Explore Dat Lat

Da Lat (Vietnamese: Đà Lạt), once the capital of Lam Dong province, is located on the Lam Vien plateau at an altitude of 1,500m above sea level. With a relatively cool climate and a system of waterfalls, lakes, and vast forests…a trip to explore Da Lat will definitely bring you unforgettable experiences. Let’s take a look at this travel guide for more details.

What is the ideal time to explore Da Lat?

Dalat’s climate is cool year-round due to its high-altitude location in the Central Highlands. From January to April, spring is in full bloom, making the mountain town colorful with flowers such as cherry blossoms, white roses, and purple poinciana. Furthermore, it’s the dry season, so it’s ideal for outdoor activities such as trekking, swimming, and exploring. Enjoy pleasant weather and beautiful, romantic landscapes.

May-September is summer and the peak tourism season, when tourists from across Vietnam escape the heat, as it’s the hot season in many other areas. However, this is the rainy season in Da Lat, so people always have to carry raincoats or umbrellas.

October-December: Dalat is in the dry, cold season. Visitors on this occasion will have the opportunity to see wild sunflowers blooming brightly, pink grass hills shimmering in the morning dew, or clouds covering the mountains and hills in the suburbs. 

How to get here?

Most tourists from the Northern provinces and Ho Chi Minh City choose to fly directly to Da Lat with Vietjet or Vietnam Airline. However, the Southern and Middle regions can be traveled to by bus or car. It would be convenient, especially when traveling with a group, to book a private car to Da Lat, as the bus or car can stop along the way, and it is easy to sightsee.

From Ho Chi Minh City, the most economical option is the tourist bus. There are many buses that depart almost every hour from HCMC, and the ticket costs from 270,000 VND/way. Here are some bus companies we recommend for your trip to Da Lat: Dien Linh, Kumho Samco, Long Van, and Futa Bus.

Futa bus – one of the famous bus companies to Da Lat

In Da Lat, tourists rent motorbikes, cars, taxis, or use booking car/bike apps to move between attractions. Motorbike rental prices range from 120,000 to 150,000 VND/day. Private car with a driver costs start from 1,000,000 VND/day.

Where should you go in Da Lat?

The most famous Da Lat tourist destinations are concentrated in the ward center. According to our experience traveling to Da Lat, these are all familiar places, but still attractive with their own beauty

Famous natural destinations

Da Lat is known for numerous stunning destinations that attract tourists. Let’s take a look at some of the city’s beautiful, poetic attractions. This is home to the most charming waterfalls, valleys, and lakes in the Central Highlands, renowned for beautiful legends and a wild, majestic character that promise an enjoyable experience for visitors. 

Dambri waterfall

Dambri Waterfall is one of the highest and most magnificent waterfalls in Vietnam, located about 20km from Bao Loc. This is an impressive waterfall with clear, cold water cascading off the mountains and spilling over a rocky escarpment, dropping 70 metres into a large pool before continuing to flow down the valley.

Furthermore, the waterfall is surrounded by a primeval forest with 100 plant species, including Dambri Waterfall, Dasara Fall, Daton Fall, a fossil plant cave, and an animal zoo. 

Tourists can visit these tourist spots by horse-drawn carriage, tramcar, elevator, or roller coaster. 

Location: Village 14, 2 Bao Loc Ward. 

Pongour Waterfall

Located in Tan Nghia town, Duc Trong district, 50km from Da Lat center, the waterfall is also known as Thien Thai. Pongour Waterfall features a 7-story waterfall, a large rocky chasm, wide, moss-covered terraces, and a surrounding primeval forest covering about 2.5 hectares, with diverse, rich vegetation and wildlife.

Tourists from around the world often come here to visit, take pictures, and have fun. The waterfall is also a popular picnic spot in the late afternoons, so if you want to experience the falls without too many tourists, try to visit during the middle of the day.

Coming here on the full moon day of the first lunar month, you will also have the opportunity to participate in the unique Pongour festival of the K’Ho people. 

Cam Ly Waterfall

Cam Ly Waterfall is the closest waterfall to the center of Da Lat. The entrance is located between 57 – 59 Hoang Van Thu Street.

The waterfall’s stream is about 10m high, though the overall height is low; the flow is strong yet gentle, especially during the rainy season. The waterfall flows gently through boulders, and it looks like the hairstyle of a girl. The waterfall is surrounded by a green pine forest, a variety of flowers, and evergreen trees. 

Beside Xuan Huong Lake or Langbiang Mountain, the waterfall has become an indispensable symbol of Da Lat city and has been mentioned in many poems and songs.

