Da Lat: A Guide to Visiting Vietnam's Little Paris

Da Lat is affectionately called the City of Flowers, the City of Love, or the City of Romance. Located on the Lam Vien Highlands, Lam Dong Province, Da Lat has picturesque scenery and pleasant weather, making it a top vacation destination in Vietnam. Da Lat was established at the end of the 19th century. When looking for a location to build a resort for the French in Indochina, Governor-General Paul Domer decided to choose the Lam Vien Highlands, as proposed by Dr. Alexandre Yersin, who explored this area in 1893. In the first half of the 20th century, from the desolate land, the French planned and built a beautiful city with villas, headquarters, hotels, and schools, becoming a tourism and education center of Indochina at that time. Today, Da Lat is the tourism, economic, and cultural center of Lam Dong Province and the Central Highlands. Located at an altitude of 1,500 meters, with Lam Vien Peak reaching 2,167 meters high, Da Lat has a temperate climate thanks to the surrounding mountains. Day and night temperature fluctuations are significant, averaging about 11 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature can reach 30 degrees Celsius, while the lowest temperature can fall below 5 degrees Celsius. The four seasons in Da Lat are not equally divided. The middle of the year is often influenced by tropical depressions and seasonal winds from the southwest, leading to prolonged rain. However, each season has its own charm. While Da Lat is a festival destination during the dry seasons of spring and winter, it's a perfect getaway even during the rainy seasons of summer and fall when other northern and southern cities are unbearably hot. Therefore, if you're looking for favorable weather to visit Da Lat, December to March are recommended months. Da Lat, a strategic resort destination, has made significant improvements in transportation and infrastructure, making it easy for tourists to access. Slipper buses from Ho Chi Minh City are a popular and cost-effective choice to get to Da Lat. While several local buses serve this route, Thanh Bui and Phuong Trang are popular for their quality and professionalism. In general, the prices of bus companies and sea types are similar, about 12 USD for an 8-hour journey. For those coming from more distant cities, air travel is a viable option. Linh Khuong International Airport, located about 30 km from Da Lat center, connects most domestic flights and some international destinations such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Seoul. Moving around Da Lat is easy. With the advantage of being a small city in terms of area and close proximity to tourist attractions, traveling by bicycle, motorbike, or double-decker bus is the optimal choice when visiting this city. You'll know you're in Da Lat when you catch a glimpse of Sung Hun Lake. Located in the city center and surrounded by famous attractions, this lake is a symbol of Da Lat's romantic atmosphere. We recommend taking a walk around the lake to feel the vitality of the city. At one end, there's a boat station where you can rent a swan boat and row around the lake for unique city views. Right on the shore of the lake is Lam Vinh Square, more than 70,000 m2 wide, featuring two architectural works inspired by wild sunflowers and orichalc buds. This area serves as a center for organizing activities, events, sightseeing, and shopping for tourists. A short walk from the square will lead you to Da Lat Market, an open market where you can find almost anything you can imagine, crochet clothes, street foods, special teas, and souvenirs. This is the ideal place to immerse yourself in Da Lat's nightlife, view the energy of the city, and enjoy yourself. Nearby is the City Flower Garden, an iconic attraction in Da Lat and recognized as a National Flower Reserve, where more than 200 flower species are displayed and preserved. You'll find beautiful figures made from a variety of flowers, lovely fountains, and decorative staircases, which will create a beautiful background for your photos. Da Lat Railway Station is the oldest Indochina station still in existence and holds the highest altitude in Vietnam. Due to the high and winding hills of Da Lat, engineers had to use a two-track rail and locomotive haul system at some points along the road, a unique system in Indochina. The station is currently operated for tourism. The seven-kilometer train ride will take you through beautiful pine forests, peaceful monasteries, temples, and colorful flower fields. Da Lat is also lovingly called the Paris of Vietnam because of the French architecture scattered throughout this city. Among these architectural gems, the Palaces 1 and 3 hold iconic status. Palace 1 or King Palace was formerly the residence of a French officer before being purchased and converted into the headquarters and workplace of the government of Bảo Đại, the last emperor of Vietnam. Nestled among the green pine forests, the mansion is one of the most unique and romantic French architectural works in Da Lat. Palace 3 was Bảo Đại's main residence and workplace, where he