Dalat has long been a famous tourist city in Vietnam. Cool climate, rich natural resources, and human resources help the city each year attract millions of tourists to visit and relax. After a quiet period of the 1980s, Da Lat tourism changed dramatically in recent years. Like a little Paris, Da Lat used to dream and be poetic thanks to the highland cold at night, early morning fog, and pine forests surrounding the city. However, this space has somewhat lost its French character in the lack of care or inappropriately modified villa architecture. Tourism is a strength, but it is also a factor that changes Dalat towards urbanization.
Table of Contents
The History of Dalat
Lang Biang Plateau before 1893 was the residence of the Montagnards. The first Vietnamese who intended to explore the mountainous region of South Central Vietnam was Nguyen Thong, but due to many reasons, until the end of his life, he still could not fulfill his intention. In 1880 and 1881, Naval doctor Paul Néis and Lieutenant Albert Septans made their first expeditions into the Montagnards in the Southeast and the South Central Coast, and they are considered the first two explorers to find out Lang Biang Plateau. The itineraries of Paul Néis and Albert Septans paved the way for many other trips such as A. Gautier (1882), L. Nouet (1882), Major Humann (1884).
On August 3, 1891, Dr. Alexandre Yersin made the first expedition to find a mountain road from Nha Trang to Saigon, but this trip was unsuccessful. From March 28 to June 9, 1892, Yersin made an expedition from Nha Trang, crossing the Dak Lak highlands to Stung Treng, located on the banks of the Mekong River (in Cambodia).
In January 1893, Yersin accepted the assignment from the governor, Jean Marie Antoine de Lanessan, to survey a road from Saigon deep into the Montagnards and ended at a convenient location on the coast of Trung Ky. Yersin also had to learn about the resources in the region: forest products, minerals, and livestock,… From April 8 to June 26, 1893, Yersin made three important trips. And at 3:30 a.m. on June 21, Yersin discovered Langbiang Plateau.
With the need to find land with a temperate climate, almost similar to Europe to build resorts and nursing stations, governor Paul Doumer wrote a letter asking for Yersin’s opinion, and Yersin replied that it was Lang Biang. In March 1899, Yersin and his governor, Doumer made a trip to Lang Biang Plateau and this trip was of decisive significance for the establishment of a nursing station here.
On November 1, 1899, Doumer signed a decree to establish in Trung Ky, Dong Nai Thuong province (Haut-Donnai) and two administrative stations to be established at Tánh Linh and the Lang Biang plateau. That can be considered as the official document establishing the nursing station on Lang Biang Plateau – the precursor of later Da Lat city.
On April 20, 1916, King Duy Tan instigated the establishment of a town, or town (center Urbain) of Da Lat, the capital of Lam Vien province. This example was written by ambassador J.E. Charles approved on May 30, 1916.
During the 1900s and 1910s, the French built two routes from Saigon and from Phan Thiet to Da Lat. The convenient transportation system helped Da Lat develop quickly. In 1893, the area of Da Lat today was almost deserted. By the beginning of 1916, Da Lat was still a small town with 8 bungalows on both sides of the Cam Ly river, only 9 hotel rooms to serve tourists, until the end of this year it was raised to 26. room. By the end of 1923, the first design project was completed, Da Lat had 1,500 people.
On October 31, 1920, the Governor-General of Indochina issued a decree approving the indictment dated October 11 of the same year by King Khai Dinh on the establishment of the city (commune – class 2 city) of Da Lat together with Dong Nai province. Upper is re-established. To turn Da Lat into a resort center in Indochina, the Board of Directors of Lam Vien resort and Nam Trung Ky tourism was established. At the head of the city is a Director, representative of the Governor-General of Indochina. In 1928 moved the provincial capital of Dong Nai Thuong province to Da Lat. In 1936 a City Council was elected. In 1941, Da Lat became the provincial capital of Lam Vien (Lang Bian) newly re-established. Mayor of Da Lat concurrently held the position of Governor of Lam Vien province.
What time should travel to Da Lat?
Every season of Da Lat has its beauty, you can come to explore Dalat whichever season best suits your conditions. Sometimes a trip is not so important where to go or what season it is, but who you go with. However, we still keep seeing what Da Lat will be different at different times of the year.
- The end of October and the beginning of November is the season of wildflowers. When wildflowers bloom, Da Lat becomes more attractive than ever.
- At the end of January, early February, cherry apricot, a flower typical for spring, often blooms. However, in recent years, due to the reversed weather, cherry apricots often flower erratically. Ideally, you should follow up regularly through Facebook, travel news sites to get the most accurate information.
- The period of March-April is the season of a purple phoenix, a specialty of the city of flowers.
At the suggestion, you can arrange to travel to Da Lat at the end of the year (fall range) because at this time the rainy season has ended, the weather is a bit cold and dry, quite suitable for exploring to Da Lat.
Guide to Da Lat
Due to the topographical characteristics, Da Lat’s traffic consisted only of roads, railways, and air, but currently, only road and air traffic work. The most important route connecting Da Lat with other cities was Highway 20.
By Public transport
By Road
From Saigon, there are many high-quality bus routes to Da Lat every day. Since Highway 20 was upgraded, the travel time to Dalat has been reduced to about 5-6 hours.
By Airline
Air traffic of Da Lat was carried out from Lien Khuong international airport, which is 28 km south of Da Lat city center, next to Highway 20, in Lien Nghia Town, Duc Trong District. Currently, all 3 airlines in Vietnam have direct flights here, depending on the time of year you can invest time to hunt for cheap flights to Da Lat.
At present, you can fly to Da Lat from Hanoi, Saigon, Da Nang, Vinh, and Hai Phong. Depending on the airline, there will be corresponding routes (Hanoi and Saigon, whichever company also has), you can check directly on the airline’s booking website.
From Lien Khuong airport, you have 2 ways to get to the city center. If you go from 1-3 people, take the airport bus for 40,000 VND / 1 person. With a taxi, the price to the center is about 200,000 VND. If you go with groups of 4 or more, choose this option.
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By Rail
Thap Cham – Da Lat railway was built from 1903 to 1928, until 1932, it started to exploit the whole route. Compared with other railway lines in Vietnam, the Thap Cham – Da Lat route is unique thanks to the use of a serrated railway system, consisting of three sections from Song Pha to Da Lat, a total of nearly 16 km. The endpoint of this railway line is Da Lat station, built from 1932 to 1938, a unique architectural work designed by two French architects Révéron and Moncet. Thap Cham – Da Lat railway was used until 1972 when the Vietnam War became fierce, the route was forced to stop working. Since 1991, Da Lat City has restored 7km of the railway from Da Lat to Trai Mat, combined with Da Lat station to serve tourism. This place today becomes one of the attractions when traveling to Dalat.
By Private Vehicles
You from Saigon can go to the Dau Giay intersection (Dong Nai) and from here turn on Highway 20 to Da Lat. This distance is about 300km long from the center of Saigon. You from Hanoi can fly into Cam Ranh and then return to rent a motorbike in Nha Trang, from Nha Trang you follow the road Nha Trang – Khanh Vinh – Da Lat, this road will pass through Khanh Le Pass ( Omega Pass), one of the very beautiful roads connecting Da Lat plateau and the coastal city of Nha Trang.
Note: In the middle of the Omega pass, there is usually a speed check, you go up or down the Pass and also try to go at the prescribed speed to avoid penalties as well as to ensure safety.
Commuting in Da Lat
By Motorcycle
With Xuan Huong Lake as the heart, the tourist destinations in Dalat are quite close, so the most suitable means to explore Dalat is a motorbike. Motorcycles will be more maneuverable to travel to small places where taxis go to the wrong place, suitable for you to glimpse the flower city. In the end, this is a means that will bring sơme benefits for your trip.
