Vietnam. Mountain Dalat: attractions, photos, reviews

Dalat is one of the most interesting and unusual cities in Vietnam. Located high in the mountains, this beautiful small town attracts tourists with its gorgeous nature and numerous attractions.

There are a lot of attractions in Dalat, despite the small size of the city. All interesting places You can see the city itself in one day. But the main attractions are located in the vicinity of the city, so it is better to allocate at least 3 days for a trip to Dalat.

Having arrived in Dalat and settled in a guest house, we rented a bike and went to explore the city. The closest to our hotel was the famous Hang Nga Guest House, so we started our city tour there.

Hang Nga Hotel

This strange hotel was built in 1990 by Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga and is currently undergoing renovation. The style of the hotel is reminiscent of the famous buildings of the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. The interior of this hotel is so unusual that the hotel is considered one of the most original in the world. The main body is made in the form of a huge tree.

Entrance to the hotel is paid: 40,000 VND per person. At the entrance, tourists are greeted by a girl who tells them about the hotel and the architect who built it.

Also at the stand you can read basic information and see numerous photographs of the architect Dang Viet Nga. Dang Viet Nga was born in Vietnam, but lived in Moscow for many years. In 1983, she came to Dalat, which captivated her with its picturesque nature and pleasant climate.

Hang Nga is a functioning hotel, despite the huge number of tourists who come here on excursions. Tourists are brought in by the busload, so you won’t be able to enjoy the tranquility here. The cost of a hotel room is 30-50 dollars per night. Each room is decorated in a specific style. There is even a Russian style room with a bear in the center of the room. I liked the room with the huge bird.

Double doors lead into the room: the first ones block the entrance for tourists, but allow you to see the interior; the latter are already completely covering the room from prying eyes.

In my opinion, the Hang Nga Hotel is a rather interesting place, but it did not make much of an impression. Firstly, construction was in full swing there, which spoiled the overall view. I liked that you can walk around the entire hotel, including along the paths located high above the ground. From there you have a stunning view of the entire city.

The park next to the hotel is also worth visiting. It is decorated with numerous statues, flower beds and an artificial pond.

"Flower Gardens" in the center of Dalat

One of the main attractions of Dalat is the Dalat Flower Park. It is located in the city center, near the lake. The flower garden was created in 1966 and reconstructed in 1985. The total area of ​​the park is 7000 square meters.

The flower garden is big park, in which a wide variety of flowers and shrubs grow: mimosas, fuchsias, violets, roses, chrysanthemums, gerberas, etc. There are so many flowers that there is a wonderful floral smell in the park. The traditional symbol of Vietnam, made of flowers, looks bright.

I was especially pleased with the variety of flower figures. Cute dogs and huge dragons from the bushes lift your spirits.

There are a lot of flower sculptures in the park: bears, bunnies, etc. But some of them look a little faded.

The flower house is incredibly beautifully decorated, and next to it you can play a Vietnamese musical instrument.

When walking through the park, you definitely need to climb the stairs to the mountain. There are huge blue hydrangeas growing there. In addition, there are so many roses collected in a large greenhouse that their aroma makes you dizzy.

The Flower Garden has a large collection of miniature bonsai trees. These small ornamental plants are shaped by skilled craftsmen. They imitate the natural forms of mature trees.

After walking around the park, you can relax on benches in the shade of trees, eat in a cafe or ride on a swing.

Datanla Waterfall

This place is one of my favorites in Vietnam. In addition to the beautiful waterfall, there is also my favorite “electric sled”.

“Datanla” is located quite far outside the city; you can get here by taxi or by bike. The road to Datanla Park is comfortable and picturesque; it runs along a pine forest. So riding a bike here is a pleasure.

It is difficult to drive through Datanla as there is a large signboard almost in the middle of the road.

Entrance to the park is 10,000 VND per person. The park is open from 7:00 to 17:00. There is free parking in front of the entrance where we left the bike.

You can either walk to the waterfalls along well-groomed paths, or go down on the Vietnamese electric sleigh ride. The cost of electric sledding is 35,000 VND per person. It is more convenient to buy both the descent and the ascent at once - the cost is 45,000 VND per person.

We decided to take a walk around the area first and walked down the alley. The first waterfall is not very big, it didn’t make an impression.

But that was just the beginning. The lower you go in the park, the more interesting it becomes.

The next waterfall turned out to be much larger and more beautiful. The equipped platform offers a beautiful view of the waterfall and the surrounding forest.

But the most interesting thing is that you can take a special elevator down to the waterfall itself. We saw an elevator in the middle of the forest for the first time!

From below the waterfall looks more powerful.

Next we took the elevator back to the site. We learned that you can climb higher not only on foot, but also by cable car. The cable car is not high and short in length, but it passes over a small waterfall. The view is very beautiful: the forest and the seething streams of the waterfall.

