All things need to know before travelling to Da Lat
1. Where is Da Lat?
Da Lat is a provincial city and capital of Lam Dong province, located on the Lam Vien plateau, at an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level and natural area: 393.29 km². With many beautiful landscapes, Da Lat is one of the most famous tourist cities in Vietnam.
- The North borders Lac Duong district
- The East and Southeast border with Don Duong district
- The West and Southwest border with Lam Ha and Duc Trong districts.
2. How is Da Lat unique?
Da Lat has an area of more than 400 km², surrounded by high peaks and consecutive mountain ranges. With its highland terrain, Da Lat possesses lush natural landscapes with vast pine forests, gently rippling lakes, and year-round waterfalls pouring white foam. With countless flowers blooming under the sun.
Besides, the colorful culture with gong heritage is also what helps Da Lat become more interesting in the eyes of travelers. In addition, Da Lat also possesses unique architectural works.
3. When is the best time to visit Dalat?
Because, it located in an area influenced by a tropical monsoon climate that varies with altitude. So, Dalat’s climate is cool all year round and the temperature usually only fluctuates between 18-25ºC, so you can travel to Dalat at any time. Da Lat is divided into two distinct seasons: rainy season and dry season. Every season has its own beauty.
- Rainy season (from May to November): Da Lat at this time has sudden showers or it can be pouring rain all day. This is also the time when Da Lat is dressed in a brilliant coat of all kinds of brilliant flowers such as white mustard flowers, pink grass flowers, sunflowers, wild sunflowers,…
- Dry season (from December to April): The weather in Da Lat this season is pleasant, cool, although it is sunny, it is not harsh. Therefore, this period is often the peak tourist season because the weather brings a pleasant feeling to people.
4. How to get to Da Lat?
4.1 Moving to Da Lat
Traveling to Da Lat is quite convenient, whether you are in the North, Central, or South, you can easily choose to go to Da Lat by air or bus.
4.1.1 Aircraft
To save time traveling to Da Lat, air is the best choice. From big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho, Nha Trang, Hue, Phu Quoc,… most airlines have flights to Da Lat.
Lien Khuong Airport is far from the city center. Da Lat is about 34 km away, so when you get to the airport you have to call a car to go back to Da Lat.
4.1.2 Passenger cars
If traveling from Ho Chi Minh, you can choose a bus for your journey. There are many bus companies coming to Da Lat with all types of sleeper and seat buses. Or you can choose a Vip Limousine.
4.1.3 Motorcycles
On the other hand, if you love to explore and conquer the breathtaking beauty of the Central Highlands mountains and forests, motorbikes are the ideal choice for you.
However, you have to prepare a lot of things in advance to have a complete trip to Dalat.
4.2 Means of transportation in Da Lat
4.2.1 Motorcycles
The most “genuine” means of transport for you to travel to every corner of Da Lat, conquering each “specialty” slope easily is a motorbike. You can rent directly at hotels in Da Lat or cheap rental addresses in Da Lat.
4.2.2 Bicycles
To enjoy the fresh air of Da Lat slowly and admire the poetic beauty in every corner, you can choose to cycle around to explore the foggy city.
4.2.3 Cars
If you have a driver’s license, you can choose to rent a self-driving car to comfortably travel to the places you like, suitable for those who plan to go out with family or close friends or call a taxi.
5. Sightseeings in Da Lat
Most famous Da Lat tourist destinations are concentrated in the city center area. According to our experience traveling to Da Lat, these are all familiar places but still attractive with their own beauty.
5.1 Xuan Huong Lake
Because, it’s considered a symbol of this city, so Xuan Huong Lake is considered the most beautiful lake in Vietnam. Coming here, in addition to strolling and admiring the flowers and trees, you can participate in the following activities: Duck riding, boating on the lake, cycling around the lake, riding a horse-drawn carriage around the lake, check-in at the Y-shaped bridge
Furthermore, this place impresses tourists thanks to its natural beauty. With the clear blue water surface and the shady trees on the shore create a romantic, peaceful and quiet scene.
5.2 Lam Vien Square
Located next to Xuan Huong Lake, Lam Vien Square stands out from afar with wild sunflowers and artichoke buds made of stained glass. With eye-catching yellow tones, Lam Vien Square is compared to the ‘giant wild sunflower’ of the dreamy city. From the square, you can see a peaceful corner of Xuan Huong Lake and the street scene of people passing by.