Around the area of Xuan Huong Lake, there are many places to rent bicycles. With cool weather, renting a bicycle around the city is also quite interesting, but only for nearby locations, walking around the lake. With bicycle vehicles, it is difficult to travel long distances as well as climb hills.
By Taxi
This is a suitable vehicle for families with the elderly and children because it is difficult to travel by motorbike or bicycle. When you come to Da Lat, you can ask for a phone number and rent a taxi driver for your whole journey.
Some taxi companies in Da Lat
- Dalat: 0263 3666888 – 0263 3556655
- Mai Linh: 0263 38383838
- Lado: 0263 3666777
- Thanh Buoi: 0263 3837838
- Da Lat Toserco: 0263 3830830
- Cherry: 0263 3570570
- Thang Loi: 0263 3835835
- Red Star: 0263 3959595
Staying in Da Lat
Hotels or motels
As one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Vietnam, Da Lat is also one of the localities with the most complete system of accommodation facilities to serve tourists. Currently, the whole city of Dalat has thousands of places for visitors to choose to rest, from high-end resorts, budget hotels to young homestays full of personality.
If you are a person who likes to rest, you can choose resorts or villas far from the center. These areas are usually quiet and quiet, very suitable for those who do not like noise. On the contrary, if you are not too picky and just need suitable accommodation, most hotels and motels in Dalat can meet your requirements.
If you travel to Dalat on holidays such as Hung Vuong’s Death Anniversary, April 30, or every summer, you may often encounter room fires. That is why you should book a hotel room in Dalat, if you are used to online booking, you should book in advance even a month to avoid having no accommodation when you arrive.
Homestay
Not only are there hundreds of motels and hotels to serve guests when traveling to Dalat, but Flower City also has a lot of homestays with cheap criteria that your team also should not ignore. At the homestay, you will be involved in a multicultural environment, even linguistic by each person in which you come from a different place. If you often travel alone, the homestay or dorm room should be the first choice because the price is cheap. It is also easy to find more friends to be able to explore Dalat during your trip.
Camping / Sleeping tents
Dalat has a relatively cool climate, many spacious and airy areas, so it is very suitable for camping activities and setting up tents, especially when you go in groups and have full equipment. Quite a lot of you like to sleep in tents and catch the dawn after the pine trees of Dalat.
Tourist places of Da Lat
Like a little Paris, Da Lat used to dream and be poetic thanks to the highland cold at night, early morning fog, and pine forests surrounding the city. Coming to Dalat, visitors are not only fascinated by the natural landscapes but also infatuated with the myths of love associated with those landscapes. The people of Da Lat still talked about legends, like waterfalls still flowing day and night and never ran out.
Lam Vien Square
Lam Vien Square is located in the “heart” of the flower city, overlooking Xuan Huong Lake with a total area of 72,000 m². Not only stands out with wide and airy space but Lam Vien Square is also impressed with the giant artwork with wildflowers and flower buds designed with fancy stained glass.
As one of the places most “sought” by young people in early 2021. Lam Vien Square project in Dalat is attracted by the extreme and strange architecture for you to unleash your style.
Da Lat Market
Dalat Market is a commercial center of Da Lat city located on the main road of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and is considered “the heart of Da Lat city”. Not only a market with trading activities, but the market is also a tourist attraction when coming to Dalat City. In 2011, Da Lat Market was newly built and expected to be completed in 2018-2019.
Am Phu Market is a trading center of Da Lat, meeting from 7-8 pm lasting until 3-4 am, visitors come regardless of cowardice, from the riders who stay up late to welcome guests, the street sweeper just finished his work, musicians, singers who have just left bars, discos, to the little romantic students who like to wander, or tourists who want to enjoy the taste of Da Lat night.
Dalat Flower Garden
Dalat Flower Park, also known as Dalat Flower Garden, is a flower park with more than 300 different flowers grown to serve the needs of visitors. Dalat flower garden is located at 2 Tran Nhan Tong street, Da Lat City. Next to Da Lat Flower Park is a poetic hillock and quiet Xuan Huong Lake. The entire area of Dalat’s flower garden is 7000 square meters and is divided into many different areas including a flower exhibition area, nursery, greenhouse, statue garden, entertainment area,…
Dalat College of Education
Dalat College of Education (formerly Grand Lycée Yersin) is an architecture recognized by the World Association of Architects (UIA) as one of 1,000 unique constructions of the world in the 20th century. The school was founded by the French in 1927, designed and directed by the architect Moncet, for French children and several wealthy Vietnamese families. In 1932, the Petit Lycée Dalat School was renamed the Grand Lycée de Dalat Lycée Yersin to commemorate Dr. Alexandre Yersin. The classrooms are built in an arc shape, the brick for the school building is red ceiling bricks brought from Europe, the roof is roofed with tiles made from France. At present, the roofing tiles have been replaced because the old tiles are no longer usable. The highlight of the arc-shaped row of houses is the bell tower. The outside of the bell tower used to have a clock, but perhaps it was dismantled, visitors can only see traces of the large clock imprinted on the brick background. There is also no bell above the bell tower as it was probably dismantled during the old regime.
Lake
Xuan Huong Lake
Xuan Huong Lake was originally a valley with a Cam Ly stream flowing through, where the original Lach residents gathered. In 1919, from the initiative of the Cunhac envoy, civil engineer Labbé proceeded to stop the stream from forming a lake. In 1923, the contemporary government built a dam below to create two lakes. In March 1932, a major storm broke both dams. In 1934 – 1935, Tran Dang Khoa re-designed and built a large stone dam: it is Mr. Dao’s Bridge today.
Lake is the heart of Da Lat city and is one of the rare cities with a lake located in the center. A lake is a famous place and also an attractive tourist attraction that creates a unique feature for Dalat. The outstanding architectural work associated with Xuan Huong Lake is Thuy Ta. During the French colonial period, the name was “La Grenouillère” (frog lagoon). Do you understand this name? But looking at the structure, there is a tower to jump into the water like a swimming pool. The Sino-Vietnamese name “Thủy Tạ” is sometimes understood as “Thủy Tọa”, which means architecture located on the water.
Than Tho Lake
Located about 6 km east of Dalat city center, along Quang Trung – Ho Xuan Huong Street. Visiting here, you will be told about touching love stories that borrowed lake water to keep your faithful love affair.
The reason is famous because the lake is located near the Martial School of Da Lat (now the Army Academy) and associated with a golden age of the school in the 1950s and early 1960s. Sunday is a family of practitioners and lovers who come together to have fun here. And until now, there is still the story of Thao – Tam and the grave of the ill-fated daughter named Thao cold in Pine Hill, 2 graves (from outside to the left-hand side of the resort).
Than Tho Lake is located on a high hill amid a tranquil pine forest. The scenery around the lake is poetic, the water surface is always calm and pensive. The road along the lake seems to disappear in the distance. There seemed to be only the whirring sound of the breeze, the sound of the pine whining, like sobs. There is a very strange pair of pine trees in the north of the lake forming a pair of pine “lovers” bound together without leaving and visitors can go there to take souvenir photos. The pine hill in Than Tho Lake also seems to be more beautiful than other places because the pine is sparsely populated and evenly taller, so when the sun shines down on the grass it is very beautiful.
Tuyen Lam Lake
From a deserted valley at an altitude of 1,000m above sea level, Tuyen Lam Lake has been transformed into an ideal resort spot in the highlands. The lake is located 5km from Da Lat, neatly between the immense pine forest and the legendary purple stream. The dry season in this area lasts 6 months, not a single drop of rain, but the lake bed is still full of water. The lake surface is blue all year round, rarely having big waves. The three-leaf pine forest covered the surrounding mountains and hills, stretching out a thousand eyes. All blend, creating a picture of a quiet, peaceful, and exotic nature. Those who visit Dalat also visit Truc Lam Zen Monastery so that from the top of Phuong Hoang Mountain, they can see the Southeast, admire the famous landscape created by this human hand.