Datanla Waterfall

Situated in the middle of the Prenn mountain pass, approximately 5 km from Da Lat. This is the most touristy and developed of all the falls in Lam Dong. 

It has excellent pathways, through lush foliage, leading down through many ‘levels’ of the falls. The cascading waterfalls fall to the ground before disappearing through layers of marble scattered in the small stream.

Datanla Waterfall represents the wild and majestic beauty of the Central Highlands mountains and forests. This place is an ideal stop for those who love to explore and participate in adventure sports. Datanla Waterfall tourist area offers visitors a range of activities, including climbing stone steps to reach the waterfall’s top, a roller coaster, a cable car, a stream walk to Prenn Bridge, and whitewater rafting. 

Prenn Waterfall

Prenn Waterfall is located at the foot of Prenn Pass, which is 10 km from Da Lat. It is also the gateway to Da Lat. From a height of 9 m, the water flows over a basalt cliff, creating a majestic natural beauty. The tourist area is also a pine forest, home to primitive trees that make up 90% of the area. The tourist site features a cable car, a suspension bridge, a stilt house, a showroom, a souvenir shop, and a restaurant. Furthermore, tourists can participate in a range of folk games and activities, including elephant and ostrich rides.

There is also a small zoo that houses elephants, tigers, bears, deer, monkeys, pythons, peafowl, and more. In 2000, Prenn waterfall was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and granted a national historic and cultural relic.

Elephant Waterfall

The waterfall, also known as Lieng Rowoa, is located approximately 25 km southwest of Da Lat and has a height of about 30 meters and a width of 15 meters. The Elephant Waterfall is the most dramatic in the province. Unlike most of Lam Dong’s other waterfalls, Elephant Waterfall remains in its natural state, with no human-made modifications.

Over the years, the water has eroded the escarpment to create a cave-like overhang, from where you can get up close, literally, under the falls, while staying (relatively) dry. Behind the waterfall are mysterious caves, such as Hang Doi (Bat Cave), located 50m above the ground, with an entrance lined with many tree roots and vines crisscrossing each other. Hang Gio (Wind Cave) is always a highlight for visitors seeking to explore.

Jraiblian Waterfall

Hidden in the serene Ta In Forests is the majestic Jraiblian Waterfall. The waterfall is located in Ta In commune of Duc Trong district, on the outskirts of Dalat city. It was also called Bao Dai, Vietnam’s last emperor (1913-1997), a waterfall as it was the resting place of numerous hunting trips of the emperor. At around 80 metres high and over 100 metres wide, this is also the biggest and most spectacular waterfall in Lam Dong.

The massive volume of water cascading from the top of the vertical volcanic rock wall to the stream below creates a raw, overwhelming natural scene. Jraiblian waterfall is definitely an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy pure nature. 

Xuan Huong Lake

Xuan Huong Lake is a symbol of Da Lat, located in the city center and crescent-shaped. This is an artificial lake with a circumference of approximately 5km and a width of 25 km. The lake has long been known for its vast pine forests, green lawns, and beautiful flower gardens. The lake’s surface is smooth and crystal-clear, reflecting the charming scenery of Dalat city with pine forests. With its romantic views, Xuan Huong Lake is renowned as a romantic destination, a dreamy tourist attraction, and a popular spot for couples to meet. 

It is also a favorite destination for tourists who enjoy walking, taking stagecoaches, riding double bikes, and duck-riding to explore the lake and the surrounding area.

Da Nhim Lake

Da Nhim Lake, also known as Don Duong Lake, is located in Dran Commune, Lam Dong Province. It is 36 km southeast of Dalat center. The view of Da Nhim Lake is a great combination of mountains, lake, and clouds, creating a scenic landscape for the province and attracting many tourists.

Visiting Da Nhim Lake, tourists can also learn about the Da Nhim hydropower plant, which was built on the lake from 1962 to 1964.

Nearby is another tourist attraction: the Ngoan Muc Pass, one of the largest in Vietnam. Tourists can hike, horseback ride, or drive a jeep along the red-dirt road that leads to the Valley of Love. It’s also an ideal place for camping with your family members and friends.

Tuyen Lam Lake

Tuyen Lam Lake is a popular tourist destination with numerous resorts. It is surrounded by primeval pine forests and green-shaded oases scattered across the lake, creating a charming, poetic scene typical of a mountain town. This is the largest freshwater lake in Lam Dong, covering 350 hectares.

