DA LAT

15 MUST -SEE DA LAT ATTRACTIONS – PLACES TO VISIT FOR TOURSISTS

Dalat city is located in the South Central Highlands of Vietnam, is well-known as a romantic place for any couple who wish to have a memorable vacation or honeymoon. Dalat looks like a cross between Vietnam and the French Alps. 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 center 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 quite cool at night, down to perhaps 10 degrees Celsius. Dalat is very much a niche tourism town, open to some of the more adventurous travelers, or the Indo chic romantics, seeking world class golf.
There is a steady flow during some parts of the year of tourist from all walks of life and places, small hotels, cafe’s lining its streets and plenty of small shops offering anything from orchids to knitwear. The vast majority of visitors are Vietnamese, although plenty of Americans and Europeans find their way, in their search for this utopian Dalat, a Life style resort destination, either on short package tours, or research and soul searching, drawn by the scenery, vivid blue skies, fresh air, flower-filled parks, and local culinary treats
1.Lam Vien Square
Lam Vien Square is always on the list of places in Dalat that must definitely be visited. Lam Vien Square, also known as the City Central Square, is the square in the heart of the city which is covering a total area of about 72,000 square meters and facing the scenic Xuan Huong Lake.The impressive points of Lam Vien Square are two huge works of art designed with fancy stained glass that present wild anemone and artichoke bud. Both giant structures attract large numbers of tourists to visit and admire the modern architectural works. In particular, at night the square becomes even more crowded as many local people like to hang out here.
2. Xuan Huong Lake Conveniently located in a prime location in the city center,  is one of the most beautiful sights in Dalat not to be missed. This scenic artificial lake is considered to be the heart of Dalat. Xuan Huong Lake was originally the upstream of Cam Ly Waterfall, and was also the residence of the ancient Dalat people of the Lach ethnic group. The lake area is about 38 hectares. Xuan Huong Lake is surrounded by flower gardens and pine forests that increase the poetic beauty of the lake. Xuan Huong Lake is beautiful in all seasons, especially in spring, you can admire the cherry blossoms blooming in pink around the lake. Staying at the hotel near the lake is highly recommended as here you can enjoy the magical and charming atmosphere, which is even more special at night.
3. Hang Nga Villa ( Crazy House )
Recognized as one of the 10 strangest architectural houses in the world, Dalat’s Hang Nga Villa is also known as the “Crazy House”. Hang Nga Villa consists of many buildings with different functions such as guest houses, cafes, art galleries designed in different styles. The reason this place is extremely famous and attracts tourists is its unique architecture. From the outside to the inside, all parts of this villa surprise with strange shapes and creative picture possibilities offered to visitors. You can also rent a room at Crazy House and spend the night in the villa to enjoy the “madness” of this complex and temporarily run away from the hustle and bustle of the city center.

4. Chicken Church
Chicken Church or Con Ga church, also known as the Cathedral of Dalat, is one of the most famous churches in Dalat. Chicken Church is one of the Roman Catholic architectural works of European style. The name of Chicken Church comes from the top of the bell tower which is decorated with the picture of a big chicken. This church with a length of 65 m, width of 14 m and height of 47 m was built in 11 years and completed in 1942. From the bell tower, you can see the panoramic view of the flower city that will surely leave a special memory from your trip to Dalat.
5. Dalat Railway Station
Dalat Railway Station is located on Quang Trung Street in the city center. The railway station has an extremely impressive and unique architecture with the shape of the majestic Lang Biang Mountain imbued with French architecture. At the platform, there are old steam locomotives and carriages parked for exploring. Dalat Railway Station was built by the French in 1932 as the terminal stop for the railway connecting Phan Rang with Dalat. However, this route is no longer operating. The station now only serves tourists willing to travel on a 7 km long Dalat – Trai Mat route, giving you a chance to take the ancient train from Dalat Railway Station to explore the mountain town and visit Trai Mat and Linh Phuoc Pagoda. Detailed information about Dalat Railway Station and the train route starting there can be found in our review of Da Lat Railway Station.
6. Dalat Flower Garden
Dalat Flower Garden or the City Flower Garden is located north of Xuan Huong Lake. This place is one of the tourist attractions in Dalat City Center that you should visit, especially in spring. The garden spreads over an area of dozens of hectares, housing many blooming flowers all year round such as roses, daisies, gladiolus, mimosas, and hydrangeas. This place is really suitable for women who love plants and trees. You can freely enjoy the splendid beauty and fragrant scent of the land of flowers There are many interesting places to visit in Da Lat, especially in the city center. Even if your time in Dalat is limited, you can easily visit city’s top attractions that are only few meters apart. We have listed the main tourist attractions in Dalat City Center that are usually must-see for first-time travelers to Dalat. 7. Dalat Night Market
Dalat Night Market, also known as Am Phu Market, is an ideal place to visit in Dalat City Center in the evening. It can be said that this place is the most crowded tourist attraction in Dalat whenever night falls. Dalat Night Market’s vendors sell many typical items of Dalat from clothing, fabrics, unique souvenirs, fine arts to countless agricultural products. You can come here for a walk, shopping or finding a place just to sit and enjoy the scenery while trying some delicious rustic local dishes such as grilled corn, baked potatoes, and grilled rice paper. The area around the night market is also the most popular area to stay in Dalat because it is very central and convenient for traveling around the city and its surroundings.
8. Bao Dai Palace
Located right in the dream city of Dalat, there are 3 Bao Dai palaces, respectively called Bao Dai I, Bao Dai II, and Bao Dai III. These typical ancient buildings are of great significance to Dalat city and the whole country. When coming here, you get a chance to explore the lavish residences and working places of ancient kings of the Nguyen Dynasty and discover the modern architecture of French style in the past. Here are the addresses of 3 Bao Dai palaces in Dalat for your reference:
  • Bao Dai I: No. 01 Tran Quang Khai Street, Ward 10, Dalat
  • Bao Dai II: No. 12 Tran Hung Dao Street, Ward 10, Dalat
  • Bao Dai III: No. 01 Trieu Viet Vuong, Ward 4, Dalat

9. Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Linh Phuoc Pagoda is one of the most famous temples in the country, in part thanks to its bell tower which stands at a height of 37 meters. This makes it the tallest bell tower of its kind in all of Vietnam and there is also a colorful central hall here which has a series of murals that tell the story of the life of Buddha. If you want to learn more about the history of Buddhism then this is a great spot to visit and the pagoda is also set in the middle of a series of lush grounds and lakes.
10. Datanla Waterfalls
Datanla Waterfalls is one of the most famous set of falls in Da Lat and you can easily reach this gushing cataract from the center of town. As well as trekking to the falls, you can even enjoy a series of adrenalin filled rides here such as a small roller coaster which will take you from the summit of the falls down to the limpid pools below. If that sounds a little bit much, then you can simply walk along the trails next to the waterfall and enjoy the cool mist and limpid pools at the base.
11. Trek to Elephant Falls
Like so many other attractions in Da Lat, Elephant Falls actually has another name which is Lieng Rewoa Waterfall, although the reason for this is that Lieng Rewoa actually means Elephant Falls in the local K’ho ethnic language. This cataract is less visited than other falls in the region as it is more difficult to get to, but this means that you can skip the crowds on a trip here and just enjoy the peace and quiet of the lipid pools and gushing water. The falls are also close to Linh An Tu Pagoda so you can easily combine a visit to both in an afternoon
12. Truc Lam Pagoda
Truc Lam Pagoda is one of the newest temples in Da Lat but this also means that it is one of the prettiest. The pagoda sits on the Phuong Hoang Mountain which is close to the scenic Tuyen Lam Lake and there is a large cast bronze bell here as well as carved images of the Buddha. One of the great things about the temple is that you can travel here by cable car and take in the views from the top.
13. the Valley of Love
The Valley of Love is not a valley at all but actually a theme park that is often visited by Vietnamese couples. The park is set amidst lush green hills and backs on to lakes and gardens which are the perfect spot to have a picnic. There is an amusement park here as well that is staffed by locals dressed up as cowboys and you can even take horse or pony rides or take a swan shaped pedal boat out on one of the lakes.
14. Da Lat Market
Dalat Market is Dalat’s central food market and home to a hubof daily activity, asvendors buy and sell a variety of fruit, vegetables, wine, and other goods. Built in 1960, it is made upof more than 1,000 shops in a few multi-storey buildings. The market also specialisesin fresh Vietnamese delights. Be sure to buy some local strawberries while you’re here. Head upto the upper level of the market to find warm, fresh, and cheapmeals. Most vendors are respectful, allowing you to view items at your leisure. Be sure tobargain asit’s all part of the fun of shopping inDaLat Market, butdoso fairly. Many vendors sell similar products, so take a long walk around the market before deciding onwhat you’d like to buy.
15. Domaine De Marie Church
The design of this church, which has no bell tower, contained plenty of renovation compared to the classic churches in the West. The most unique point of this church is that its roofs are similar to the roofs of the communal houses of Ethnis minority in Central highland. Behind the church we can see three blocks of modern architectural houses of Les filles de la Charite de Saint Vincent (the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent).This is a unique architecture which bears the European architecture style of 17th century and the traditional architecture style of the locality.The church is located on a hill with cherry-blossoms with an area of 12 ha, 1 km from city center. So, it has another name “Mai Anh church”.
16.Dalat Cable Car – Robin Hill
The cable car runs from Robin Hill to the Truc Lam Monastery and was built by an Austrian company. The ride covers 2,3km, with 50 brightly painted cabins spanning the distance. The panoramic views of Dalat are worth the effort.