Waterfall
Cam Ly Waterfall
According to the legend told by the village elders here, the name Cam Ly is derived from the K’Ho language. When the Cam Le Stream passed through a village of a tribe of Lat people, the chief of the K ‘Ho of that clan was named K’ Mly, so people in the area took his name for their stream to remember the merits of the village head who governed the beautiful village. And for a long time, people read it as Cam Ly. Besides, there is a hypothesis that Cam Ly is derived from Sino-Vietnamese origin (oranges are sweet and glass is absorbed). This means that Cam Ly is a symbol of a stream of fresh water that once captivated tourists. Previously, Cam Ly was associated with a pine forest next to it, named “forest of love” (boie d ‘amour) but that forest is no more today. The waterfall stream lacks water in the dry season, but in the rainy season, the water is flowing, giant blocks of water pour down violently.
The flow of Cam Ly Waterfall is about 10m high, not high but the water flow is still strong and gentle. This is a waterfall that goes into a lot of poetry and songs. The waterfall is one of the indispensable symbols of foggy cities like Xuan Huong Lake or Than Tho Lake. Sadly, at present, Cam Ly Waterfall is heavily polluted by waste from upstream. Many visitors have witnessed with their own eyes that they regret it, hoping that one day they can see the majestic and pure Cam Ly Waterfall again.
Tiger Cave Waterfall
Tiger Cave Waterfall, 15 km east of Da Lat city, belongs to Tuy Son, Xuan Tho Commune. The waterfall is located in the middle of a pine forest with an area of 308 hectares. The waterfall is about 50 meters high, more than 500 meters long, on the way from Da Lat to Dran (Don Duong). Tiger Cave Waterfall has many other names such as Ong Tiger waterfall, Ong Thuan waterfall, Da Sar waterfall, Thien Thai waterfall, Long Nhan waterfall,…
Note Dangerous high waterfall, in February 2017, a foreign tourist and a Vietnamese guide died here while participating in the adventure waterfall tour.
Prenn Falls
The name Prenn recalls a distant period in the 15th – 17th centuries when the mountainous and hilly areas were still the battlefield boundary of the wars of aggression and territorial protection. Prenn originated in the Cham language meaning “invading area”, while indigenous peoples such as Lat, Chil, and Sre called the invader “Prenn People ”.
From Ho Chi Minh City, follow Road 20 to Da Lat, you must pass Prenn Pass 10 km long. At the foot of the pass, about 100m away, visitors will enjoy the smoothness and grace of a curtain of water gently pouring from a height of 10m down to a small valley, surrounded by flowers and pine hills.
Especially with the cable car system, you can cross the waterfall in a feeling of adventure, as if you are going into a fairyland,…
Datanla Waterfall
It takes 5km from the center of Dalat, located between Prenn Pass. From Highway 20, turning down the slope about 300m to a small valley, you will meet Datanla waterfall with a fascinating and wild landscape.
Being put into exploitation in 2000, Datanla Waterfall with clear water flowing through 7 layers of rocky mountain and then falling large rocks, blowing white foam. Coming here, in addition to watching the falls, you also have the opportunity to participate in “unique” adventure games such as waterfall climbing, waterfall crossing,… Datanla Waterfall has beautiful smooth rocks, the old legend of the fairies on the roof. The world often stops visiting and bathing in streams, so this area is also known as Suoi Tien. Going further down, there is a deep valley called Death. This is a quite dangerous place, it is very easy to have an accident if it is not explored by professional units with safe equipment.
Church
Con Ga Church
Dalat Cathedral (official name: St. Nicola Bari Cathedral, also another name is Con Ga Church because there is a large chicken on top of the bell tower) is a Catholic church in Vietnam. This is the cathedral of the bishop of Da Lat Diocese, also the largest church in Da Lat, one of the oldest and most typical architectural works of this city left by the French. The church is located on Tran Phu street (near Novotel hotel) in Da Lat city.
The church is located on Tran Phu Street, with a design in the model of the Roman Catholic churches in Europe, typical of the Roman school of architecture. The ground of the church in the shape of a cross (like a cross) has a length of 65m, a width of 14m, and a bell tower of 47m high. At that height, from the bell tower, you can see the whole city. The main door of the church faces Langbiang mountain.
The facade with the bell tower section rising. The lines and details on the facade completely imitate the original European models. The window has a circular arch, strong and definitive lines, organized according to the vertical hierarchy, the roof is covered with marble tiles, especially the ratio between the blocks is very harmonious and tight.
The cathedral’s interior consists of 3 compartments: 1 large space in the middle and 2 small spaces on the sides. The work section clearly shows the rolling system in the form of an intact scroll series and cradle arch system. The columns in the interior have column head systems, simulating the classic form combined with spontaneity. Both the plan and the façade are designed strictly symmetrically in the classical way.
Domaine de Marie Church
Domaine de Marie Church is also known as Vinh Son church (because it is the chapel of the Nu Tu Bac Ai Vinh Son Soeurs), Mai Anh church (because in the past this area had a lot of cherry blossoms). This is an architectural cluster consisting of a chapel and two rows of Bac Ai Thanh Vinh Son monastery with a total area of 12 hectares located on Ngo Quyen Street, about 1 km southwest of Dalat city center.
The structure of the church’s architecture is still in the form of a cross, but the proportion is somewhat more liberal, free of strict regulations on religious architecture in Europe. The width is 11 m and the length is 33 m. Two stairways go up to the main door and reenter the main hall. The outside of the church is designed in an isosceles triangle, on the sharp top of the roof with a cross, the front is adorned with small lance-shaped arches. In the center of the facade, near the top of the roof, there is a circular rose window, a detail that often appeared in French churches in the late 17th century.
The roof windows protrude from the majority of the roof, creating a charming highlight for a fairly large roof area, as well as a place to attach stained glass panels to illuminate the cathedral space more sparkling and fanciful. The roof system, shaped like the communal house of the Central Highlands ethnic group. In addition, the church is built with adhesives such as lime, molasses, and several other additives, most of which come from Vietnam. Since its completion up to now, the church has only used dark pink lime to sweep the wall, glowing when the sun shines on, very characteristic that you cannot mistake when coming to Dalat.
Cam Ly Church
Cam Ly Church (Cam ly is the name of a waterfall in Da Lat) or Son Cuoc Church is a church of the Vietnamese Catholic Church in Da Lat city, Lam Dong, Vietnam. The church mainly serves ethnic minorities. The church was built by Father Boutary, a Frenchman, for many years with the ethnic minorities and contractor Nguyen Thanh Ho. The church was built in 6 years from 1960-1968.
The church architecture is stylized from the traditional communal roofs of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands and is reflected in the spirit of the rustic architectural school. There is a harmonious combination between western architecture and the traditions of the people.
In the foyer there are two beasts: a tiger symbolizing strength; The phoenix represents wisdom. The ethnic people feel safe when the tiger is guarding nearby and the phoenix warns from afar. In addition, these beasts also represent religious significance: Primitive humans had wild instincts like a tiger, but when perfected by God, would become as wise as a phoenix.
Temples
Tourists often know Da Lat city with poetic pine hills, many kinds of strange flowers, a lake without knowing that the Foggy City also owns many beautiful ancient temples.
Phung Hoang Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Located on Phung Hoang Mountain, next to Tuyen Lam Lake, the city center. Dalat was about 4 km along the way the birds flew. The monastery has an area of 24 hectares founded by Venerable Thich Thanh Tu on April 8, 1993, and completed on February 8, 1994. The first sketch has the participation of famous architect Ngo Viet Thu. Because it was only built a decade ago, the harmonious architecture between the needle and the neck looks harmonious and elegant. Truc Lam Zen Monastery does not have an ancient and magnificent beauty like other temples, but this place hides many mysteries of the spiritual world.