Of course, we also rode an electric sled, even twice. The speed must be controlled independently; the sled is equipped with brake levers. We slowed down very rarely and rode with the breeze. The main thing is that people don’t drive slowly in front of you and ruin the whole impression! The electric sled route in Datanla Park is shorter than in Nha Trang on Vinpearl. But it lies in a real forest, which creates a special atmosphere.

In general, I don’t know what I liked more: the waterfall or the electric sleigh ride in the park. Feeling hungry, we had lunch in the park: the menu is mostly Vietnamese, the prices are average.

Stunning nature, fresh mountain air, waterfalls, delicious food and electric sleds have made Datanla Park our favorite place in Dalat!

Kam Li Waterfall

The Kam Li waterfall is located at the exit from the city. You can spot it by its faded sign.

It is difficult to call Kam Li waterfall, especially in comparison with Datanla waterfall. I recommend visiting this place only if you have already seen everything in Dalat and still have some free time.

The territory of Kam Li Park is small and very unkempt. In the small lake next to the waterfall, the water is very dirty; the terrible smell makes you want to leave this place quickly.

Local children sit with fishing rods and fish.

The waterfall itself is nothing remarkable. Half dried, it doesn't look impressive at all!

Linh Phuoc Pagoda

This place deserves special attention. We were very impressed by the beauty of this building.

The pagoda is located about 9 kilometers from Dalat. As always, we rode on our own on a bike and did not immediately find Linh Phuoc. The pagoda is located in the suburbs of Dalat. We needed to turn into one of the streets, but we passed by.

Having driven 500 meters from the desired turn, we came across another beautiful temple.

A huge advantage of this temple is the complete absence of tourists. We were the only visitors there. We walked around the territory, went inside, and admired its beauty.

The second building of the temple is located here on the mountain. Probably inoperative, since the doors were locked.

From the mountain we saw the Linh Phuoc Pagoda and went back. The pagoda is very popular among tourists, so it is always crowded. Tourists are brought in by the busload, which slightly spoils the impression of the stay.

But the beauty of the temple is worth it. During our 8 months of living in Asia, we saw a lot of temples made in different styles. But Linh Phuoc Pagoda made a huge impression on us.

Linh Phuok was built in the mid-20th century. The pagoda is made of millions of small pieces of ceramic and glass. Buildings and sculptures are decorated with multi-colored mosaics. During the construction of the temple complex, various materials were used: broken ceramics, facing tiles, dishes, bottles, etc.

As a result, the pagoda looks simply amazing: beautiful colors, bizarre shapes of decorative elements, and various sculptures decorate its appearance.

The main tower of the complex is quite tall and consists of 7 floors. You can climb to the very top of the tower. On one of the floors you can see a large bell with sticky notes. Anyone can take a piece of paper, write a secret wish on it, and stick it on the bell. After this, you need to hit the bell 3 times, and your wish will definitely come true.

A sweet Vietnamese grandmother helps tourists in this simple process.

You can walk around the temple complex for a long time; on one of the floors there is a huge Buddha statue made in gold.

IN temple complex on the right side you can find a small shop selling Vietnamese style furniture and statues. Carved tables, huge stone benches, various figures - everything is made from natural materials and looks solid.

Lin Son Pagoda

This pagoda is located near the center of Dalat. Linh Son Pagoda is quite modern, it was built in 1940. This is a very peaceful place: we were the only tourists during our visit. The pagoda is made in classical Asian style, decorated with statues of dragons. The area next to the pagoda is very well-groomed; you can walk along the alleys or sit on a bench. “Linh Son” does not make a special impression, especially in comparison with the “Linh Phuoc” pagoda.

In the courtyard next to the Linh Son Pagoda you can see many colorful, interesting statues.

Park "Valley of Love". In the evening of the last day before departure, we decided to go to one of the most romantic places in Dalat - the Valley of Love Park.

The Valley of Love park is located near the city (5 kilometers). You can get there either by taxi or by bike. Entrance to the park is paid - 20,000 VND per person.

Here you can rent a bicycle, the cost is 100,000 VND for 1 large cycle around the park. Many tourists and locals come to the park to ride bicycles.

The nature in Dalat is very picturesque: all kinds of flowers, trees, and shrubs grow here. In the Valley of Love park you can enjoy the beauty of local nature and fresh mountain air. There are especially many pine trees in the park, so their scent is in the air.

Therefore, if you come on vacation with your significant other, I advise you to definitely take a walk in this park. Many loving couples, both tourists and local residents.

The park is conventionally divided into two zones: upper and lower. In the upper zone there are various thematic statues, lanterns in the shape of hearts, and structures in the shape of butterflies.

From the top you can see the Dan Thien Lake, located in the middle of the lower part of the park. As we walked through the Valley of Love, a light fog fell on the lake, which added even more romance to this place.

