Located in the south of Vietnam the charming town of Da Lat, the capital city of Lam Dong province. Situated on a plateau 1,500 metres above sea level, Da Lat was developed as a resort by the French in the early 1900s, and many reminders of its colonial heritage remain. Some even call it ‘Le Petit Paris’ (the town even features a mini-replica Eiffel Tower in its centre!). Discover why Da Lat is known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ and is famous amongst honeymooners, and nature lovers.
Here are the 25 top things to do in Da Lat Vietnam …
MUST-DO
Ride The Cable Car
Amongst the pine trees and peaceful setting of Da Lat, it’s hard to ignore to the more modern mode of transport that sits above you. The Da Lat Cable Car was opened in 2003 and connects you from Robin Hill up to Truc Lam Pagoda & Tuyen Lake. The journey itself is one worth noting, with unbeatable panoramic views of Da Lat City from the sky.
Included on Day 7 of the South Vietnam Tour
Tuyen Lam Lake
A short cable car journey 7km from Da Lat City, in a beautiful hilltop setting, sits the picturesque Tuyen Lam Lake. One of the largest freshwater lakes in Da Lat, it is also known as the “Nam Thien Nhat Ho” – meaning the most beautiful lake in the south of Vietnam. Located at the foot of the Phoenix Mountains and southeast of the Truc Lam Zen Monastery, you’ll fall in love with the peaceful and romantic setting of this famous beauty spot. You can even ride a boat on the lake, go fishing, or take a horse and carriage around the lake.
Included on Day 7 of the South Vietnam Tour
Truc Lam Pagoda
Southeast of the Tuyen Lam Lake is the Truc lam pagoda – the largest pagoda in Da Lat and the biggest Zen University in Vietnam. Enjoy the peaceful scenery of this paradise surrounded by pine forests, lakes, and bonsai gardens. One of the objectives of the temple is to recreate the spirit of Zen Buddhism.
Included on Day 7 of the South Vietnam Tour
Xuan Huong Lake
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Another must-visit national beauty spot in Da Lat is the Xuan Huong Lake, also known as the heart of Da Lat city. Created by a dam in 1919, this crescent-moon-shaped lake boasts smooth, crystal-clear waters that reflect the surrounding pine forests. Be sure to enjoy a romantic meal overlooking the lake, taking in all of its beauty.
Clay Sculpture Tunnel
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15km from Da Lat City is the highly impressive Clay Sculpture Tunnel, a unique, man-made sculpture park featuring hundreds of models handcrafted from basalt & dark red clay found in the central highlands of Vietnam. Marvel at hundreds of statues of monkeys, elephants, Vespa motorbikes, the Dalat railway station, cathedrals, pagodas, and more.
Included on Day 6 of the South Vietnam Tour
CULTURAL
Bao Dai’s Summer Palace
The Bao Dai King’s Summer Palace, the last emperor’s house.
Bao Dai was Vietnam’s last emperor who ascended to the throne was he was just 12 years old. His summer palace, which was built between 1933-1937, was used by Bao Dai as a cooler summer retreat when temperatures got too hot in other parts of Vietnam. Now, you can visit the place and learn of how Bao Dai and his family once would have spent their time here. The home is still much as it would have been in the past and is filled with Bao Dai’s furniture as well as his personal possessions.
Included on Day 7 of the South Vietnam Tour
Golden Buddha Pagoda
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Part of Van Hanh Zen Monastery, home to around 100 monks and 80 nuns, the Golden Buddha stands 24 metres tall on top of one of the tallest hills in Da Lat. It’s just a 10-minute drive from Da La City centre, but we recommend booking a guided tour which includes travel to and from, as well as touring some other key attractions.
Included on Day 7 of the South Vietnam Tour
Linh Son Pagoda
If you want to visit one of the less well-known pagodas in Da Lat, then be sure to visit Linh Son Pagoda. Built in 1938, this lovely ochre-colored Buddhist temple fuses both French and Chinese architecture. It boasts beautiful views of the city from its scenic hilltop location and is a great spot to chill out thanks to its uber-peaceful atmosphere. It even has its own tea and coffee plantations so you can also check out the monks harvesting the crops when they are in season!
HISTORICAL
Da Lat Cathedral
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Built in 1931 and completed in 1942, Da Lat Cathedral was once the place of worship for the French colonialists. Designed and built according to Roman Catholic churches in Europe, it is open for mass services at the weekends.
Included on Day 7 of the South Vietnam Tour
Walk Through The French Quarter
End an evening in Da Lat with a stroll through the French Quarter, admiring the long avenue of villas that were once the holiday homes of the wealthy and used to escape the summer heat of Saigon in the early 1900s.
