About Da Lat and 10 Things to do in Da Lat you must do

 

About Da Lat and 10 Things to do in Da Lat you must do

Da Lat, the capital of Lam Dong Province in southern Vietnam’s Central Highlands, is centred on a lake and golf course and surrounded by hills, pine forests, lakes and waterfalls. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its distinctive temperate climate, Da Lat was developed as a resort by the French in the early 1900s, and many reminders of its colonial heritage remain.

 

 

10 Things to do in Da Lat you must do

Our list of best things to do in Da Lat offers a mix of natural and manmade landmarks, all of which showcases the hill town’s rich history. Once a favourite retreat among French colonials, Da Lat’s expansive forests and waterfalls now attract nature lovers and thrill-seekers from around the world.

You can experience the local culture by visiting breathtaking Buddhist pagodas, ethnic villages and royal structures, while well-preserved French villas and chalets are ideal for honeymoons and romantic getaways. Some attractions are far from Da Lat City, but there are plenty of local buses, motorcycle taxis and tour companies offering excursions at reasonable rates.

1 Datanla Waterfalls

2 Valley of Love

3 Linh Phuoc Pagoda

4 Bao Dai Summer Palace

5 Da Lat Flower Gardens

6 Pongour Falls

7 Crazy House (Hang Nga Guest House and Art Gallery)

8 Da Lat Railway Station

9 Domaine de Marie Church

10 Elephant Falls

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Details Itinerary 10 Things to do in Da Lat you must do

1. Datanla Waterfalls

Datanla Waterfalls are among the most visited attractions in Da Lat, where you can enjoy plenty of fun activities. Just a 10-minute drive from Da Lat City, the area can get rather crowded with locals during the weekend. You can hike up the hills and swim in clear waters, but the highlight here is the alpine coaster ride. Priced at VND 45,000 for a return trip, you get to enjoy a thrilling ride up and down towards the base of Datanla Waterfalls. If you’re feeling peckish during your visit, there’s a restaurant that serves authentic Vietnamese dishes at reasonable prices.

 

Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 19:00

Location: 5 km south of Da Lat

2. Valley of Love

 

Highlights of Valley of Love

The overall theme of the valley, which doubles as an attraction park of sorts, is romance and peace. Upon entering the Valley of Love, you see a large golden statue of a pair of hands exchanging rings. There are other statues and expressions of love found throughout the 242-hectare valley. Couples can have their photo taken inside of giant carved-out hearts. The 13-hectare Da Thien Lake – a man-made lake in 1972 – sits peacefully in the middle of the valley. Swan-shaped paddle boats are available for hire.

The scenic green hills surrounding the lake are covered in gorgeous pine forests. Colourful flower beds and gardens line the walking paths that lead around the lake and through the forest up to Vong Canh Hill, from which there’s a beautiful lookout where you can view the valley from above. The track continues to Paradise Hill, which is surrounded by other picturesque lakes.

Located 6 km north of Da Lat’s city centre, The Valley of Love is great for those wanting to escape the city for a couple of hours, or for those wanting to celebrate love in a romantic setting, which has resulted in park becoming a popular honeymoon destination. It’s also an ideal area for picnicking and spending time with the family. To get there, visitors can take a bus from Phu Dong Thien Vuong Street. Once there, horse and carriages and train-shaped vehicles are available for hire so that you can explore the park at a relaxed pace.

The Valley of Love is a picturesque valley of rolling hills with a lake as its centrepiece, serving as a romantic getaway for locals and tourists. The French originally named the area Vallée D’amour (The Valley of Love) in 1930, due to its tranquil setting and greenery. The name was changed to The Valley of Peace under the reign of King Bao Dai, and in 1953 was changed once again to its current name, The Valley of Love or Thung Lung Tinh Yeu.

Opening Hours: Daily 06:00 – 18:00

Location: Phu Dong Thien Vuong Street, Da Lat

3. Linh Phuoc Pagoda

Linh Phuoc Pagoda is one of the best-known pagodas in Vietnam because it features the country’s tallest bell tower. A 20-minute drive from Da Lat City Centre, many locals call it the Bottle Pagoda as there’s a 49-metre-long dragon statue that’s made with 12,000 recycled beer bottles in the grounds. Meanwhile, the main hall contains colourful paintings depicting the life of Buddha. The famous bell tower reaches 37 metres in height, and you can write your wishes on a small note and stick it to the centre of the bell, before ringing it three times for Buddha to receive it.

Opening Hours: Daily 09:00 – 17:00

Address: 120 Tu Phuoc, Da Lat

 

4. Bao Dai Summer Palace

Bao Dai Summer Palace Highlights

The ground floor was reserved as the king’s working space, while the upstairs was the living space of the whole royal family. The latter comprises a library, entertainment room, and large dining room. The king and queen’s bedroom features a spacious balcony that was used for appreciating the moonlit evenings. Bao Dai Summer Palace also houses many valuable and well-preserved artefacts that were left behind, including sculptures of the royal family, a large white bust of Bao Dai himself, and an engraved glass map of Vietnam.

Today, visitors can explore all 25 rooms within the palace, where they can take a step back time to learn about royal history. There is an additional fee for bringing in a camera, and shoes must be removed at the door. Located 3.5 km southwest of Da Lat French Quarter, Bao Dai Summer Palace is set along Trieu Viet Vuong Street near the Pasteur Institute.