Tuyen Lam is an ideal spot for a picnic or a lakeside camping trip to enjoy the cool air near Da Lat. Besides enjoying the lake’s natural scenery, tourists can participate in recreational activities such as a boat ride to take in the view, spiritual travel at Truc Lam Monastery, hiking, fishing, and, especially, pitching a tent with provided equipment, then enjoying an evening BBQ with friends.

Dankia Lake

Located about 20km northwest of Da Lat’s center, Dankia Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the region, with a capacity of about 20 million cubic meters. The lake has long supplied Da Lat with fresh water and electricity, particularly through the Ankoret plant, the first hydroelectric plant built in Vietnam (1943).

Dankia Lake impresses tourists with the scenic high mountains, pine forests, and clear streams winding around romantic hills, creating a wonderful painting before visitors’ eyes. In the Dankia-Suoi Vang area, visitors will be drawn by the natural beauty of Golden Valley, Ankroet Waterfall, and Suoi Vang Dam. In addition, the ethnic minorities in Lat Village continue to maintain their traditional customs. This is also an ideal site for ethnological tourism.

Than Tho Lake

The lake is situated on a high hill in the middle of a tranquil pine forest, creating a peaceful atmosphere that attracts numerous tourists who love to explore romantic natural landscapes.

Alongside folk unfinished love stories, such as the story of Mai Huong – Hoang Tung in the 18th century and the story of the pine hill with 2 graves…, the harmonious characteristics of Than Tho Lake have increasingly attracted tourists as a fascinating destination. This is a place associated with a touching yet tragic story of a couple’s love and is a favorite destination for couples visiting Da Lat. 

Tourists can walk on the green lawns, watch the pine silhouettes down the lake surface, or ride a horse around the lake like a true nomad.

Valley of Love

Located 5km from the center of Da Lat, spanning up to 140ha, the Valley of Love is one of the most romantic tourist spots in Lam Dong, attracting visitors, especially newlywed couples. The scenic green hills surrounding the lake are covered in gorgeous pine forests, creating a romantic view, especially when you stand on the tracks that lead to Vong Canh Hill. 

It is an ideal place to organize outdoor activities such as camping and barbecue parties, and to enjoy activities including horseback riding, duck riding, jeep rides, paintball, and tandem biking.

Address: 3 – 5 – 7 Mai Anh Dao Street, Lam Vien-Da Lat Ward. 

Lang Bian Mountain

The mountain is listed as “the roof of Da Lat”. The mountain is 2,169m above sea level. At the foot of Langbiang Mountain is a tourist area featuring beautiful rustic architecture and full amenities for tourists’ leisure. The Langbiang is attracting visitors with exciting adventures: climbing and conquering the peak. It takes around 4 hours to reach the top of the mountain.

Another way to reach the top is by renting a jeep. Standing on the top of the mountain, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the foggy city in the distance.

The address of the Langbiang mountain tourist area is: No. 305 Langbiang Road, Lang Biang – Da Lat Ward.

Famous spiritual tourist destinations in Da Lat

Many people come to Da Lat to find peace. The city’s temples and churches are spiritual places that convey faith and offer a place to find peace after busy, hard days. make a living.

St. Nicholas Cathedral, Da Lat

The St. Nicola Cathedral, also known as the Con Ga (Rooster) Church, is an ancient Catholic church in Lam Dong. There are five masses every Sunday. It was designed in the style of Roman Catholic churches, with a European orientation, and features an overall cross-shape, measuring 65m long, 14m wide, and reaching a height of 47m.

To highlight the church, the architect installed 70 Medieval-style stained-glass panels on the wall to illuminate the cathedral’s interior and create a distinctive aesthetic.

Address: 15 Tran Phu Street, Xuan Huong-Da Lat Ward, Lam Dong.

Linh Phuoc Pagoda

Linh Phuoc Pagoda is located in Trai Mat, Da Lat, 8 km from the center, on Highway 20. Completed in 1952, Linh Phuoc pagoda, also known as Ve Chai Pagoda, features a 49-metre-long dragon’s head at the entrance gate, meticulously assembled from 12,000 broken glass bottles and pottery fragments. In front of Hoa Long Vien is a 36-meter-high tower that houses the heaviest bell in Vietnam, weighing 8,500 kg.

 Beside the bell tower stands an 18-metre-high golden statue of the Bodhisattva, decorated with over 600,000 flowers. In addition, the site features a display house showcasing gems, ancient porcelain, and fine art wood.

In addition to admiring the unique architecture, tourists and Buddhists also have the opportunity to learn about the 18 levels of hell. By going through these 18 levels of hell, people will learn about the philosophy of good and evil, how to treat others, and how to live kindly.