It took us about two hours for a leisurely walk through the park. “Valley of Love” makes a pleasant impression; it is a wonderful place to relax. At the end of our walk we found ourselves at a children's school concert. The park often hosts mini-concerts that attract local residents.

To summarize, I would like to say that Dalat is an amazing city with its own unique atmosphere. The main attractions are located in the vicinity of the city. We especially liked Datanla Waterfall and Linh Phuoc Pagoda, which I recommend visiting first. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to go to the famous Prenn Waterfall, so we have a reason to come to Dalat again.

About how we went to Dalat on our own, read my review .

Hotels in Dalat

Hotels in Nha Trang

Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City

Dalat is popular among tourists due to its unique natural places. But not only picturesque lakes, waterfalls, and beautiful gardens deserve attention. The city also has many interesting buildings that are worth a look even if you only spend 1 day here.

The atmosphere of Dalat is noticeably different from other cities in Vietnam. City of love and eternal spring– that’s what the locals call it. Here the buildings are so in harmony with nature that it is sometimes difficult to understand what was created by the hands of modern man and what was inherited from our ancestors.

Local travel agencies offer to purchase excursion packages to the most remarkable corners of Dalat and its surroundings. Most often, tours last 1-3 days. If you want to know what you can see in Dalat on your own in 1-2 days, then this article and a map with marked points will be a useful guide.

The only inconvenience that single tourists may encounter is the distance of the main attractions from the city center. In order to get there you will have to:

1. use the services of a local taxi;
2. use the services of a motorcycle taxi. The owner of the bike will also be a guide;
3. rent a car or bike.

We took a small green taxi. The smaller the car, the cheaper. In one day we managed to visit 7 places. The price was 1,100,000 dong or $49. On the second day we visited 2 more places. We ordered a taxi by phone using an SMS message in English. In it they wrote down all the points that they wanted to go around. Indicate the hotel address and check-out time. Early in the morning the taxi driver arrived without delay.

Before leaving, we immediately discussed the amount of the trip. We agreed on 800,000 VND. But the meter showed 1,500,000 VND. The driver was very modest and could not ask for more than the agreed amount. We decided to pay him another 300,000 VND.

Here is a list of interesting places that we visited on our own in 2 days and we strongly recommend including them in your route when traveling around Dalat. If you still don’t know what to visit in Dalat, our list will help you make your choice.

• The points are placed in the same order as we visited them.

Pongur Falls -

We decided to see the sights from the farthest point. We drove to the waterfall without stopping, and way back visited other places.

Many call Pongur Falls the largest in Vietnam. Whether this is true or not is difficult to judge. After all, its height is only 30 m. But the waterfall cascades along wide steps. The spectacle is fascinating. It reveals itself in all its glory during the rainy season, i.e. in the middle of summer. At this time, all rivers overflow due to excess rainfall.

Even if you come to Dalat for just 1 day, feel free to include this place in your program. This is the best waterfall in the area.

Entrance – 10,000 VND ($0.5)

View of the waterfall from observation deck

Territory

Road to the waterfall

Elephant Waterfall is very powerful. The water here rushes down with a deafening roar to splash everyone who came to admire the delights of the water element.

But before enjoying this view you will need to go down a rather dangerous descent. My children and I didn’t dare go there. Only the husband was sent.

Entrance – 20,000 VND ($1)

Vietnam is famous for coffee production no less than Brazil. Traveling through the suburbs of Dalat, every vacationer can stop and explore the huge coffee plantations. It's not often in life that you get the chance to see how fragrant grains grow. Those travelers who come to Vietnam during the flowering period of coffee trees will be especially lucky. It is a real miracle to see delicate white flowers with a magical aroma reminiscent of jasmine. At almost every farm you can try a freshly brewed drink and buy coffee beans to take with you.

Entry is free.

Prenn Waterfall -

This is not the most big waterfall in the vicinity of Dalat. However, when traveling around Vietnam, you should definitely visit a beautiful corner ten kilometers from the city. Water falls from stone rock into the lake. This is one of the favorite places for photography lovers. Walking along the bamboo bridge you can capture a lot of interesting shots.

Around the waterfall there is a magnificent park full of exotic plants. At every step there are flower beds with amazing flowers, many gazebos, galleries, and cafes. To feel unity with nature and enjoy the sounds of water and birdsong, it is better to come here early in the morning. At this time there is not such an influx of people as at noon. At this time, enterprising Vietnamese are already enticing guests with an offer to ride an ostrich or an elephant.

Elephant business is not uncommon in Dalat. Currently, animals are used only in tourism. Although not so long ago they carried out work on transporting goods or harvesting wood.

Walking through the park is available to tourists every day until 17:00.

Datanla Park -

Datanla Park and Waterfall are popular among tourists as it is located close to the city. The waterfall is relatively small. Its length is just over 300 meters. However, a walk through picturesque groves with strange plants will give you a lot of pleasure.