5.3 Chicken Church
Chicken Church is also known as Da Lat Cathedral. This is the largest religious building in Da Lat with Roman architectural style. Besides, the church still retains its Roman Gothic architecture and the pure, peaceful space typical of the sacred place.
5.4 Domaine de Marie Church
Located right in the center of Da Lat, it is visited by many tourists. Domaine de Marie church was built during the French period. Located on Mai Anh hill, amidst the forest of cherry blossoms and sea marigolds, the church has a striking pink color.
Coming here, visitors can freely take check-in photos. Enjoying the architectural space of France will be a great destination for tourists.
5.5 Bao Dai Palace
It would be a pity if you come to Da Lat and miss Bao Dai Palace. This was the working and resting place of King Bao Dai during his lifetime, the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty. In particular, all three Bao Dai Palaces have European architecture and the interior still retains traditional Hue royal court features.
5.6 Da Lat Market
Because, it”s considered a paradise for eating and shopping, so Da Lat market is always bustling whether you come here early in the morning or late at night. A familiar gathering place for tourists at night, Da Lat night market gathers shops, specialty stalls, wool fashion products and lovely souvenirs.
5.7 Da Lat rail station
With bold French architecture, Da Lat train station is one of the most attractive places in Da Lat travel guides. The station still retains old steam-powered train cars and old, time-stained rails. Currently, the station is still quite intact, and continues to operate the line running from the city center to Trai Mat station next to the famous bottle pagoda.
5.8 Valley of Love
The Valley of Love possesses a poetic and romantic beauty surrounded by vast pine forests and green hillsides. Besides, it has miniature landscapes, flower gardens, romantic lakes,…suitable for tourists to take photos and relax.
5.9 Lang Biang Mountain
LangBiang possesses majestic, poetic beauty with beautiful mist and clouds surrounding the mountain top. As the highest mountain range in Da Lat, Lang Biang is an ideal place for tourists who like to be active with trekking, jeep riding or walking through the forest. In particular, the resort also has adventure sports such as rope climbing and paragliding to enjoy panoramic views of the city.
5.10 Tuyen Lam Lake
Famous as the largest lake in the city, the scenery around Tuyen Lam Lake certainly will not disappoint you. Surrounded by lush green pine forests, it brings a charming, poetic scene true to the mountain town. Here you will be able to participate in interesting activities such as: rowing a boat to the camping site, setting up a tent with provided equipment, chatting, singing together and enjoying a BBQ party, all at your leisure. check-in “virtual living”,…
5.11 Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Truc Lam Zen Monastery is one of the destinations not to be missed when coming to Da Lat. The monastery is located on Phung Hoang mountain, above Tuyen Lam lake. Truc Lam Zen Monastery is the largest Zen monastery of the Truc Lam Yen Tu lineage. You can try to experience the Da Lat cable car when going from Robin Hill to Phuong Hoang Mountain, then worship Buddha, praying for peace for yourself and your family.
5.12 Datanla Waterfall
Datanla Waterfall impresses with its clear water flowing through 7 levels of rocky mountains and then pouring down large rocks, creating white foam. The waterfall leans against the winding Prenn Pass all year round, spewing white foam all year round, and is hidden among the vast forest, making it even more unique. Fun activities at Datanla waterfall are also quite diverse such as cable car, slide, rope climbing adventure, balance bridge, Death Abyss challenge…
5.13 Pongour Waterfall
Pongour is known as Nam Thien De Nhat Waterfall with its unique split-level shape. From a distance, the waterfall looks like a woman’s long hair and is associated with the legend of the talented female chief of the K’Ho ethnic group. Pongour is the only waterfall in Lam Dong that organizes the Central Highlands ethnic festival every year on the full moon day of January.
5.14 Cau Dat tea hill
Cau Dat Tea Hill – an impressive place with lush green tea fields. Wildflower forest in the last months of the year. This tea hill is more than 100 years old. In the early mornings, when the dew drops are still on the leaves, each ray of sunlight gently covers the cool green tea hill, this is the time when the tea hill is most beautiful.