THINGS MUST KNOW BEFORE TRAVELLING TO DA LAT

  • How to get there?

Due to the topographic features, Da Lat traffic only includes roads, railways and airlines. However, only road and air traffic is really active now. The most important route connecting Dalat with other cities is National Highway 20.

+ By plane

Lien Khuong Airport, 28 km south of Dalat city center, next to National Highway 20, it is in Lien Nghia Town, Duc Trong District. All three airlines in Vietnam have direct flights to here, depending on the time of year you can invest time to hunt cheap tickets to Dalat.

You can fly to Dalat from Hanoi, Sai Gon, Da Nang, Vinh and Hai Phong. Airlines will have the corresponding flight routes (Hanoi and Saigon, which also have), you can check directly on the ticket website of the airline.
+ By motorbike
From Ho Chi Minh City visitor can go to Dau Giay crossroads (Dong Nai) and then turn to Highway 20 to Dalat. This distance is about 300km from the center of Ho Chi Minh.
Traveler can fly to Cam Ranh from Hanoi and back to Nha Trang. And then go ahead to Dalat. Passing the spectacular Omega Pass, one of the beautiful roads connecting Da Lat plateau and coastal city of Nha Trang
+ By car/open bus
From Sai Gon daily there are many high quality passenger trains to Dalat. Since the 20th national highway was upgraded, the time to move to Da Lat was reduced to about 5-6hours.
Transportation around Dalat

  • Transportation around Dalat

+ Motorbike
Taking Xuan Huong Lake as a heart, the tourist spots in Dalat are quite close. The most suitable means to discover Dalat is the motorbike. The motorbike will be more flexible in moving to smaller locations where the taxis come in unsuitable. Also it is suitable to wander the flower and have economic benefits best for your trip
+ Double Bike
There are many bike rental locations around the Xuan Huong Lake area. With cool weather, the bike rental around the city is quite fun, but only for nearby places, walking around the lake. Bicycle vehicles are unlikely to move as well as steep.
+ Taxi
This is a suitable vehicle for elderly families and children who are traveling by motorbike or bicycle. When you come to Da Lat, you can get a phone number and rent a fixed one.

  • Accommodation in Da Lat

As one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Vietnam, Da Lat is also one of the most well-equipped accommodation facilities for visitors. The whole city of Dalat has thousands of places for visitors to choose from high-end resorts, budget hotels and homestay to personalized youths. If you are a holiday lover, you can choose resorts or villas far from the center, which are usually quiet and suitable for those who do not like the noise. In contrast, if not too fussy and just a suitable accommodation, most of the hotel accommodation in Dalat can meet your requirements. If you come to Dalat on the occasion of the Hung King, April 30 or every summer, you will often encounter room fire. That is why you should book your hotel room in Dalat. If you are used to book online, you should reserve even months to avoid getting back to the hotel.

  • Food & Drink

Dalat has cold climate and that means you may find yourself be hungry more quickly than usual. Fortunately, there are many specialties which will satisfy any tourists, from street food lovers to authentic and luxury travelers. Famous for the green agriculture, Dalat offers meals with best quality: Clean, delicious, and healthy. Some must try dishes when visiting Dalat , just name a few, are Can cake (Banh Can), Grilled rice paper (Banh trang nuong) or soya bean milk…

WEATHER & THE BEST TIME OF YEARS TO VISIT DA LAT

Da Lat has two distinctive seasons each year. On average, temperatures are highest in May (30°C – 32°C) and lowest in January (20°C – 23°C).

  • Dry Season in Da Lat

The dry season takes place between November and March
From Oct to Dec:  Dalat is very cold so don’t forget to bring warm clothes.
From Jan to March:  Dalat in spring, you can enjoy pleasant weather, beautiful and romantic landscapes.
The pink color of the cherry blossoms is a feature of this city in January and February. To enjoy the best of it, you can go to the areas such as Tran Hung Dao Street, Le Dai Hanh Street, etc. Both sides of the streets are filled with rows of cherry blossoms.

