Welcome to Da Lat! The city located 1’500 meters above sea level, where the temperatures are slightly lower than in other parts of the country, where the climate is tropical.

Thanks to this, the city is also often called “City of eternal spring”. Sometimes interchangeably with the “City of a thousand flowers”. Because due to the lower temperatures here they bloom practically all year round, in many places along the city.

However, the real queens of this place are strawberries, which can be bought practically everywhere! From the large, red ones, arranged perfectly in wooden crates, to the smaller ones with green tips, sold by charming ladies exhorting you to buy them.

The city, due to its unusual climate, used to be a health resort, where during the time of the French colony soldiers were sent for healing treatments.

Today Da Lat is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations among Vietnamese. Perhaps because the city is full of villas and boulevards, which are remnants of the French colony? Thanks to this, the city strongly resembles European cities.

Da Lat is also definitely more well-maintained than other places in Vietnam. You won’t find garbage strewn on the street, and even the air is different here! Fresh and clean.

As we entered the town of Da Lat we noticed many people wearing winter jackets! We were a little surprised, but the moment we left the bus we took from Mui Ne, we already knew why!

The temperature in Da Lat was very different from other places in Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minch, the Mekong Delta and Mui Ne.

The second surprise for us was that Da Lat reminded us a lot of Switzerland! And especially the city of Interlaken in Switzerland. Already then we knew that Da Lat was going to be amazing.

#1 Datanla Waterfall

Da Lat is famous for the nature that surrounds the city, so let your tour begin with Datanla Waterfall, which is only 15-20 minutes away from the city.

The waterfall, although not the tallest, is quite wide. It is also one of the favorite attractions in Da Lat. However, every few minutes this place becomes almost empty, only to fill up again in a moment.

You can’t swim in the pool at the waterfall, but it’s still a pleasant place to take a break from the city in the midst of nature.

Apparently, you can get to the waterfall on foot, but is there anything cooler than to visit the waterfall after an unforgettable roller coaster ride? The sled has the ability to regolve speed, but remember not to go too slow so you will not to block other participants of the fun.

You can get to the Datanla Waterfall by Grab . Or if you feel up to driving on Vietnamese roads on a scooter, by using a rented vehicle.

The price for this entertainment is $8.50 (VND 200’000) per person round trip. And you don‘t have to worry about buying the ticket in advance, as you can buy it on the spot.

#2 Clay Tunnel

After visiting the waterfall, head to the Clay Tunnel. It may not be top-flight entertainment, but it’s certainly an interesting experience.

The entire park is filled with various clay sculptures, including a huge piano, a scooter, and figures such as a giant bearded man and twin faces.

If you haven’t seen anything like this before, it can be a pretty interesting experience.

The entrance fee is $3.80 (VND 90’000) per person and you can buy it once you arrive here. You can get here by Grab as well, or with a hired car or scooter. The road to Clay Tunnel takes about 30 minutes, as the place is located outside the city, in a beautiful forest.

#3 Crazy House

If you think Clay Tunnel was a crazy place, wait until you see the Crazy House.

It was designed by Dang Viet Nga, who once came to Da Lat on a buissnes trip, and felt in love with this city. She decided to move here someday, and when she succeeded, she let her imagination run wild and designed the Crazy House.

The architect wanted to bring visitors closer to nature. That’s why in Crazy House you won’t find any right angles, and the shapes are organic forms that are designed to mirror natural elements, like mushrooms, shells, caves and spiderwebs.

Crazy House is actually called Hang Nga Guesthouse and there are ten themed rooms, which you recently can also rent and spend the night in.

Entrance to Crazy House costs $2.50 (VND 60’000) and you can buy tickets right at the entrance.

So what? Anyone willing to visit or maybe spend the night at this wild house? Book your overnight stay at Crazy House in Da Lat.

#4 Night Market

Right in the center of the city is the Night Market, which doesn’t open until dusk. But also during the day you’ll find many vendors selling flowers, coffee and delicious strawberries, which you must try during your stay in Da Lat.

The Night Market is illuminated by thousands of lights, and is a favorite meeting place for locals and visitors.

Hundreds of small chairs and tables appear out of nowhere. After a while they are all filled with local delicacies.

#5 Visit Lake and  Flower Park

Ho Xuan Huong Lake located in the center of the city is the perfect place to relax if you just don’t feel like escaping outside the city.

You can cruise around the lake, which is quite impressive in size, on a large swan shaped boat. The best time to do this is sunset, when the colors play beautifully around you.

The area around the lake is also ideal for a walk after sunset, when the whole area is beautifully and romantically lit.

