Da Lat, Vietnam: travel guide
Nestled in the Central Highlands, Da Lat is known as the "City of Flowers" or the "City of Eternal Spring" due to its cool mountain climate. It is highly regarded for its French colonial villas, rolling pine hills, and serene lakes.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Currency
- VND
- Time zone
- Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
- Nearest airport
- DLI
Top places to visit in Da Lat
Crazy House (Hằng Nga Guesthouse)
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · entry VND 50,000
The most surreal building in Vietnam — a Gaudí-inspired architectural fantasy of curving trees, cave rooms and cobweb bridges designed by Dr. Hang Nga over 40 years. Still functioning as a guesthouse with 10 themed rooms.
Xuan Huong Lake
Nature · 4.6 rating · about 1 h
The centrepiece of Da Lat — a man-made lake created by a French dam in 1919, surrounded by willow trees and manicured gardens. Pedalboats can be rented; the 5 km path around the lake is perfect for a morning jog or sunset stroll.
Da Lat Night Market
Market · 4.2 rating · about 1 h
A lively covered market on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street that comes alive after dark with dozens of stalls selling Da Lat's highland produce: strawberries, avocados, artichokes, fresh flowers, and local hotpot dishes.
Datanla Waterfall
Nature · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · entry VND 100,000
A cascading multi-tiered waterfall 6 km south of Da Lat city, accessible via a scenic alpine coaster ride through pine forest. The base pool is used for canyoning and is surrounded by lush jungle.
Dalat Flower Park
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · entry VND 80,000
A vibrant 7-hectare botanical garden showcasing over 300 varieties of Da Lat's famous flowers including hydrangeas, roses, orchids, and the prized Vietnamese artichoke blossoms. Most spectacular during the Da Lat Flower Festival (December).
Trai Mat Village & Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Temple · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h
A 7 km train ride or motorbike trip from Da Lat leads to Trai Mat village and its extraordinary Linh Phuoc Pagoda — a psychedelic mosaic temple encrusted with over 12,000 beer bottles and millions of ceramic shards.
Hang Nga Guesthouse (Crazy House) Extension Tunnels
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · entry VND 60,000
Not far from Da Lat, the Elephant Waterfall (Thac Voi) plunges 30 m into a lush gorge with a Lat ethnic minority village nearby. A rickety ladder descent leads behind the falls for a dramatic wet photo.
Da Lat Market (daytime)
Market · about 1 h
Central covered market for produce, flowers, dried goods and souvenirs.
Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Monastery · about 1.5 h
Working Zen Buddhist monastery reached by cable car over pine forest.
Valley of Love
Nature · about 1 h
Landscaped park popular with couples, hills and a small lake.
Langbiang Mountain
Viewpoint · about 2 h
Twin-peak mountain with jeep rides and views over the Da Lat plateau.
Da Lat Railway Station
Heritage · about 0.8 h
Art Deco railway station, oldest in Vietnam, with a short heritage rail trip.
Things to do
- Da Lat Easy Rider Countryside Motorbike Tour Outdoor · 7 h · from VND 496,000 per person
- Da Lat Canyoning at Datanla Falls (Beginner) Outdoor · 4 h · from VND 606,000 per person
- Da Lat Canyoning at Datanla Falls Outdoor · 4 h · from VND 606,000 per person
- Tuyen Lam Lake Boat & Truc Lam Cable Car Sightseeing · 3 h · from VND 250,000 per person
- Golden Buddha Thien Vien Van Hanh Visit Cultural · 1.5 h
- Da Lat Railway Station Heritage Train Ride Sightseeing · 1 h · from VND 150,000 per person
- Xuan Huong Lake Cycling Loop Cycling · 1.5 h · from VND 100,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Da Lat Countryside Easy Rider Motorbike Tour 8 h · from VND 496,000
Where to stay in Da Lat
- City Centre / Xuan Huong Lake about VND 1,200 per night
The most convenient base — most restaurants, the Da Lat Market and night market, the Central Post Office and Hang Nga Crazy House are within easy walking distance of the lake.
Hotels
- Ana Mandara Villas Da Lat 5-star · VND 5,000,000 to VND 18,000,000 per night
- Dalat Palace Heritage Hotel 5-star · VND 4,500,000 to VND 12,000,000 per night
- Zen Valley Dalat 5-star · VND 1,500,000 to VND 3,500,000 per night
- Terracotta Hotel & Resort Da Lat 4-star · VND 1,800,000 to VND 4,500,000 per night
- Mercure Dalat Resort 4-star · VND 900,000 to VND 1,900,000 per night
- Ana Villas Dalat Resort & Spa 4-star · VND 850,000 to VND 1,800,000 per night
Where to eat
- Lien Hoa Bakery Vietnamese, Bakery · about VND 60,000 per person
- Thanh Thuy Restaurant — Blue Water Vietnamese · about VND 380,000 per person
- Da Lat Night Market Food Court street_food, vietnamese · about VND 60,000 per person
- V Café Da Lat vietnamese, western, cafe · about VND 150,000 per person
- Chocolate Café Da Lat cafe, desserts · about VND 80,000 per person
- Nha Hang Trong Dong vietnamese, highland_cuisine · about VND 300,000 per person
- Forest Restaurant vietnamese, farm_to_table · about VND 280,000 per person
- K'BE Wood Fired Pizza and BBQ western, pizza · about VND 280,000 per person
Getting around
- Motorbike Rental main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Easy Rider Fake Guide
Da Lat city centre
Unlicensed individuals posing as "Easy Rider" motorbike guides charge high rates but provide poor knowledge and unsafe riding, sometimes stopping at commission-paying shops.
How to avoid it: Book Easy Rider tours through the official Da Lat Easy Riders Association. Check their ID and verify the motorbike is roadworthy before departing.
Best time to visit Da Lat
- Apr 25°C · VIBST / Dia chi Da Lat climate normal for April: 170.3 mm, 12.8 average rainy days (station Da Lat, elevation 1,513m -- highland city itself, no lowland proxy used).
- May 25°C · VIBST climate normal for May: 212.3 mm, 20.5 average rainy days (station Da Lat, 1,513m).
- Jun 24°C · VIBST climate normal for June: 203.5 mm, 21.2 average rainy days (station Da Lat, 1,513m).
- Jul 23°C · VIBST climate normal for July: 232.7 mm, 23.8 average rainy days (station Da Lat, 1,513m).
- Aug 23°C · VIBST climate normal for August: 238.3 mm, 23.1 average rainy days (station Da Lat, 1,513m).
- Sep 23°C · VIBST climate normal for September: 283.4 mm, 24.0 average rainy days (station Da Lat, 1,513m).
- Oct 23°C · VIBST climate normal for October: 244.7 mm, 20.0 average rainy days (station Da Lat, 1,513m).