Truc Lam Zen Monastery is considered to be the largest monastery in the country both in terms of space and the size of the gathering. In the main hall only Buddha Shakyamuni holding lotus branches. Right outside is a majestic tower hanging a large bell 1.98 m high and weighs 1.1 tons on the engraved poem of Truc Lam Dau Da.
It can be said that the flower garden of the temple is one of the tourist spots not to be missed and is a rare flower garden that collects many exotic flowers. The flowers are planted by monks and nuns and have a whole nursery and transplanted. The varieties of flowers are brought home from all over the world to cultivate. The most famous are varieties: purple sim, Australian cotton, content,…
Van Hanh Zen Monastery
Van Hanh Zen Monastery is a Zen monastery located at 39 Phu Dong Thien Vuong Street, Ward 8, Da Lat City. This monastery attracts monks and nuns everywhere and is an attractive attraction of Da Lat city.
The most outstanding feature of the temple is the outdoor statue of “Buddha Shakyamuni”. The statue is 24m high, 20m wide, holding a lotus petal in the right hand. This image is special in Zen Tong called “Niêm Hoa Vi Tiếu.” According to the scriptures: Once at Linh Thu, when Duc The Ton held up a lotus wing, the entire congregation was silent and bewildered, only Mr. Ca Dare smiled. The Buddha immediately said: “I have the Eye of the Dharma, the Magic Heart of Nirvana, the Real General of the Great General, this Dharma Transcendental Language, from now on I pass it on to Ca Diếp”.
The lotus petals in the past at Linh Thu Mountain over two thousand five hundred and five years ago were once again vividly depicted in Da Lat City in the precinct of Van Hanh Zen Monastery. This is not only a sanctuary for monks, nuns, Buddhists, and visitors to the pilgrimage, but is also considered one of the unique cultural works showing the unique architecture of Buddhism.
Thien Vuong Co Sat Pagoda
Ancient Thien Vuong (天王 古剎) also known as Phat Tram Pagoda or Tau Pagoda is a pagoda located on Dragon Hill, at 385 Khe Sanh Street, 5km northeast of Dalat city center. The pagoda was built in 1958 by Venerable Tho Da of the Chaozhou Assembly Hall, consisting of 3 wooden houses with metal roofing. In 1989, Mr. Le Van Canh stood out and rebuilt. At this time, the middle house has been dismantled to create airy space for the other two buildings. Thien Vuong Co Sat Pagoda belongs to Hoa Nghiem Tong (China).
The pagoda has bold values and architectural style of Hoa pagoda and Assembly hall. Currently, the Buddhist monks and nuns in the temple all speak Cantonese. This is a very attractive sight of Lam Dong and Da Lat city. The pagoda has its style because it is located in an extremely spacious and airy space, located on a high hill, separated from the noisy city of Da Lat.
Linh Phong Pagoda
Linh Phong Pagoda, or the full name Linh Phong female monk Pagoda, is a pagoda located on a high hill at 72C Hoang Hoa Tham street, Da Lat City. Linh Phong Pagoda was originally a place to worship Buddha and was built in 1940, at that time only thatched, walled by boards. In 1946, this place of worship was transferred to nun Thich Nu Tu Huong. Gradually, Sister Thich Nu Tu Huong built the present-day pagoda.
Linh Quang Pagoda
Linh Quang pagoda is located at 133 Hai Ba Trung street, Da Lat City. This is the first temple built in this city so it is also called Linh Quang To Dinh. The temple was created by Venerable Thich Nhan Thu in 1931, then restored by successive monks, especially in 1958 and 1972 under Venerable Thich Minh Canh. The temple was bestowed by King Bao Dai in 1938.
The pagoda has an ancient architectural style, the roof is arched, on the roof of the dragon (dragon), unicorns, jewels, phoenixes are attached with colorful chinaware pieces. The main building of Linh Quang pagoda is 20 meters long, consisting of three interconnecting spaces. The electricity bill has 4 bronze pillars that cover the dragon. Above the main entrance to the inner palace, there is the word “Linh Quang Pagoda”. The main shrine of Sakyamuni Buddha sits on a lotus, flanked by Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and Dharma protector. Behind the main hall is the Church of Bo De Dat Ma. On the temple grounds, there are three stupas and a statue of Quan The Am Show on the body of a long, reinforced cement dragon.
Linh Son Pagoda
Linh Son Pagoda is one of the major temples of Da Lat City. The pagoda is located on a low hill, located at 120 Nguyen Van Troi Street, and about 700 meters northwest of the city center.
The pagoda was constructed in 1938 by Trung Phan Buddhist Association and completed in 1940. This is an architectural complex consisting of many items on an area of about 4 hectares wide. In the temple, there is a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni sitting on a bronze lotus statue weighing 1250kg, cast in 1952, and a common rose in bronze, weighing 700kg, cast in 1958. Currently, Linh Son Pagoda is the place where the literature is located. Office of Lam Dong Buddhist Province,…
Ve Chai Temple
Linh Phuoc Pagoda (靈 福寺) is located at 120 Tu Phuoc, in Trai Mat, 8 km from the center of Da Lat city, on Highway 20. The pagoda is also known as Ve Chai Pagoda because its courtyard ( Long Vien flower) has a 49m long dragon, dragon scales are made of 12,000 beer bottles, and the dragon mouth covers the Maitreya Buddha statue. In front of Hoa Long Vien is a 36m high 7-story Linh Thap tower with a 4.3m high hanging Dai Hong Chung, a 2.33m wide bell mouth, weighing 8,500 kg, cast in 1999 and considered the heaviest bell in Vietnam. In front of the temple, the yard is Quan The Am radio station. In addition, this place also has a display house for precious stones, ancient porcelain, and fine art furniture.
Quan Am Pagoda
Located in Khe Sanh, Ward 10, Da Lat City. The famous pagoda in Dalat has the first yellow bell flower tree next to Xuan Huong Lake. Visiting the pagoda, visitors can do a ceremony to pray for peace, offer incense to worship Buddha, and receive calligraphy from the teacher.
In addition, there is also the “collection” of the largest and most complete flower of Da Lat with hundreds of different flower varieties. In addition to the traditional flower varieties such as Cam Tu Cau, Hong, Hong Ri, Xac Phao, Mimosa, there are dozens of new flower varieties imported into Da Lat in the past 10 years, such as Cuc, Hong, Dong Tien, Do Quyen, Tra Mi,… There is an orchid garden, quite large orchids, and the most beautiful kind of Dalat.
Palaces
Palace I
Located about 4 km southeast of Dalat center, on a romantic hill with a height of 1,550m surrounded by pine forests. Palace 1 is a unique architectural work in an ancient, majestic, and elegant look that makes anyone who has once come here must be in awe. Originally, it was the home of a French official named Robert Clément Bourgery – it was quite beautiful and quiet, so the Vietnamese government, led by Bao Dai, was bought by King Bao Dai from August 1949 and renovated the entire residence.
When building the Palace, people discovered a secret tunnel, but King Bao Dai instructed them to hide it. This tunnel is located right behind Palace 1, leading to Palace 2, nearly 4km long with branches turning into villas 11, 16, 18, 26,… Tran Hung Dao – the Japanese dug before the French coup. captured alive French officers in the Governor-General’s Palace as well as in the surrounding mansions.
Palace II
Palace II is the summer residence of Governor-General Decoux, also known as Governor-General’s Palace, which is the residence and working place of Decoux every summer, from May to October. At an altitude of 1,540m on Tran Hung Dao street, 2km from the center of Da Lat to the South-East direction. Palace 2, built-in 1933, is a magnificent castle consisting of 25 rooms that are decorated extremely luxuriously. Standing here, visitors can see Xuan Huong Lake about 1km away and glimpse the pine foliage.