Domaine de Marie Church
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Another must-see whilst in DaLat is Domaine de Marie – a perfectly pastel-pink church on a hill, built in a style reminiscent of 17th Century French architecture. It features a statue of the virgin mary.
TRIPS & DAYS OUT
Dalat Train Station
Da Lat Train Station was built in 1943 and, although small, offers a great insight into how the people of Da Lat would have traveled at this time. It still has traditional ticket windows, restored rail cars, unique Art Deco style, stained glass windows, and a steam train on display. You can even take the wood-burning locomotive for around 5 kilometers up a mountain pass that ends in the idyllic village of Trai Mar.
Linh Phuoc Pagoda
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Linh Phuoc Pagoda is by far one of the most famous temples in Vietnam. Its bell tower stands at a height of 37 meters, making it the tallest bell tower of its kind in all of Vietnam. It is also known as ‘the pagoda of broken glass’ due to the 49-metre-long dragon at the front of the Pagoda being made from 12,000 beer bottles. Located in the small town of Trai Mat, which you can easily get to on a short train journey.
Valley of Love (Theme Park)
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This amusement park is set amidst lush green hills and backs onto lakes and gardens. You can even take horse or pony rides, pedal on Da Thien lake in a swan-shaped pedal boat, or just sit and admire the scenery in the flower gardens. Be sure to go to the lookout point on Vong Can Hill where you can view the valley from above. The theme park is 6km from Da Lat and easily accessible by train or taxi.
FOOD & DRINK
Crazy House
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Whilst in Da Lat, be sure to grab a few drinks in the must-see Crazy House. Listed as one of the world’s ten most bizarre buildings, it resembles a giant tree and is used as a guesthouse and a popular tourist attraction. Local authorities restricted the owner of the house from doing any more work for many years but the owner was eventually able to convince the national government to endorse her work.
100 Roofs Cafe
Grab a drink and work your way through the multistory maze in the 100 Roofs Cafe Bar. Once you get through, the maze opens into a tiered garden with an amazing view of the city!
NATURE
Datanla Waterfalls
Datanla Waterfalls is one of the most famous waterfalls in Da Lat. As well as trekking to the falls, you can even enjoy a small roller coaster that will take you from the summit of the falls down to the pools below. If that sounds a little bit much, then you can walk along the trails next to the waterfall. Or, if you’re an adrenaline junkie, there’s even abseiling, rafting & free jumping on site.
Prenn Falls
Take the scenic 10km trek from Dalat to this premium beauty spot. You can also take the mini cable car over the falls, or use the narrow walking path that runs behind it. The waterfall is also close to Au Lac Temple so you can also visit both at the same time.
Pongour Falls
One of our personal favourites amongst the waterfalls in Da Lat is Pongour Falls. An hour drive from Dalat, it’s off the beaten path and a quieter spot from the usual tourist-filled waterfalls. It can be quite tricky to reach, so if you can, it might be worth hiring a private car or renting a scooter. But trust us, it’s so worth it!
Lang Biang Mountain
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12 km from the city of DaLat is Lang Biang Mountain. If you fancy a good trek, you can reach the peak within 3-4 hours. Otherwise, there are jeeps on standby ready to take you to the top. Expect unbeatable views of Dalat City, pine forests, and the Golden & Silver streams running along the valley. There are two peaks, Ong mountain, and Ba Mountain.
Elephant Falls
Also known as Lieng Rewoa Waterfall, which literally translates to ‘Elephant Falls’ in the local K’ho ethnic language, this beauty spot is one of the lesser crowded waterfalls in Da Lat. It can be a bit tricky to get to, and there are local buses that can get you there, but it’s definitely worth the journey there. The falls are close to Linh An Tu Pagoda, so you can easily combine a visit to both in the afternoon.
Dalat Flower Gardens
With an extensive collection of native & exotic flowers, Da Lat has often dubbed ‘the city of flowers in Vietnam. Founded in 1966, the Da Lat Flower Gardens are home to more than 300 kinds of beautiful and exotic flowers. Plus, the flowers all bloom at different times of the year, so you really can visit whenever.
Included on Day 7 of the South Vietnam Tour
Lake of Sighs
According to local legends in Da Lat, the Lake of Sighs is the place where two star-crossed lovers met but were unable to be together. The legend is indeed a little sad, but the lake itself is beautiful. It was once a swamp but now provides water for the whole city. Otherwise known as Than Tho Lake, you can even rent out a paddleboat or take a dreamy horse and carriage ride around the edges of the lake.