spent most of his time and is therefore also known as Bảo Đại's Summer Palace. Among the palaces, Palace 3 most clearly reflects the integration of Vietnamese and French architecture and is the most popular palace among local tourists. The first impression that Domaine de la Mairie Church will make on you is its vibrant pink color and unique 17th-century European classical-style architecture. Interestingly, the church was built in the 1940s using natural adhesives such as plaster and molasses. Despite its humble campus, this church boasts beautiful surroundings with blooming flowers all year round. Linh Phu Pagoda, also known by locals as Trung Pagoda, is a unique religious architectural work with many national records. The pagoda was built and decorated with countless pieces of broken ceramics and pottery. The highlights of Linh Phu Pagoda are not only the large statues and impressive workshaped objects, but also the thrilling replica depicting the 18 levels of hell in Buddhism, reminding us of the principle of cause and effect in life. Set among rolling green hills and picturesque lakes, the Valley of Love, once a rendezvous for French aristocracy under the name Vallée des Morts, offers an idyllic destination for a day of picnicking and leisure. Entrance tickets allow for the use of transit cars within the vast rounds, pedalos on the lake, and a mesmerizing gong show. Trúc Lâm Giang Monastery is said to be located in a prime location according to surrounded by Phượng Hoàng Mạc Ân and overlooking Tuyên Lâm Lẹc. Lý Chánh Hà Sĩ Đát Monk Thích Thanh Tử dreamed of being carried to the sky by a phoenix one night in 1983. When he woke up, he started looking for a place like in the dream and finally found Phượng Hoàng Mạc Ân, where he placed the first bricks of the admirable monastery. Today, Trúc Lâm Giang Monastery is an attractive spiritual destination in Đà Lạt. Crazy House is known as one of the houses with strange and unique architecture in Đà Lạt. Stepping into it, you will feel like you are lost in the wonderland. The complex is divided into different themes, such as spider webs, paradise, and aquarium, all of which are interconnected by a network of outdoor stairs. The uniqueness of this abstraction is definitely worth a visit. Đà Tận Lại is one of the five most famous waterfalls in Đà Lạt, and it's also the most actively and professionally exploited waterfall for adventure tourism, thanks to its favorable landscape. In addition to admiring the majestic beauty of the massive waterfall, visitors can also participate in many outdoor activities suitable for all levels, such as zip-lining, canyoning, and the highly recommended high-roof course. Regarding cuisine, Đà Lạt is considered a paradise for any food lover because of the variety and quality of dishes, especially street food. The cool climate and poetic scenery seem to make every dish more delicious. You may know of Vietnamese bánh mì as a form of a sandwich, but bánh mì siêu mại is not a typical bánh mì filled with fillings. Siêu mại is small meatballs made from minced pork and woody mushrooms. In the misty and chilly weather, there's nothing better than fresh bánh mì served with a small bowl of siêu mại, chewy pork skin, steamed pork sausages, and topped with coriander. When eating, we tear the bánh mì into small pieces and dip them in the siêu mại soup, complementing it with bits of meatballs. Bánh tráng nướng goes internationally by the name of Vietnamese pizza. It's a rice paper sheet truck grill until it becomes crispy. During that time, a quail egg or a chicken egg is cracked and spread onto the surface, then other toppings such as dried baby cream, a cube of cheese, green onions, and fried shallots are added. It's then rolled up and wrapped up in a piece of paper so you can hold and eat on the way without burning your hand. From the first bite, you will immediately feel the explosion of flavors in your mouth. A must-try local delicacy in Đài Lạt is bánh ướt lòng gà. It consists of bite-sized steamed rice, sheets seasoned with fresh green herbs, sliced onions, and dried shallots. These are savored with well-cooked chicken organs, shredded chicken meat, and young chicken eggs. Chicken organs are meticulously prepared and cooked. However, if you don't feel like it, you can ask to remove them. The standout element is the elegantly sour and sweet vinegar dressing which tantalizes the taste buds. In the cool, slightly chilly evenings, Đài Lạt transforms into a street food haven. Whether you're strolling down any street or exploring various locations, you'll come across stalls and carts offering real rice paper, roasted corn, real sweet potatoes, an assortment of cakes, and nut-based milk. Give it a try. Sit out on a small stoon and enjoy a real sweet potato to see how it feels. Đài Lạt is highly sought-after, a getaway destination that captivates our hearts no matter how many times we visit. That's why we want to highly recommend you visit this city of flowers and pines. Although it has become quite touristy in recent times, it's so spacious that you can easily find quite a spot for yourself. See you in Đài Lạt!