Palace III (Bao Dai Palace)
This is the name to refer to the summer villa of King Bao Dai, the last emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty and also the last emperor of the feudal Vietnamese Dynasties. Later when the French brought Bao Dai back to power in 1948 and then established the “Cuong Tho Emperor” in 1950, it was also known as the Führer’s Palace. Built-in 1933 with 25 rooms, Palace 3 is an extremely elegant mansion, embedded in the romantic scenery of a pine hill at an altitude of 1539m on Trieu Viet Vuong Street, about 2km from the center of Da Lat. south-west.
Due to the lack of history, the Führer’s Palace is preserved almost in its original state, making visitors here feel a solemn and close, cozy atmosphere of a royal family in the working room of King Bao Dai with the emperor’s military seals, emperor’s treasures, the national flag, the national flags of countries with diplomatic relations, the self-image of King Bao Dai and King Khai Dinh, the royal room Queen Nam Phuong, and Prince Buu Long,…
Villa Tran Le Xuan
Tran Le Xuan Palace is a complex of three villas located at 2 Yet Kieu Street, Da Lat City, Vietnam. During the First period of the Republic of Vietnam, this work was the residence of the family Tran Le Xuan, Ngo Dinh Nhu. After Ngo Dinh Nhu and his brother President Ngo Dinh Diem were assassinated, Tran Le Xuan lived in exile, this work became a tourist destination. Later, the villa was used as the Tay Nguyen Ethnic Museum and today becomes the National Archives Center IV, where the Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks are kept.
Tran Le Xuan Palace includes three villas:
- Bach Ngoc Villa: entertainment place of Tran Le Xuan family and high-ranking officers in the First Republic period.
- The Hong Ngoc Villa: Tran Le Xuan built a plan for his father, Mr. Tran Van Chuong.
- Villa Lam Ngoc: a private weekend place for Tran Le Xuan’s family.
The entire villa area is over 13 thousand square meters. Bach Ngoc Villa is equipped with a heated swimming pool. Behind Lam, Ngoc Villa is a Japanese flower garden. Villa Lam Ngoc also has escape tunnels and shelters.
After a period of restoration, Tran Le Xuan palaces reopened in 2008.
Villa Hang Nga
Hang Nga Villa or “Crazy House” is a hostel in Da Lat at 3 Huynh Thuc Khang with a campus of nearly 2,000 square meters. This house is famous for its special architectural style, the owner of the mansion is the daughter of General Secretary Truong Chinh.
The Hang Nga Villa includes many buildings and guest houses, cafes, and art galleries with special styles. The building’s interiors include caves, winding corridors, winding stairs, quirky furniture, and large-sized animal statues. There are no straight lines and straight angles, not “straight inline”. What can give the impression of being space, hallways, stairs, windows, or furniture – everything seems as if it has melted at a high temperature and then froze in grotesque shape.
Among the buildings are patterns of trees, bony roots made of concrete, and giant spider webs made of wire. There is a small tea room inside a large Giraffe statue. The rooms are named Gourd, Kangaroo, Bear, Bee,…
Dalat Railway Station
Dalat Railway Station is the train station of Da Lat City. This is considered the oldest station in Vietnam and Indochina. The station was built by the French from 1932 to 1938, when it was completed, it was the focal station on the 84 km long Phan Rang-Da Lat railway. The station has a unique architectural style, has three pyramidal roofs, stylized three peaks of Langbiang Mountain, or the communal house in the Central Highlands. The station has been recognized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture and Information as a national historical and cultural monument. The station is currently an attractive tourist attraction of Da Lat City. The only railway currently in service is the 7km-long Da Lat City – Trai Mat Route that brings visitors to Trai Mat and Linh Phuoc Pagoda.
Trai Mat Station
From the city center, it only takes about 30 minutes to drive to Trai Mat – a suburb on the edge of Dalat mountain town. The road is not difficult, you just need to go straight to Tran Hung Dao Street, Hung Vuong Street, and watch the pine trees, the old French-style villas lying humbly on both sides of the road.
Trai Mat is also the only destination in the ancient style train line in Da Lat that is operating to serve domestic and foreign tourists. Trai Mat Station is designed to simulate the image of the legendary Langbiang peak that many visitors are very interested in. Sometimes a series of echoes of trains from Da Lat to Trai Mat station made space seem to wake up and break the inherent peaceful moment.
Thien Phuc Duc Hill
Thien Phuc Duc Hill is one of the most ideal cloud viewing spots in the city. Located in the opposite position to Langbiang, from here you can admire the majestic picture of this most famous place when traveling to Dalat. The most unique here is the image of a lonely pine tree on a hill, leaning to one side as if waiting for someone, alone in the cold of Dalat.
Cau Dat Tea hill
From the center of Da Lat city, you go straight to Tran Hung Dao – Hung Vuong – Tu Phuoc Street then turn right on Highway 20 to Trai Mat. Tea hill is located in the southeast of the city, 25km from Da Lat, the same way to Trai Mat station, Linh Phuoc pagoda but further. On the way, you will pass several tourist spots, including the entrance to Tiger Cave waterfall.
When entering the tea hill, you should drive slowly, go to the factory area, and send the car to go around the tea hill. There are always a lot of young tourists coming to visit, take souvenir photos, so the tea pickers are familiar and happy to allow taking pictures.
In addition to enjoying the cool fresh air beside the tea beds, do not forget to visit the extremely eye-catching 360-degree container cafe, newly built in the middle of the tea hill. Here you will enjoy the hotcakes and coffee, fresh and delicious.
Valleys Love
Valley of Love is one of the most poetic sights in Dalat, about 5km north of the city center. That is where Da Thien dam gathers small streams flowing from high mountains, clear Da Thien lake winding around a valley shaded with green pine trees. In the 30s, the governor-general of Indochina and French lovers often chose this scene for dating, then named the Vallée d’Amour. By the time of King Bao Dai, this area was called Hoa Binh Valley, in 1953, Mr. Nguyen Vy – Chairman of Da Lat Town Council at that time – proposed to change the name to Valley of Love.
Strawberry Garden
Strawberries are one of the famous specialties of Dalat. Now, coming to the flower city, in addition to the familiar tourist spots, do not miss a visit to the strawberry gardens to directly visit, pick strawberries and eat strawberries right at the garden.
Strawberries usually start in the season from November onwards and last until the end of April every year, and at the beginning of November onwards, because strawberries are at the beginning of the season, the price is usually still quite high due to the influence. In the rainy season, the yield is not as much as in the middle of the season. Da Lat buffalo is most popular between January and February to March of the solar calendar and the peak of the strawberry season is on the Lunar New Year every year.
Note: Often when you come to Da Lat, you will have a lot of “storks” running along with their business cards to visit the strawberry garden. You absolutely should not believe and it is best not to hold those cards, these people will often lead you to specialty stores, asking to buy new items to show the strawberry garden. It is a scam that a lot of people do not know are deceived.
Đường Hầm Đất Sét
Stretching more than 1200m between the pine forest in Tuyen Lam Lake tourist area, the clay tunnel also has many different names such as sculpture tunnel, red soil tunnel, clay village,… is an artificial place in Da Lat was created by the “crazy guy” Trinh Ba Dung.
The unique architectural and cultural works such as train station, Bao Dai palace, Pasteur Institute, Dalat University, Palace Hotel, Con Ga Church, Linh Son Pagoda, Xuan Huong Lake, Da Lat Market,… then come Lien Khuong airport, Tuyen Lam lake, Valley of Love,… are all famous tourist destinations of Da Lat which are meticulously reproduced on clay material.
Flower villages
Dalat is known as a flower city, because nowhere in our country there are as many flowers as Dalat, from flowers of the rainforest to the flowers of the East and the West. If you have the opportunity to visit this flower city, you must not miss these three famous beautiful Dalat flower villages.
Thai Phien Flower Village
Thai Phien is located in ward 12, 7 km from the center of Da Lat city. Compared with many areas in this highland city, Thai Phien has a fairly flat topography, fertile soil, and water resources from streams leading to Than Tho Lake, which is very convenient for growing flowers.