Many tourists come here just to ride the famous attraction. You can get right from the beginning of the park to the foot of the waterfall along the “Vietnamese roller coaster”. Tickets for the electric sleigh are sold at the ticket office at the entrance. The price for a sleigh is 2.3 dollars (or 50 thousand Vietnamese dong) round trip.

Adult ticket – 30,000 VND ($1.5)

Child ticket – 15,000 VND ($0.75)

Buddhist complex Chuk Lam -

Chuc Lam is an active monastery, which is located in the mountains south of Dalat at an altitude of 1.5 kilometers. The complex was founded in 1994 with the aim of reviving the religious school, which was founded by King Tran Nhan Tong.

You can get to the place by cable car, taxi or motorbike.

The architectural project belongs to the Vietnamese Ngo Viet Thu and Nyung Ngoc An. During the construction process, the building was supplemented with massive gates and a bell tower, which were missing in the original version.

Currently, there are two monasteries, a Buddhist school, and several temples. There is even a small hotel for pilgrims on site.

On the territory of the temple we felt extraordinary harmony and peace.

Entry is free.

Madhouse -

Yes, yes, in the very heart of the city there is a real madhouse. This is what the Vietnamese call a bizarrely shaped hotel. This is a building made in the shape of a tree. Hang Nga, as it is also called, is full of architectural surprises. The architect of Crazy House is Dang Viet Nga, the daughter of the country's party leader. In her work, the author tried to completely get away from the stereotypes inherent in classical buildings.

The hotel is designed in an abstract style. The buildings resemble the silhouettes of various animals, and the entire building seems to be located in a huge hollow. The appearance of the hotel is difficult to describe verbally. To plunge into the fantastic atmosphere of “Crazy House” you need to see everything with your own eyes.

It is worth noting that this is not the only work of the architect in Dalat. You can get acquainted with her work by visiting the Catholic Church or the Palace of Culture.

Adult ticket – 40,000 VND ($1.8)

Child ticket – 20,000 VND ($0.9)

Temple of the Golden Buddha - Thien Vien Van Hanh Da Lat

The majestic Buddha statue is visible from almost every corner of Dalat. Its height is 24 meters and its weight is more than a ton. The statue was built in 2002 on one of the most elevated places in the city. Since then, not a single tourist leaves the city without admiring the majestic Buddha sitting on a huge lotus.

Shakyamuni holds another lotus in his hand. According to legend, one day Buddha, speaking to the people on the Sacred Mountain, showed a flower and watched the faces of his listeners. Then only one of those present smiled sincerely, looking at the beautiful plant. It was this man who was honored to have the Buddha impart his knowledge to him. Next to the statue is located Buddhist temple. Here you can also buy souvenirs with local symbols and small copies of the landmark made of bronze.

Free admission

Flower Garden – Dalat Flower Park

Dalat flower gardens were created in the late 60s of the last century. But during the Vietnam War they fell into such a deplorable state that they had to be reconstructed almost from scratch. Today, about a thousand different flowers grow on a vast territory. Roses, gerberas, hydrangeas of a wide variety of colors are planted in the form of fancy patterns and paths. The garden gate is made in the form of several arches, each of which is decorated with thousands of flowers. Throughout the territory there are flower sculptures in the form of animals, various objects and fairy-tale characters.

The collection of orchids deserves special attention. There are a huge number of them here. In addition to the usual unpretentious varieties, in Dalat Park you can find rare species, which are very difficult to grow under artificial conditions. For such capricious species, special pavilions have been built, where gardeners recreate familiar natural conditions for plants.

The Flower Park is a favorite place for Vietnamese needlewomen. Women of all ages come here not only for the next dose of inspiration, but also put their work up for sale. Tourists have a wonderful chance to return to their homeland with a handmade souvenir.

Adult ticket – 30,000 VND ($1.5)

Child ticket – 15,000 VND ($0.75)

Xuan Huong Lake

The famous artificial lake in the city center. It was formed after the construction of a dam in 1919.

Not only tourists but also locals love to walk around the lake. Along the lake you can ride in a horse-drawn carriage and swim on swans.

Visiting is free.

Area near Big C

Often in dark time Local musicians perform on the square throughout the day, and children and youth enjoy roller skating, hoverboards, Segways and other devices.

Visiting is free.

Additionally, you can buy a snack from local merchants or rent a Segway or hoverboard.

Attractions on the map

All of the above places are indicated on Google map.

How I save on hotels when traveling

I select the appropriate option through a search aggregator. I really like this one - Hotellook. He searches for hotels on several sites at once (including booking.com and agoda.ru). In the end, I choose the best offer.

