Dalat

Da Lat: Vietnam’s Misty Mountain Retreat

Da Lat is a fantastic holiday in Vietnam based at 1,500 meters in the Central Highlands, cooler than the tropical lowlands. Once the French colonial summers’ resort, Da Lat is scattered with European-style villas and garden properties, and an art-deco railway station that is reminiscent of that age of ‘old world’ allure. So cool, the locals call it the “City of Eternal Spring,” as the weather is mild throughout the year.

Sightsee & Walks

Xuan Huong Lake is the centerpiece of the town surrounded by flowered-markets and lakeside hiker’s promenade. A short walk from the lake is a small number of charming cafés, that serve coffee beans sourced locally, just make sure you explore a highland plantation for the farm-to-cup experience.

Outdoor Activities

Da Lat is ringed with rolling plateaus and wooded pine hills that welcome adventure. You can hike or mountain bike through Lang Biang, canyon through waterfalls in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, or swing out on the historical Dalat Palace Golf Club an original 18-hole course from 1933.

Arts, Heritage & Culture

Take a short rail line north to Trai Mat, through eucalyptus groves to the mosaic-covered Linh Phuoc Pagoda. Back in Da Lat, don’t forget to check out the old French villas dotted amongst tropical flowers, the standout villas are the boutique hotels or tea rooms that welcome guests to celebrate afternoon tea on the lush lawns of the Dalat Palace Hotel.

How to get there & Go in

Getting there is easy, there is an airport north and south, and 2 star-class overnight buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat that roll in by dawn. Motorbike routes radiate out, including Elephant Water Falls to Tuyen Lam Lake and views of remote hill-tribe villages. The driest, sunniest months are February to April; you’ll need a light jacket weather for November to January and an umbrella for April to November.

Whether you’re honeymooning in pine forests gathering orchids for your wedding bouquet or simply enjoying a freshly brewed coffee by a misty lakeside, Da Lat is a fresh and uniquely different side of Vietnam.