Truc Lam Monastery

The Truc Lam Monastery is located on Phung Hoang Mountain, next to Tuyen Lam Lake, about 7 km from Da Lat. The monastery covers ​​24 hectares and was founded on April 8, 1993, and completed on February 8, 1994. This is considered the largest monastery in the country, both in terms of space and congregation size. In the main hall, only worship Buddha Shakyamuni holding lotus branches.

Right outside is a majestic tower, inside of which hangs a large bell 1.98 m high and weighing 1.1 tons, engraved with poems by “Truc Lam Dau Da”. Truc Lam Monastery not only has ancient, magnificent beauty like other temples, but also conceals many mysteries of the spiritual world.

Domaine de Marie, Da Lat

The Domaine de Marie, also known as Vinh Son Convent, is an architectural complex comprising a chapel and two rows of the Bac Ai Thanh Vinh Son monastery, covering a total area of 12 hectares. The convent is located atop a hill in Da Lat. It is built in a style reminiscent of 17th-century French architecture. However, this church has distinctive features and differs from classical European churches.

The church’s roofs are inspired by the Nha Rong style, a typical stilt-house design in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Another example of the interaction is the 3 m-high statue of Mary, created by a French architect, but it resembles the image of a Vietnamese woman. In general, the two competing styles have created an absolutely creative and intricate complex.

Address: 01 Ngo Quyen, Cam Ly-Da Lat Ward.

Linh An Pagoda

Linh An Pagoda is a sacred pagoda located in the heart of Da Lat’s majestic mountains and forests. With its traditional architecture and a peaceful, quiet atmosphere, this place attracts tourists from around the world seeking purity and peace of mind. Linh An Pagoda is located on Ta Nung Pass, about 30km from Da Lat city center. Upon arrival, you will be overwhelmed by the main hall, which measures 1,400 square meters. Inside, there are numerous large, beautiful Buddha and Guanyin statues. In addition, Linh An Pagoda also has a notable architectural work, the most prominent one at Linh An Pagoda in Da Lat and the 70m high statue of Avalokiteśvara – one of the tallest statues in Vietnam; The special Tinh Thanh garden, which contains nearly 500 white statues of Avalokiteshvara, of the same shape, about 3 meters high, Maitreya Buddha statue was built with a height of 12.5 meters, a width of 6.5 meters and a surface of horizontal up to 9m.

Location: Ba Dinh Street, Nam Ban Lam Ha Commune.

Famous historical and architectural attractions

In addition to the poetic beauty, magical waterfalls, and lakes, Da Lat is also famous for many historical works with unique and beautiful architecture, such as 

Tran Le Xuan Palace

Tran Le Xuan Palace is a complex of three villas in the French architectural style, located at 2 Yet Kieu Street, Cam Ly-Da Lat Ward. During the First Republic of Vietnam, this building served as the resting place for the families of Tran Le Xuan and Ngo Dinh Nhu. After Ngo Dinh Nhu and his brother, President Ngo Dinh Diem, were assassinated, and Tran Le Xuan lived in exile, this project became a tourist destination.

The entire villa area is over 13,000 square meters. Bach Ngoc Villa features a heated swimming pool. Behind the Lam Ngoc villa is a Japanese flower garden. Lam Ngoc Villa also has an escape tunnel and shelter.

Tran Le Xuan Palace includes three villas:

• Bach Ngoc Villa: an entertainment place of Tran Le Xuan’s family and high-ranking officers during the First Republic period.
• Hong Ngoc Villa: Tran Le Xuan built a plan for his father, Mr. Tran Van Chuong.
• Lam Ngoc Villa: Tran Le Xuan’s family’s weekend getaway.

Hang Nga Villa

Hang Nga Villa or Crazy House (known in English as Crazy House) is a guesthouse in Da Lat, located at 3 Huynh Thuc Khang on a campus of nearly 2,000 m². This house is famous for its special architectural style.

Hang Nga Villa comprises many buildings, guest houses, cafes, and art galleries, all with a distinctive style. The building’s interior includes caves, winding hallways, winding staircases, quirky furniture, and large animal statues. There are no straight lines or angles, and everything appears as if it has been melted at high temperatures and then frozen into a grotesque shape.

Between the buildings are tree stumps, gnarled tree roots made of concrete, and giant spider webs made of wire. There is a small tea room inside a large Giraffe statue. The rooms are named Gourd, Kangaroo, Bear, Bee,… Rooms can be booked for regular overnight stays. Currently, each year, “Crazy House” welcomes about 100,000 visitors, most of whom are foreigners.