I was suddenly drawn to romance, violently and uncontrollably. I also suddenly remembered that I haven’t written about Asia for a long time, and there are enough photos and stories to fill a whole book in four volumes, so I combine business with pleasure - I indulge in memories and begin to prepare the “sleigh” for winter, or rather, articles about Asia for the top search engines. :)

Today we will talk about the most romantic city in Southeast Asia— Dalat, in the south of Vietnam.

I came to Dalat alone. Just like the French colonialists at the end of the 19th century, I too these days sought refuge from the heat that reigned in Saigon and on the coast in resorts.

Due to the fact that Dalat is located in the mountains at an altitude of 1500 to 1700 meters above sea level, it is always cool there. The air temperature does not fall below +10 C, and the average daily temperature is +23 +26 C.

The main advantage of Dalat is that it is clear almost all year round. Even when it is the rainy season in Vietnam, the bright sun shines over the mountain plateau.

Dalat was built by the French a little over a hundred years ago. The city is located 300 km from Ho Chi Minh City on the Langbang plateau.

Today it is mountain resort, surrounded on all sides by forests, hills, lakes and powerful waterfalls. In my opinion, Dalat and its surroundings are one of the most fascinating regions of Vietnam.

Hotels in Da Lat, Vietnam

It is better to choose a hotel in Dalat in the area of ​​the market and lake, so you can walk to the sights and cafes.

When planning a trip to Vietnam in winter, it is worth checking in advance what dates the Vietnamese and Chinese New Years fall on. As a rule, it is celebrated one week in late January or February.

During the Vietnamese New Year celebrations, prices for hotels, motorbike rentals, bus tickets and attractions at least double. Dalat is a popular city, so New Year all hotels are fully booked.

Dalat, how to get there

There are no direct flights from Russia to Dalat. You must first get to Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam) or Ho Chi Minh City.

Dalat is located 300 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 1430 km from Hanoi. There is a detailed, thorough article on the blog about how to cheaply fly to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from Moscow, Minsk, St. Petersburg and Russian regions:

Vietnam Airlines flights fly from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat. The flight from Hanoi to Dalat lasts 1 hour 45 minutes, from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat - only 45 minutes. The ticket will cost 50-90$ one way.

You can also get to Dalat by bus. Be sure to check whether the price of the bus ticket includes a transfer to the hotel. Most often you will need to be taken to your hotel by taxi for free, but dodgy Vietnamese taxi drivers demand an additional fee for taking you 1 km from the station to the city center.

Bus ticket prices:

Ho Chi Minh City – Dalat – 6-7 hours – 12$
Nha Trang – Dalat – 9$
Hanoi - Dalat - 50$
Mui Ne - Dalat - 5-6 hours - 10$

A taxi from Mui Ne to Dalat will cost 100-110$ one way.

You can buy bus tickets to Dalat or a plane=bus package from any city in Vietnam on the Internet using an Asian search engine.

When the list of options opens, you can change the currency to rubles, dollars or Vietnamese dong if prices are shown in a different currency.

What to see in Dalat

It is worth setting aside 2-3 days for sightseeing in Dalat and the surrounding area. The center of Dalat can be easily explored on foot.

If you want to see something outside the center, you can take a metered taxi ($1-2) or rent a bike (we rented it for a day for $7).

The main cafes and entertainment venues are located in the market area.

Dalat Main Market

Coordinates: 11.942829, 108.436930

At the market you can buy fresh vegetables, fruits, and also taste local delicacies: boiled snails, mussels, fresh pastries.

Prices for seafood at the Dalat market are not varied - everything costs 70,000 dong. I would also like to understand what exactly is offered on the menu.

Everything for $3

Dalat is also famous for strawberries, the greenhouses of which stretch for many kilometers. It is also sold on the market.

Just so you understand, finding strawberries in Asia is not so easy. The opportunity to enjoy juicy ripe berries in the middle of winter is already a good reason to come to Dalat.

Greenhouses for growing strawberries

Cable car and Chuk Lam Monastery

Cable car start coordinates: 11.923620, 108.444108

Monastery coordinates: 11.903681, 108.434444

How long does it take? 1 hour for the round-trip ride on the cable car and a walk through the park with the temple complex.

The Buddhist complex of Chuk Lam stands on a hill above the lake at an altitude of 1500 meters; the ride on the cable car takes 15-20 minutes one way. This is the longest cable car in Asia (2.3 km). A bonus is a view of the lake, valleys and greenhouses with strawberries.

The cable car operates from 7.00 to 17.00
The fare is 50,000 VND ( 2$ ) one way, 70,000 VND ( 3$ ) in 2 directions

Entrance to the monastery is free

Crazy House

Coordinates 11.934674, 108.430786

Entrance – 40,000 dong ($2)

The most famous attractions of Dalat. Essentially this is a hotel where you can rent a room for 39$ .

If you don’t want to live in such a strange building, then you can just go and have a look if you have time and like unusual architectural solutions.