5.15 Dambri Falls
Dambri Waterfall gives you extraordinary enjoyment. A stream of white water pours down vertically from above. Around the waterfall are tiny purple and yellow wildflowers growing on the rocks. At the foot of the rugged waterfall is a small bridge spanning the rocks. You can participate in fun activities when coming to the waterfall: duck riding, playing slides,…
6. Specialties when traveling to Da Lat
Da Lat is famous as a culinary paradise. Below is a list of must-try dishes when coming to Da Lat:
6.1 Grilled rice paper
Considered “Vietnamese pizza”. The cake is grilled on charcoal with a crispy crust and rich filling: full of pate, shrimp, cheese, sausage,… very suitable for the cold weather in Da Lat.
6.2 Grilled spring rolls
People grilled Nem over charcoal, served with pickles and soy sauce for an attractive flavor.
6.3 Moist chicken intestine cake
Chewy wet cake, eaten with tripe and shredded chicken mixed with Vietnamese coriander, served with sweet and sour fish sauce, will make you remember it forever.
6.4 Banh can
Banh Can is a simple dish but irresistibly attractive. The cake is made from delicious rice flour and a little spice like salt for flavor. Poured into a terracotta mold, sold in a folded pair and traditionally filled with quail eggs, chicken eggs or minced meat, shrimp, squid, etc. People enjoy Banh Can with fish sauce, onion shumai or seasoning sauce, raw mango and grilled meatloaf.
6.5 Avocado ice cream
Da Lat avocado ice cream has a sweet taste, the richness of avocado mixed with the scent of coconut and durian has long made many people so fascinated that they forget the way home. A cool glass of avocado ice cream in the weather of Dalat will definitely make your trip more wonderful.
6.6 Shumai bread
Shumai sandwiches in Da Lat will be served in a bowl with lots of delicious soup. There are also some delicious pork skins and patties. The correct way to enjoy it is to tear off a piece of bread and dip it in the hot shumai sauce in the chilly weather.
6.7 Hotpot – Grilled
With the cold weather in Da Lat, there’s nothing better than enjoying a boiling hot pot or steaming grilled dishes.
7. Accommodation when traveling to Da Lat
- Le Récit Boutique Hotel De Dalat. Address: 117 Bui Thi Xuan, Ward 2, Da Lat.
- Dalat Edensee Lake Resort & Spa. Address: Functional subdivision 7.2, Tuyen Lam lake tourist area, ward 4, Da Lat.
- Dalat Wonder Resort. Address: 19 Hoa Hong, Ward 4, Da Lat.
- O Cua Mua Thu Homestay Dalat. Address: 27Q Le Hong Phong, Ward 4, Da Lat.
- LengKeng Dalat Homestay. Address: 57/4 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ward 10, Da Lat.
- Guitar House Da Lat. Address: Bui Thi Xuan, Ward 2, Da Lat City.
- Muong Thanh Holiday Dalat Hotel. Address: 42 Phan Boi Chau, Ward 1, Da Lat City.
- Marigold Dalat Hotel. Address: 83 Bui Thi Xuan, Ward 2, Da Lat City.
- N Queen Villa. Address: 37 Duong Yersin, Phuong 09, Xuan Huong Lake Area, Dalat city.
- Len’s Hotel. Address: 113 Bui Thi Xuan, Ward 2, Da Lat City.
- Cherry Luxury Hotel. Address: 02 – 06 Pham Hong Thai, Ward 10, Da Lat City.
8. Some important notes when traveling to Da Lat
- The weather can change suddenly, so you should prepare yourself a hat, an easy-to-fold umbrella to cover the rain and sun, and don’t forget to bring warm clothes and scarves because the temperature in Da Lat drops lower as the night goes on.
- You should wear soft, comfortable shoes to facilitate movement because Da Lat’s terrain is mainly mountainous.
- Before buying or eating at markets or tourist areas, you should check the price first, or ask for the price before buying and pay a reasonable price to avoid being challenged.
- When buying premium and specialty products, you need to carefully check the expiration date.
With many natural and cultural beauties, people, and unique specialties. Therefore, Da Lat is not only an attractive tourist destination but also a place for you to relax and find balance in your life. Pick up the phone and contact us for adventure holiday in Da Lat immediately – Origin Vietnam will help you enjoy wonderful experiences in this “foggy city”.