Therefore, if more than 50 years ago, Thai Phien only planted some varieties such as chrysanthemum, gladiolus, persimmon, and hydrangeas, nowhere visitors can see many varieties of flowers imported from France, Japan, Indonesia, the Netherlands as Glass, sand wall, carnation, tulip,… Due to being cultivated all year round, the flower beds in Thai Phien are always full of vitality, sometimes green and tender, sometimes budging, sometimes sparkling color.
Ha Dong Flower Village
Formed 75 years ago by 35 households from Hanoi, Ha Dong flower village in Ward 8 today is considered the first flower-growing village of Dalat. Only about 2 km from the center of Da Lat city to the west, Ha Dong flower village is an attractive stop for visitors who want to see the colorful flower gardens.
Although it has been through three-quarters of the century, the imprint of the settlers who opened the realm is still preserved in the village with the architecture of gardens, ponds, and stables bearing the look of the northern countryside, especially the pure accent of Hanoi.
Van Thanh Flower Village
Not for a long time, like the flower village of Thai Phien, Ha Dong, Van Thanh is known as the largest flower village in Dalat, about 3 km from the city center. For decades, the inhabitants of Ha Nam province migrated to Da Lat, establishing the present-day Van Thanh flower village.
Although the mountainous terrain is steep, in the form of terraces, this is still the main flower supplier for Dalat, especially roses. Many roses are extracted and grafted from the trunk of wild roses. With the new rose buds imported from the Netherlands, the people of Van Thanh village have created many kinds of roses with different colors such as velvet rose, the lotus rose, pink rose, moonlight pink, but billion rose,…
In addition to the strength of roses, this place also attracts tourists with many beautiful flowers such as Gerbera, Carnation, Daisy,… Lost in the “kingdom of flowers”, you can also enjoy the charming scent.
Huge Pumpkin Garden
This pumpkin garden was imported by Uncle Phan, a garden owner in Da Lat, from South America and planted in Da Lat. This variety of pumpkins when grown-up can weigh more than 100kg. The garden currently attracts a lot of young people to check-in.
Pink Grass Hill
As a weed species, persimmon grass (also known as foxtail grass) often grows in clusters, the vertical body rises high to the sky like casuarina. Rose grass brings a strong vitality and flexibility, even though it is on the arid stone, it is always held high with a proud and defiant look. The flowers of the grass are pink, slightly pinkish purple, the hair is soft and smooth, brushing on the body causes the feeling of tickling and excitement.
From Da Lat city, you follow the direction of Tran Hung Dao – Hung Vuong street to Trai Mat junction, turn a left hand to Thai Phien flower village. You go further down about 2 km to see a rose grass hill. Rose grass season usually comes only at the beginning of winter, from early November to December every year. The best time to take super virtual photos is at dawn or sunset, hills and grass combined with sunlight create beautiful fanciful sceneries.
Hoa Son Dien Trang
Less than 10 km from the center of Dalat City, Hoa Son Dien Trang lies deep in a valley in the middle of Ta Nung pass. This is an ecotourism area operating since December 2017. The whole area is about 38 hectares, designed with many different spaces to serve guests. The most prominent features here are the cherry blossom forest, the triangular road, and the giant Buddha’s hand lying precariously on the cliff.
Wild Sunflowers
From October to December, golden anemones are in full bloom on the highlands of some northern provinces and in the Central Highlands. Yellow kneel becomes a feature of this highland in the late Autumn. Also with brilliant yellow color, although the flowers are not as big as sunflowers, the kneels bloom in bushes, forming a carpet of bright yellow flowers that warm the cold highlands. October is the time when Da Lat becomes more attractive than ever, the cold wind at the end of Autumn with streets, golden flower hills spreading across the streets creates an attractive beauty for this dream city.
Some places have wildflowers in Dalat
- Ye Kwok started to have B’Lao, the path to the old Dam Bri waterfall was many. But the most remarkable one is from Di Linh, a few small paths are leading down the hill, among the fields, very beautiful. In Gia Lanh village, Gia Hiep commune, Di Linh, the flower way is long, steep, and equally beautiful.
- Brilliantly beautiful is right at Dai Ninh dam, a whole golden hill. The two sides of the road to the Pongour waterfall are beautiful.
- From Phi Nom junction to Dran, there are many, finding some red dirt paths to the farms, down the carrot-growing hills, so beautiful.
- Lien Khuong – Prenn Expressway, the yellow-flowered hills, this place can only be accessed by car.
Tourist attractions near Da Lat
Mountain Langbiang
Langbiang – or Langbiang Mountain, or Langbiang Mountain Tourist Area, are two mountains: Ông and Bà Mountain are 12km from Da Lat city in Lac Duong District. Ba Mountain is 2,167 m above sea level and Ong Mountain is 2,124 m above sea level. In addition, in the tourist area, there is a Radar hill 1,929 m high, this hill is also a familiar place for tourists. Seen from Dalat city center Nui Ba is on the left, Nui Ong is on the right. Langbiang is considered the “roof of the house” of Dalat and is an attractive tourist attraction of Da Lat city.
Golden Valley
About 15km from Da Lat city in the northwest direction, lying on the edge of the lake Dankia – Suoi Vang, the Golden Valley eco-tourism area with immense green pine trees, flowers, and bonsai stones have become exploited to attract tourists.
Lonely Pine Tree
A single pine tree lying on the bank of Suoi Vang lake, but only after the photos were shared online, it suddenly became famous and became an interesting destination when tourists came to Da Lat. Many groups of young people do not hesitate to come here to take wedding photos or picnics.
Ma Rừng Lữ Quán
Located deep in the mountains of Da Nghi forest in Lac Duong District (Lam Dong), Ma Rung Lu Quan is a magical and poetic destination for nature-loving travelers in their journey to explore the mountains and forests of the Central Highland, a fairy tale between a deep forest and a peaceful place in the bustling flow of life.
Cu Lan Village
There are many ways to explain why this place is called Cu Lan Village. Either way is interesting, but the way that villagers tell is still the oldest and most widely circulated. In the olden days, there was a boy in the plain going up the mountain, going into the forest with the dream of picking up stones to build a paradise in the forest to give to his loved one.
Perhaps with the dream of “picking stones and patching the sky” and the foolish way of being different from people, called that Thằng Cù Lần. The rumor about a Thằng Cù Lần picking up stones to build a paradise on high mountains, in the middle of a deep forest to give to the person he loved has passed down to the girl that Cu Lan fell in love with. The girl left the street and waded up the mountain into the forest. Overwhelmed by the splendid beauty of wild mountains and forests, touched by the sincere love of Cu Lan. The girl stayed in the middle of the forest with Cu Lan. They have forever failed to build the paradise of their dreams. But they have built a small village on the bank of a stream empty among green hills, among wildflowers. Since then, people have called the Village Cu Lan Village.
Some Beautiful Cafe
As a coffee-growing land, Da Lat also has many beautiful but equally delicious cafes. You can find these shops in every corner of Da Lat. The quantity is so many, so we only introduce a few typical cafes.
Chị Chị Em Em Cafe
This is a small house on the hillside, nestled among green trees, overlooking the pine forest. The shop just appeared not long ago but attracts many young people with a very special space. The highlight of the restaurant is a soft mattress bed and a very unique mountain view bath, spoiled for you to take virtual live photos. This is the hot check-in corner recently.
Cafe F Dalat flower field
The restaurant is very suitable for those who love coffee and love flowers. If you do not like wandering in the field to take pictures, you can go to the bar to drink coffee and watch the flower fields from above.
Đợi Một Người Cafe
Nestled among the lush trees is a nostalgic space that makes you fall in love at first sight. The highlight and also the special thing here is the “House on the lake” located on the campus of Waiting for a Homestay. With a transparent glass design, sitting here you can enjoy the panoramic view around, lake surface, enjoy the harmony between nature, Da Lat mountains, and forests.