A visit to Crazy House is included in the program of any excursion for both Russians and Chinese travel companies, so there are always a lot of people here.

Catholic Cathedral of St. Nicholas

Catholic Church in Dalat

Coordinates: 11.936335, 108.437610

Located in the city center, Google calls it St. Nicholas Cathedral, Da Lat

What else to see in Dalat

Valley of Love

Valley of Love is popular among Vietnamese

Coordinates: 11.980138, 108.450109

Entrance: 40,000 VND

Valley of Love is a very pleasant park on the outskirts of Dalat, you can come for the whole day. Nature, many flowers, clean paths, a lake where you can sail on a catamaran.

In Dalat there is also Dalat Flower Park in the very center, but it is small and not as wonderful as the Valley of Love, so I recommend it.

Bao Dai Summer Palace

Coordinates 11.930155, 108.429599

Former summer palace, and now the house-museum of the last emperor of Vietnam, Bao Dai (coordinates, entrance 20,000 dong, open from 7.00-11.00 and 13.00-16.00)

What to see near Dalat

The most interesting sights of Dalat are located outside the city; the most convenient way to visit them is on a scooter ( 7$ per day) or by taxi ( 40-50$ for the whole day).

Datanla Falls

Pongur Falls

Located 50 km from Dalat. This is the coolest waterfall in Vietnam, and maybe in all of Southeast Asia. Read more about

My photo review of Dalat

Dalat is bestowed with a variety of epithets. This is “little Paris”, and “flower city”, and “sunny city”, and “France in miniature”.

Of course, each of these definitions to some extent describes those lands, but we should not forget that in any, even the most sunny and French city, it all depends on the people inhabiting it.

Da Lat is inhabited by Vietnamese people, so even though the houses were built by the French and the market sells snails and baguettes, this is Asia. She may be beautiful, but with the inherent Asian touch of negligence and lack of attention to detail.

But it’s stupid to go to Asia expecting to find France there, right? That's why I liked Dalat exactly the way it is.

Dalat is visited annually by about a million Vietnamese and only 80,000 European tourists, so the resort is mainly aimed at local residents.

The period of my stay in the city fell on the dates of the Vietnamese New Year. On this bright holiday, the Vietnamese burn pieces of paper on the streets and place tables with food at the doors of their houses.

The Vietnamese are very gambling, and even on the first day of the new year they did not find best activity than to play for money right on the city streets.

Sights of Dalat city and its surroundings

Dalat is a city that deserves special attention from tourists and travelers. It was built by the French at the beginning of the last century and does not yet have a rich history. It was once a resort where French officials, tired of the hot sun of Saigon, went to relax. The architecture retains European features. Dalat! Romantic, relaxed, very Vietnamese... and European. A favorite vacation spot for the creative intelligentsia of Vietnam and European tourists. Many travelers ask what to see in Dalat. There are a lot of interesting things in the city and its surroundings - temples, parks, waterfalls. But first things first.

To explore the sights of Dalat within the city, one day is enough. The main noteworthy places are located outside the city. You need to walk around the center of Dalat. There is a place that attracts both locals and visitors - Xuan Huong Lake. This is a romantic place where lovers come to be together, take a ride on the lake and watch the sunset.

Flower Park

Not far from the lake lies the huge Flower Park, a famous landmark of the city. The park area is amazingly magnificent landscape design. Here you can not only admire flowers, but also buy cut bouquets or planting material. Here, every year from the end of December to the first days of January, international festivals flowers.

Railway station

The railway station is also a landmark in Dalat city. The building itself is attractive; it was once the most beautiful station in Indochina. And, of course, a miracle of technology - railway in the mountains. Today, tourists are offered a train ride along the only operating section of the route from Dalat to the village of Trai Mat with a stop at the Linh Phuoc Pagoda.

Coffee shop

"Valley of Love"

On the outskirts of Dalat city there is a picturesque park called “Valley of Love”. Here the opinions of tourists differ. Some people think she's vulgar tourist place, and someone is admired by its beauty and well-groomed nature of this attraction. If you are thinking about what to see in Dalat, feel free to go there.

In fact, it doesn’t matter how visitors feel about the park. For the Vietnamese, this is a place where lovers and newlyweds definitely come. Here you can rent costumes and take part in a varied costume procession. You can simply relax and have fun, walking along the alleys and watching what is happening.

Surroundings of Dalat

You can drive around the outskirts of Dalat endlessly and discover something new every time. Even an ordinary walk in the highlands will take you from sunny and hot Vietnam to the harsh alpine landscape. The lush emerald jungle of the pass gives way to pine trees, the air is crystal clear, you can feel the freshness of the mountain - the temperature does not exceed 25 °C.