  • Rainy Season in Da Lat 

Rainy weather lasts from April to October. If you’re travelling to Da Lat during the rainy season, you will benefit from cheaper rates and fewer tourists. Despite the occasional showers and cold weather, you can still explore the town’s many French villas, Buddhist shrines, and quirky landmarks such as Crazy House. We highly recommend packing some long-sleeved clothing as night-time temperatures tend to hover at around 10°C.

  • Best Time to Come to Da Lat 

The best time to visit Da Lat is between December and March when you can see its famous flower gardens in full bloom. Temperatures at this time of the year are ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and walking. Da Lat also hosts its biannual flower festival during this time, where you can enjoy vibrant parades, exhibitions and workshops, as well as the colourful flowers that surround Xuan Huong Lake.

TOP 7 BEST FOOD TO TRY IN DA LAT

1.Vietnamese Grilled Pork Sausage

It would be a pity if you came to Da Lat without trying the tasty Nem Nuong! It is a complete combination of rice paper, grilled pork sausage, fresh salad, cucumber, star fruit, herbs and fried rice paper.
The peanut soup makes this dish a famous Da Lat food. To eat Nem Nuong, you need to grab a piece of rice paper, wet it a little bit with water, then add the greens, pork and everything else in it, wrap it up next, and finally dip it into the sauce. It makes a simple recipe but a flavorful filling.
Nem Nuong Hung Van (This is where I had my nem nuong) Address: 150 Bui Thi Xuan, Da Lat Business hours: 9 AM – 9 PM Price range: 35,000 VND (1.6 USD)
2.Mini Pancake– Banh can
You can imagine that you are sitting next to a stove in a cold morning, watching the banh can lady pour the white mixture of rice powder in a pottery pancake pan, fill it with egg, shrimp or squid and frying it until the pancake is burned slightly, is a nostalgic sight. This dish served with a bowl of broth, made of fish sauce, green onions, and meatballs. Just dip in the broth and taste a delicious flavor.
Banh Can Da Lat Address: 7 Tang Bat Ho, Da Lat Business hours:  9 AM – 10 PM Price range: 20,000 – 30,000 VND (0.9 – 1.4 USD)
3. Steamed rice paper with chicken intestine – Banh uot long ga
The dish is made of simple ingredients like rice powder, chicken meat or intestine, topped with crispy fried shallots and served with fish sauce. Banh uot long a is a must-try dish that you should add into your Da Lat eating guide.
Banh Uot Long Ga Long Address: Alley 202, Lo A16 Phan Dinh Phung, Da Lat Business hours: 12 PM – 7:30 PM Price range: 15,000 VND (0.9 USD)
4. Banh mi dip with meatball soup – Banh mi xiu mai chen
It is the best food in Da Lat. A bowl of meatball soup contains pork meatball, pork skin, coriander or green onions and pepper. This dish boasts your energy in breakfast,  which goes wonderfully with hot soya milk, the signature drink of Da Lat.
Banh Mi Yersin Address: 10 Yersin, Da Lat Business hours: 7 AM – 6 PM Price range: 15,000 VND (0.9 USD)
5. Pancake, central style – Banh xeo Da Lat
Da Lat is not a home of Vietnamese pancake, but you will try a different taste.  The Da Lat version is still a yellow cake batter that is fried in the pan, but the size is much smaller while the crust is thicker and crispier. The crispy taste of banh xeo is served with the ultra fresh vegetables so that it is quite hard to stop yourself eating more and more.
Banh Xeo Que Huong Address: 10 Phu Dong Thien Vuong, Da Lat Business hours: 3 PM – 7 PM Price range: 15,000 VND (0.9 USD)

6. Vietnamese Pizza – Banh trang nuong
The Vietnamese style pizza is specially made from rice papers. People will put some other ingredients such as pork, green onions, quail eggs and dried shrimps on rice paper. Then they grill it and rotate it on the coal stove until done. Finally, they will cut it into small triangle pieces and serve with chili sauces. This dish is a perfect dish in the cold climate of Da Lat.
Banh Trang Hoang Dieu Address: 35A-B Hoang Dieu, Da Lat Phone number: No information Business hours: 2 PM – 6 PM Price range: 15,000 VND (0.9 USD)

7. Avocado Ice-cream
Have you ever tried avocado smoothie, fresh avocado and so on? Very awesome, right? Today, we will take you taste avocado ice-cream. It has a simple recipe:  the server chooses the best avocado to blend, and then adds a scoop of coconut ice-cream into the glass. I’m sure you will love it!

Kem Bo Thanh Thao Address: 76 Nguyen Van Troi, Da Lat Business hours: 7AM – 10PM Price range: 15,000 VND (0.9 USD)

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