nha Trang, 200,000 dong, 4-hr trip
• Buon Ma Thuot