Coffee plantations

The first thing that greets you at the entrance to Dalat is the coffee plantations. These Dalat attractions allow you to stroll, pick and taste coffee berries. Rows of coffee trees are interspersed with even pineapple plantings. The climate of this mountainous region ideal for growing coffee, the main variety is Robusta.

Prenn Park and Waterfall

Dalat waterfalls are another attraction of this area. There are many large and small waterfalls in the vicinity of Dalat. One of them is Prenn. The Vietnamese are brilliant landscape designers. There is a charming park around the waterfall, decorated with flowers and floral sculptures; fairy-tale characters walk along many alleys; in the depths of the park there is a small zoo and a place where you can ride elephants and ostriches.

The waterfall cascades in a wide fan over a huge boulder hanging over the path. For photography enthusiasts, Dalat's waterfalls provide a beautiful backdrop. You can walk under it and take impressive photos with this landmark in the background.

Another entertainment in the park for women is to dress up in the national Ao Dai costume and organize a photo shoot, fortunately there are plenty of places for this in the park.

In contrast to Prenn, Datanla is a stormy waterfall, rapidly running along huge rapids, over which a humpbacked bridge is thrown. To get there you need to go down into a gorge about 100 meters deep. There is a long staircase, but almost no one uses it, because it can be done on an electric sled along a track reminiscent of a roller coaster ride.

There are paths around the waterfall, you can walk along them, look at it from above, or you can observe the full power of this attraction from the observation deck or from the veranda of a cafe.

Chuk Lam Zen Buddhist Monastery and Ropeway

This is the place where you will want to spend the rest of your life. The monastery is small, several dozen monks live there - men and women. To get there, you need to climb a little more into the mountains. Locals get there by cable car, tourists are often taken by bus. The territory of this attraction is a blooming garden, carefully grown by the hands of the local inhabitants. It is full of flowers and flowering trees. Well-groomed alleys, benches and gazebos are conducive to relaxation and contemplation.

Huge bells are covered with small pagodas. At the entrances there is “wind music”, whose gentle chime does not stop for a minute. If you came here from Dalat with group excursion, take your mind off what the guide is saying. Most likely, he will talk about the history of Buddhism. Stop and sit in one of the gazebos overlooking the lake and pine slopes. And you will feel how harmony comes in your inner world, how beautiful the world around us, imbued with love and peace.

Built in 1994, the monastery today is one of the most beautiful temples in the vicinity of Dalat. This attraction is very loved by local residents, who come here to take a walk in the park, ride on catamarans on the lake and just relax.
You can reach the monastery directly from the city by cable car. You will be delighted with the most picturesque views from a bird's eye view. The cable car, which is highlighted by travel agencies as a separate attraction, starts a few steps from the Dalat city bus station.

- one of the oldest cities in Vietnam, which during its existence has accumulated quite a lot of attractions within itself and in the surrounding area, which travelers from all over the planet Earth specially come to see.

The question of how much time you will need to see Dalat and its attractions in the surrounding area cannot be answered unequivocally. Of course, the main attractions of this region can be seen in 1-3 days, but for a more detailed study you will have to stay here longer.

Attractions within the city

1. Xuan Huong Lake

Xuan Huong appeared in the very center of this city in 1919. The area around the lake is very picturesque. The shores of the lake are the most favorite place local residents spend time there, and tourists only come to stroll along the shore or relax on a bench. Among the entertainment on the lake, the opportunity to ride on catamarans in the shape of swans stands out. Renting such a catamaran costs 60,000 VND per hour. This is enough time to rest, relax, and then continue on your way.

1. Lam Dong Museum

Lam Dong has collected exhibits belonging to various historical eras within its walls. So, tourists can discover ancient musical instruments, clothing, pottery and much more. The museum has a hall dedicated to the history of not all of Vietnam, but Dalat in particular. Entrance to the museum is paid - 6,000 dong. The museum is open to visitors from 07.30 to 16.30 with a two-hour break (from 11.30 to 13.30) every day. The best way to get to Lam Dong is by taxi or rented bike, as it’s quite a long walk to get here.

1. Crazy House

Crazy House or otherwise Crazy House is a currently operating hotel of rather unusual architecture. Almost every tourist who comes to Vietnam and ends up in Dalat comes to see it. Crazy House is listed among the strangest buildings in the world and is considered one of the main attractions of Vietnam, which is included in almost all sightseeing tours, organized towards Dalat. Here you can examine the architecture, the interior decoration of the available rooms (the rooms are decorated in the theme of a tiger, kangaroo, eagle, ant, etc.), as well as book a room and spend the night within its walls. The cost of daily rent is from 25 dollars, the hotel category is 3 stars. To visit the building, you must pay an entrance fee of 40,000 VND.

