The South Central Highlands‘ top tourist destination owes its fame to French colonists who chose it as a place to escape the busy Ho Chi Minh City. It is much cooler and ideal for weekend getaways.
Bearing visual markers of its colonial past, Dalat is blessed with picturesque architecture with distinctly French influences and to a degree more noticeable perhaps than in other Vietnamese towns and cities that experienced French occupancy. Natural beauty including the mountains and pine-covered hills in its surrounds, add further to the town’s aesthetic qualities.
With the climate somewhat cooler here than in lower areas of the country, Dalat is home to a thriving agricultural industry that produces a variety of vegetables, fruit and flowers, many of which cannot be grown in lower parts of Vietnam. Indeed, such is the reputation of Dalat’s fresh produce, that markets the length of the country sell its fruit and vegetables at a premium.
The town has, for some time, realized its potential as a tourist destination and hence its infrastructure is well adapted to the needs of its visiting population, with plenty of hotels and restaurants on hand; as well as travel agencies offering excursions to popular local sights. For Vietnamese visitors, it is the ideal spot for a weekend getaway, while for westerners; it makes for a relaxing stop along the lengthy tour between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Getting There & Away
Buses provide the primary form of transportation to Dalat for foreign visitors, with the minibuses operated by the popular Sinh Café offering the easiest travel options for anyone coming from either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. From the latter, the journey takes between 6 and 7 hours, while from Nha Trang (north of Dalat) it takes 5 hours. There are public buses also to Dalat from all the aforementioned destinations. An airport, located just over 18 miles from the city, receives flights daily from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Things to Do
Dalat Attractions
- Xuan Huong Lake
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Situated central to the town, this nature spot is popular with locals and visitors alike for boating, strolling around etc.
- Dalat market
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The best place in town for sampling the locally grown fruit and vegetables and other delicacies.
- Lake of Sorrow
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Is another of the town’s scenic natural areas.
- Lang Biang Mountain
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Take the three-hour hike to the top of the mountain, stopping at the ethnic villages along the way.
- Waterfalls
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Prenn falls and pongour falls are both within easy distance of the town and well worth the visits if you appreciate natural beauty and peaceful settings.