Rose Coffee Shop
Dalat Rose Cafe is built in the direction of vintage nostalgia with the quiet features of Dalat. Furniture is mainly wooden materials. Each table has a pot of fresh roses placed in the middle. In addition, inside there are many alternating flower pots to create a sense of comfort. It is not only a cafe but also a small house that if you like the feeling of peace, you can quietly drop by.
Gâu Garden Cafe
In addition to the beautiful view, as its name implies, the shop has raised a few beautiful little puppies as friends. Those who love dogs will not be able to miss this place.
Still Cafe
This is a Japanese-style cafe located in the heart of Dalat. Still, the cafe has a few old wooden tables and chairs of all styles, plus a set of sofas in the main corner. The shop has enough familiar items like a house. The space of the restaurant is not too large, with the faint scent of essential oils, very relaxing and pleasant. After a tiring stroll, choose Still Cafe as a stopover, you will be very satisfied.
Dalat Mountain View Cafe
Inspired by the Nordic style, delicate, neat, and minimalistic, Da Lat Mountain View is the ideal place to sip a cup of hot coffee, sip each piece of fragrant cake in a rustic space. The weather is cold in the middle of the weather.
Túi Mơ To
The shop is located a bit far from the center of Dalat, but it is worth going because the restaurant is very beautiful. The impression is that there are many flowers planted around the aisle, alternating with beautiful wooden furniture areas. The style is very simple like you are sitting in your garden, not a cafe. The drinking water here is very delicious, sitting and sipping a cup of coffee and watching this place is nothing like.
What to eat in Da Lat
Bánh Căn
It is not difficult to find bakery shops in this misty country. The most attractive thing is the large coal furnace, with many round molds on the surface. The oven is always full of fragrant smoke, making everyone passing by want to linger. Like grilled rice paper with dried shrimp fat, grilled sweet potatoes, or fragrant grilled corn stalls on the street corner, Banh Can also make everyone who has come to Da Lat once find, to bring back a few memories.
For many people who love Banh Can Da Lat, the Avocado Can Cake Shop located in Tang Bat Ho is one of the indispensable addresses. Over the past 10 years, Banh Can here has had only one type of egg filling but has received many compliments from diners. Another strange thing is, if you like, you can prepare your humanity and bring along, the mandarin will be ready to serve you.
Bánh Xíu Mại
This is a gentle and quite popular dish in Dalat. Da Lat Commercial Department is made from well-crafted meat, so it has just enough toughness and toughness and has a light taste. The broth is simmered from pork bones, mingled with the sweetness of lean meatballs, adding a little creamy fat, and sliced green onions, making the dish extremely attractive.
When used with bread, people usually add a little bit of satay to create color and spice. You can use little extra bean sprouts, cilantro, or non-crispy fat cloves, put it in the cup while it’s hot to soak in the sauce, and use it until it is very fragrant.
Canh Hoa Atiso Hầm Giò Heo
Coming to the dreamy mountain town of Da Lat, not only looking for nature, a cool fresh climate but also an opportunity to enjoy the typical products of the cold land. That place has flowers that people immediately think of Dalat as a very specific taste that visitors often remind each other to enjoy and bring as gifts – artichokes.
Referring to artichoke, the most special one must be the famous dish – artichoke flower soup stewed with pork rolls. The sweetness of the pork rolls mingles with the cool taste of artichoke cotton, giving birth to a soup that is not only delicious but also extremely nutritious. How to enjoy this dish is “unique”. The artichoke flower, after being scooped into a cup, uses your hands to remove each layer of petals, layer after layer, chewing slowly and thoroughly to fully absorb the sweet taste.
As a specialty of Dalat, the artichoke flower soup with pig’s sausage is not as flavorful as in the middle of the world here. Among artichoke dishes, pork sausage is the most attractive. Eating pieces of artichoke or simmering pork rolls will see the full blend of food.
Rice dishes
Cơm Niêu Đà Lạt
Cơm Niêu is a specialty in the thousand-year dish of our Vietnamese people. Gạo Tám is cooked in a copper pot or other pots cannot taste the same as cooked in a clay pot.
It is not difficult for you to find a famous restaurant or a pot of rice in Da Lat. Under the cold weather of Dalat, the hot and scorched yellow rice pot will be a delicious dish that you should not give up.
Cơm Tấm Đà Lạt
Previously, Cơm Tấm was just a rustic dish. But over time, the idyllic dish follows the countryside to urban areas and gradually becomes a popular dish in the whole city. Broken rice was once considered as “poor rice”, but with the skillful hands of talented chefs, broken rice has become a specialty of Da Lat people.
Dalat has many broken rice shops but the most delicious and famous is the MEI broken rice. This dining place leaves an impression on you when traveling to Dalat because of the large oven with high chimneys and fragrant grilled ribs. The ribs here are carefully selected and marinated with spices, bearing the essence of Da Lat broken rice.
Enjoy the broken rice dish with a little fish sauce, onion fat mixed well on the plate, and then slowly feel the delicious aroma, the fatty taste, the mild sweetness in each rice grain, and accompanying dishes, you will feel all the sophistication of this dish. Broken rice is indeed a delicious Dalat dish that you will never forget when you have enjoyed it even once.
Cơm Gà
Rice is cooked with chicken broth but not greasy, served with fried chicken pieces, or fragrant boiled. Each portion of rice also comes with optional soup.
The most famous restaurant is Hai Phan Rang Chicken Rice at 28 Tran Nhat Duat address. The chickens here are sold in pieces, each piece is charged for that piece, the price of rice is calculated separately. Compared with the general premises in Da Lat, it is a bit expensive, but I think if you are traveling to Da Lat and craving chicken rice, it is acceptable.
Bánh Ướt Lòng Gà
In other regions, wet cakes often go with cha, in Da Lat, wet cakes are strange variations with meat and chicken hearts. The combination of the soft wet cake with the sweet aromatic chicken and the chewy chicken heart creates an interesting play dish.
Rice cakes are non-glutinous rice mixed with a little flour and tapioca to create aroma and flexibility. After soaking the rice, grind, mix more flour and add a certain percentage of water to prevent rinsing. The cake is flexibly coated in layers so that the cake is even and not thin.
The heart and chicken served with the wet cake are also prepared very carefully. Chickens are usually chickens that are raised in the garden to have firm and tough meat. To avoid a fishy smell, the chicken, after preliminary processing, will be lightly marinated with a little spice and garlic.
Bánh Tráng Nướng
At night, rice paper is not difficult to find. You will meet stalls around Xuan Huong Lake, or in the night market of Dalat. The main ingredients that make up the dish are rice paper and chicken eggs, dotted with little green onions and dried shrimp. When eating, just put up a little chili sauce, fold it up, and diners can enjoy the dish that is memorable for many people.
Bánh Canh
Dalat has a lot of Banh Canh Shops. But so famous that it became the default “if you haven’t eaten Banh Canh, then you don’t have to go to Da Lat yet” is Xuan An on Nha Chung Street. The cake is delicious because the cake is handmade, chewy, and soft, the fish cake is crispy and smooth, and the broth is rich.
Bun Bo Hue
It will not be difficult to find a Hue beef noodle shop anywhere, but in different places, this dish has its own identity because it is adapted to the taste of the people there. Rated as one of the best dishes in Vietnam, a simple bowl of vermicelli includes noodle soup, beef, spring rolls, cinnamon rolls, blood,… In Dalat, the noodles used are of moderate size and firmness. When you eat, you still feel its smoothness and flexibility without being bored.
Especially with the cold weather of Dalat, the bowl of vermicelli will cool down quickly, so you must enjoy the food a little faster. Perhaps this is also part of making a difference in the way of enjoying the dishes in this land.