At one end of the lake is the Flower Park, a small city park with beautiful trees, bushes, amazing pine tree, and flowers. Upon entering the park, time stands still, except for the singing of birds, you can hear nothing, much less the noise of the street.

The park is not one of the largest, but it is worth going there for a short walk. The best time to do this is before sunset, as the park is open until 4 PM.

Admission to the park is free, while renting a swan boat is a matter of a few dollars.

#6 Chua Linh Quang Temple

This colorful temple was built in an ancient architectural style that combines Chinese and Vietnamese art. Located about 10 minutes by car or scooter from the city center, it looks a bit like an amusement park.

The temple is incredibly colorful, and in front of the main building you can see a large, colorful dragon.

In addition to the dragon, attention is also attracted by colorful figurines of the temple guards, and numerous smaller figurines of golden birds, dragons and Buddha statues.

#7 Golden Buddha – Thien vien Van Hanh

For lovers of large Buddha statues, Da Lat has a 24-meter-tall golden Buddha statue, located just 10 minutes by vehicle from the city center.

The statue looks beautiful against Da Lat’s blue sky.

To the left of the statue is a small temple, full of colorful lanterns and flowers. In the center is a statue of Buddha in a golden robe, surrounded by figures of dragons.

This place is really peaceful and almost no tourists come here, so you can enjoy it‘s beauty all alone.

#8 Still Cafe

Still Cafe is located in a charming complex of cafes, restaurants, pastry shops and several other cute places.

This complex is one of the nicest you will experience in Da Lat. It has an amazing atmosphere and charm.

Sit comfortably at one of the tables, observe the surroundings, sample the amazing pastries of the patisserie that offers delicious cakes, purchase souvenirs for loved ones, or just play with the several cats that lazily stroll around the complex.

In Still Cafe you can try famous Egg Coffee or just simple, but amazing strawberry shake.

#9 Drink cofee in one of many other cafes

Da Lat is famous for its incredibly delicious coffee. Coffee shops are plentiful in the city (as are stores with the Apple logo). So pick the one that suits you best and try the amazing coffee from this region.

Coffee in Da Lat is not sweet Vietnamese coffee like in many other places in Vietnam. You can usually drink black coffee here, or with a little milk and sugar. Coffee shops serve delicious Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato or Americano.

Da Lat is a real paradise for coffee drinkers!

In Vietnam, you’ll only get to a few major cities by plane, so you’ll probably be condemned to the bus for most of your trip. This is not a problem, however, as buses are quite comfortable and fast.

Most of them are sleeping buses, where instead of seats there are couches. So for a few hours your body will have a chance to rest and recuperate after sightseeing amazing places in Vietnam.

If you are comfortable enough on a scooter, it will be the best and cheapest means of transportation to get around the city.

On the other hand, if you prefer to travel by car, you can easily order a Grab in Da Lat, so download your Grab app for traveling around the city of Da Lat  now.

Da Lat is beloved by travelers, especially local ones. Thats why you will find a wide range of accommodations. From the cheaper to the very expensive.

During our stay in Da Lat we stayed at Seven A Hotel  which we can recommend.

The hotel is located in a good location. The room was clean and the staff very friendly.

• Pizza Company | Best pizza in Asia
• Dalahouse | Delicious smoothie bowls and pizza
• Blue Parrot/Hawaiian Poke | Amazing burrito and poke bowl
• Aussie Burger | Tasty breakfast and burgers
• The Thai Cuisine | Great Thai food
• Still Cafe | Amazing egg coffee and shakes
• Bicycle Up | Delicious cappuccino

Since Da Lat has a completely different climate from the rest of the country, the best months to visit the city are between December and March. During this period the temperatures are truly spring-like, ranging between 19 and 24 degrees.

Depending on the country you’re coming from different Visa requirements apply. Most of the countries will require an eVisa or can travel visa free for up to 15 days. Check your Vietnam visa requirements before your travel.

In case you need to apply for a Vietnam eVisa , keep in mind that it can take up to a week to get it and it costs $25.

As in every country there are different mobile operators, so it is no different in Vietnam. When we buy a Sim card in a new country, we always look at the most important criteria for us. Coverage and internet credit for a fair price.

After some research and our trip across Vietnam, we can recommend Vinaphone without hesitation.

Remember that at registration it is necessary to show your passport!

The prices are per person, except for the accommodation and Taxi, which we rent for 2 people.

Accommodation: $12 / night

Restaurant: $5 – $8 / meal

Taxi: $1 – $8 / ride

Activity: $2.50 – $8.50 / event