The Da Lat Flower Gardens house an extensive collection of native and exotic flowers, and for this reason, Da Lat is dubbed “the city of flowers” in Vietnam. Founded in 1966, the gardens feature more than 300 different kinds of flowers, many of which blossom all year round.

Visitors can explore a variety of different gardens, including a giant cactus garden, fields of orchids, and rose, mimosa, and hydrangea displays. There are also finely-trimmed topiary displays found throughout the park. The park entrance greets visitors with an arc-shaped flower arrangement featuring hundreds of impressive flowerpots.

Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 17:00

Address: Trieu Viet Vuong street, Da Lat, Vietnam

5. Da Lat Flower Gardens

The Da Lat Flower Gardens can be found on the northern side of Xuan Huong Lake, covering an area of 7,000 sqm. As Da Lat is well known for its variety of colourful flowers and plant species, the park is one of the town’s most popular attractions. Established in 1966, the Da Lat Flower Gardens grow some 300 types of flowers, including orchids, hydrangeas, roses, pansies, mimosas and peach blossoms. As some of these flowers blossom throughout the year, the gardens are always beautiful, no matter when you visit. You can also buy a beautifully arranged bouquets at the gardens.

Opening Hours: Daily 07:30 – 16:00

Location: Top of the Top-peg Hill, north of Xuan Huong Lake, Da Lat

 

6. Pongour Falls

Pongour Falls are among the largest waterfalls in Vietnam, standing 20 metres in height and 100 metres in width. Located 45 km southwest of Da Lat City, many tour companies offer day-trips to the falls, but you can also get there by bus or motorcycle taxi. there are plenty of stalls selling light snacks and drinks here, making it a popular late-afternoon picnic spot among locals. Adventurous travellers often climb up and swim in all seven tiers of Pongour Falls, but some parts are very slippery, so only attempt this if you’re relatively fit.

Opening Hours: All year round

Location: Tan Hoi Commune, Duc Trong District

 

7. Crazy House (Hang Nga Guest House and Art Gallery)

The Crazy House in Da Lat is a whimsical structure designed by Dang Viet Nga, a Soviet-trained Vietnamese architect, back in 1990. It’s actually called Hang Nga Guesthouse & Art Gallery, but travellers and locals refer to it as Crazy House because of its bizarre concept and tree-like shape. It houses a little over a dozen rooms, each with its own unique theme, as well as wind tunnels, ladders and concrete sculptures of wildlife. If you’re not planning on booking a stay at Crazy House, you can still explore the guesthouse by paying an entrance fee.

Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 18:00

Address: 3 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Da Lat

 

8. Da Lat Railway Station

Da Lat Railway Station is a quaint structure in the hill town’s French Quarter. Built between 1935 and 1938, the station features colourful glass windows, three high-pointed roofs and a Japanese steam train that runs along 16 km of cog railway tracks. Visitors can hop on for a short ride of 7 km, following the historic line to Trai Mat Village, and enjoy relaxing countryside views along the way. The train departs every day at 07:45, 09:50, 11:55, 14:00, and 16:05.

Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 17:00

Address: 1 Quang Trung Street, French Quarter, Da Lat

9. Domaine de Marie Church

Domaine de Marie Church is a Catholic convent dating back to the 1940s. Taking inspiration from 17th-century cathedrals in Normandy, France, it features pink limestone walls, stained glass windows and a 3-metre-tall statue of the Virgin Mary. The church is also home to the Roman Catholic nuns of the Mission of Charity. There’s an orphanage for disabled children, which you can support by donating, volunteering or purchasing souvenirs at the gift shop. Set along Ngo Quyen Street, Domaine de Marie Church is a 10-minute drive from Xuan Huong Lake in Da Lat City Centre.

Opening Hours: Daily 05:00 – 17:00

Location: 1 Ngo Quyen Street, Da Lat

 

10. Elephant Falls

 

Elephant Falls Highlights

Getting to Elephant Falls, however, can be a bit tricky, but it’s certainly worth your while. Visitors must descend a steep, often slippery and uneven path made up of stone steps, which only takes a few minutes. Railings intermittently offer support. Because the falls are a popular destination, the path can become quite trampled and congested, so take caution when climbing. Make sure to bring a decent pair of hiking shoes for good traction.

For a more adventurous route, there’s a small cave you squeeze through to get underneath the falls. Prepare to be splashed from misty waters surging from the cascades, which is all part of the fun in getting there. You may not get wet in the dry season, but pack that poncho during the wet season. There are some moss-covered boulders lying midstream at the bottom of the falls, that, when climbed on top of, offer the perfect shot of the raging falls.

Elephant Falls (That Voi) are aptly named after a giant rock that is supposed to resemble the head of an elephant. The falls are located in a valley at the bottom of a scenic mountain pass outside of Nam Ban village, about 30 kilometres from Da Lat’s city centre. Getting it is pretty straightforward. Every 40 minutes between 06:00 to 18:00, local buses leave Da Lat for Nam Ban, which takes just over 30 minutes each way. The falls are impressive because you can get up close and personal to their thunderous flow, which is a delight for all the senses.

Elephant Falls

Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 17:00

Location: Ba Dinh, Nam Ban town, Lam Ha district, Lam Dong province

 

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