Crazy House Hotel

1. Summer Palace of Emperor Bao Dai

Bao Dai is the name of the last emperor of Vietnam. His residence was built in the early 30s of the last century. Until now, nothing has changed either inside or outside the building. Today, Bao Dai Palace is a museum illustrating the life of the emperor. Entrance to the territory is paid - 8,000 dong. Photo and video shooting is paid separately. The palace is open to visitors from 07.00 to 16.00 with a break from 11.00 to 13.30.

1. Flower gardens

Not only women, but also men come to see the gardens, because this is one of the most striking and memorable attractions of the city. Flower gardens are a kind of park, on the vast territory of which a huge variety of exotic plants grow. Here you can walk around the pavilions, take photos and even buy a few sprouts you like for home.

Price entrance ticket for an adult it is 20,000 VND, for a child it is half the price. The garden is open to visitors from 07.30 to 16.00 daily.

1. Cam Li Waterfall

Kam Li often refers to both landmarks in the city and its surrounding areas. The fact is that it is located only 2 kilometers from the city. The waterfall has several cascades with a total height of about 15 meters. There is a beautiful exotic park around the waterfall. Tourists in Kam Ly Park are offered the opportunity to feel like a real cowboy: for an additional fee, they dress you in cowboy clothes, after which you can ride horses and do several interesting photos. Cam Ly is not the place you should go if you only have a few days to explore Dalat and its surroundings. So, it’s better to visit more beautiful and memorable waterfalls: Elephant, Prenn, Pongur, Datanla.

Sights in the city's surroundings

1. Pongour

Pongur Falls is undoubtedly a place that everyone should visit, because Pongur is one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam. The Pongur waterfall is especially good during the heavy rainy season, when it is at its fullest. But, even though in dry times the waterfall looks like thousands of streams flowing over the stones, it is still unforgettably beautiful. Pongur Falls consists of seven main cascades with many rapids at each. Sometimes the rapids are located so close to each other that you can easily move from one to another. The main disadvantage of this attraction is its distance from Dalat (about 50 kilometers), but even this distance will be a small thing when you see Pongur in all its glory. Entrance to the waterfall is paid - 10,000 dong (about 30 rubles).

1. Prenn Park and Waterfall

Prenn is a whole park that is popular among tourists and at the same time a waterfall of the same name located on its territory. Prenn is located about 10 kilometers from the city. Vacationers from all over Vietnam come to see it, especially frequent visitors from the CIS countries. Despite the fact that the Prenn park itself is not indicated on the maps, but only the Prenn waterfall, it is the last thing that tourists come to see. Of course, everyone is most attracted to the park itself, as well as the opportunity to ride ostriches, look into the orchid garden and visit the small but interesting zoo on the territory of Prenn. Entrance to Prenn Park is paid - 30,000 VND. If you are interested in any entertainment, you will have to pay extra for it separately. Prenn Park is located about 10 kilometers from the center of Dalat.

1. Datanla

Datanla Falls is not as beautiful as Pongur, but still has its own charm. Its length is about 350 meters. Datanla Falls consists of several cascades, along which there is a kind of cable car with cabins that transport tourists who come to see Datanla Falls. You regulate the speed at which the cabin will move along the cable car yourself from the inside. The cost of visiting the waterfall is 10,000 VND. The cable car ride is paid separately - 40,000 VND.

1. Linh Phuoc

The Linh Phuoc Pagoda is a must-visit, as it was rebuilt in the mid-20th century, is a historically significant place for Vietnam, has retained its original appearance and has a very beautiful architecture. The Linh Phuoc Pagoda is not a separate building, but a whole complex, which includes the Linh Phuoc Pagoda itself, the statue of Avalokiteshvara, the garden area around the buildings where a huge statue of the eastern dragon is located, a temple with a Buddha statue inside, as well as a building with a Bodhisattva. The territory of the complex is huge; restoration work is constantly being carried out here so that the buildings do not lose their interesting and historically significant appearance. The pagoda is located in a town neighboring Dalat called Trai Mit, about 10 kilometers away. Entrance to the complex is free. You can get there either by rented transport, by train from the local railway station, or by purchasing a sightseeing tour.

1. Cable car

The cable car is both a city attraction and one located outside the city, as it connects Dalat with another local celebrity - the Chuc Lac Thien Vien Monastery, which is often confused with the Linh Phuoc Pagoda. In a 15-minute journey you will “fly” over the Dalat people’s land, a pine forest, and will also be able to see the surrounding area. The cable car is the best way to get to the monastery. The cable car ride costs VND 50,000 (one way only) or VND 70,000 (round trip).

1. Elephant Falls

Elephant Falls is one of the strongest and largest not only in Dalat, but throughout Vietnam. It cannot be called the most beautiful, since the water in it has a dirty brown color, especially during the rainy season, but its power impresses everyone. Elephant Falls can be viewed both from above and at the foot. There is a trail for tourists from top to bottom. The distance from Elephant Falls to Dalat is about 45 kilometers. Entrance fee – 5,000 VND. Parking is paid separately.