Hot pot dishes in Da Lat
Lẩu Gà Lá É
The leaves are in the same family as basil. The taste is a bit similar to the basil leaves. A chicken hotpot has about half a chicken, a large plate of noodles, a plate of mushroom, a few bamboo shoots, Thai chess, and of course, a plate of leafy vegetables is indispensable. The hot pot broth here has the aromatic and pungent flavor of chili, which is very suitable for the typical cold atmosphere of Dalat. If you are suffering from the flu, this hot pot served with this leaf is an “elixir” for you.
Speaking of chicken hotpot, you must mention Tao Ngo restaurant at the end of 3/4 street (about 2km from Xuan Huong Lake). Previously, this was a restaurant that only local people knew, but because of delicious food, gradually, this restaurant became a must-eat dish, the must-go address of many tourists when coming to Da Lat.
Ba Toa Beef Hotpot
Ba Toa is the name of an area in Da Lat (about 1km from Da Lat market), the reason for this name is because it used to be a slaughterhouse. The beef hotpot here is famous for its thick, large, and soft beef. Not to mention that there are more tendons, tails, and plump buckets in the pot, just to see if the belly wants to boil.
Ba Toa beef hotpot is fragrant with the scent of mountain beef. In addition to a lot of beef, the beef hot pot here also has egg noodles and green vegetables (in Da Lat, every dish with vegetables, the vegetable plate is fresh and green quality).
The Ba Toa area is filled with hot pot restaurants, but the most typical ones are A Ba Toa, Thanh Tam. In addition, Ba Toa beef hotpot at Go on Hoang Dieu Street is also worth a visit. Sitting in cozy houses, eating fragrant beef hot pot, with typical sweet green vegetables of Dalat, we can see why so many people are certain to come to Dalat to eat Ba Toa beef hotpot once.
Da Lat Grilled Spring Rolls
Usually, when hearing about throwing, people think of sour meat, but not with Da Lat rolls. Dalat grilled spring rolls are made from carefully selected pork, pureed, seasoned with garlic onions, forcing workers to go through a process of swabbing by hand to create toughness for the dish. When it reaches the desired toughness, this food is long rounded on a wooden chopstick for easy baking and will definitely have to be baked on a charcoal stove. The scent of marinated meat, aromatic spices, blended with the smell of hot coal smoke to create a strangely attractive flavor.
Accompanying Da Lat grilled spring rolls, the first is crispy fried rice paper. This is simply a kind of rice paper used to roll, rolled into long sticks, fried in gold, making the dish “crispy”.
Dalat is famous for green vegetables, so this specialty cannot be ignored. Da Lat grilled spring rolls are served with salad, coriander, chives. Because the spring rolls are already fragrant, now the rice paper rolls with a crispy and fragrant salad, the taste of this combination cannot be described with words. And, Dalat green vegetables are the part to help the dish help the fat when it comes with the crispy fried rice paper just mentioned above.
Two things go with some itinerary just like this special spring roll that is indispensable, which are also the things that make the difference for Dalat grilled spring rolls with other places. These are pickled tubers and dipping sauces.
Pickled tubers include carrots, white radish, shallot, and cucumber soaked in vinegar, creating a certain sweetness for the dish, making diners not feel bored or sick. Normally, in every Dalat grilled spring roll shop, there is raw garlic to go with this dish. The spicy garlic flavor, combined with the pickled fruits will make the dish “healthy”, suitable for even the stomach that is uncomfortable with strange dishes.
The most special thing about this dish is the sauce. Peanuts, garlic onion, a little meat, add seasoning, puree, and boil. Eating with rolls, fried rice paper, with vegetables, pickled fruits,… Da Lat grilled spring rolls reached a limit that is hard to criticize and even more unforgettable.
Lien Hoa Bakery
Considered as the world of miniature cakes in the heart of Da Lat city, Lien Hoa cake is a top choice for fans of sweets while traveling to explore Da Lat. The shop has all kinds of cakes, faces, cream cakes, and dessert cakes that are beautifully made and also very delicious. In addition, there are also a few commercial sandwiches that are delicious and different from other stores, you can try.
Xắp Xắp
Xắp Xắp is the idyllic name that street vendors call in a way that arranges ingredients and spices onto a plate. This is a snack that you should try once when coming to this mountain town. Xắp Xắp Dalat is processed from grated young papaya into small, long fibers. Grated papaya must be soaked in saltwater to soften, then picked up to dry, and then prepared for processing.
A dish arranged not large, just about 1-2 people eat. The previously prepared papaya is placed on a plate first, and the meat is removed. These can be beef jerky, beef liver cooked with five spices yellow-brown, pork liver with five spices. Then, slice cinnamon and sprinkle on top, add little ground-pounded roasted peanuts, chili, herbs, and sprinkle with sweet and sour broth.
When enjoying the dishes, you will feel the crispy sweetness of papaya, the sourness of tamarind in the broth, the fatty and chewy taste of the meat, the pungent chili, and the aroma of spices, vegetables, peanuts. Many people believe that Xắp Xắp Da Lat is like a dry beef salad in the South and Central or dried beef salad in the North. However, what makes the dishes different is that the broth made from tamarind juice is moderately acidic, not too sweet and spicy, suitable for all tastes of travelers everywhere.
Soymilk
One of the dishes to play in Da Lat. In the cold weather, sipping a cup of hot milk with a crispy hot cake or a fragrant cake, chatting with friends can be a memorable memory when traveling to Dalat.
In Dalat, there are many soymilk cars on the streets, but not all are delicious. A few famous shops and the quality of the cake here is also very well such as the ones located along Xuan Huong Lake, Tang Bac Ho Street and Dalat night market,…
Strawberry Ice Cream
One characteristic that makes the difference for strawberry ice cream in Dalat is the use of pure strawberries, absolutely not using any colorings to color and create a scent. The cool strawberry ice cream has an elegant sweetness blending with the characteristic mild sour taste of strawberries, making you crave more and more.
Chả Ram Bắp
A creation of Dalat’s own people, the roll is like spring rolls, but the inside is completely made from sticky corn, seasoned with very good seasoning, wrapped with a lot of fresh vegetables, herbs of Da Lat. The dipping sauce is made from peanuts. This food is very suitable for vegetarians. Let take an experience Da Lat to enjoy this unique spring roll dish.
Da Lat corn ramen can be considered as one of the links that attach tourists to such a popular bustling space. Da Lat people are elegant and gentle, so their dishes are mostly processed with something very elegant. So is corn ramen, in the spring rolls, the aroma of banquets is filled with the simple sweet taste of corn, which is fresh and fresh. The way to prepare the corn ramen does not seem too difficult, but it requires the gentleness of the whole roll-making process. Fresh corn, when picked, is peeled, seasoned well, wrapped in rice paper, and then dropped into a pan of boiling oil and fried. Cooked corn ramen has a very strange aroma, not only subtle the poetic taste of the traditional spring roll dish, but also blends into it a bit of the strangely attractive ripe corn scent. Served with corn ramen are raw vegetables, fresh herbs from Dalat, and a very special sauce.
Types of specialties in Da Lat
These are specialties that you can buy as gifts when traveling to Da Lat, but nowadays there are many poor-quality goods mixed into Da Lat specialties, so you need to be a consumer. Smart when choosing.
Dried Fruits
Diverse and rich in the source of fruit products, crispy drying to create specialties is indispensable in the land of Dalat.
Hồng Dẻo Dalat
The persimmon is one of the top 4 fruits voted the best and is the unique product of the land of Da Lat. The flexible dried persimmon product made from persimmon fruit is also a favorite specialty of tourists coming to Da Lat. There are two types of dried persimmon whole fruit and dried persimmon 1/2 fruit (also known as persimmon piece).
After the rose is peeled, it is taken away to wash, so that the pink piece produced has a very beautiful red color, not black. The persimmons are then put in the oven for many hours, for the persimmons to be delicious and to dry evenly, the person who drier must frequently turn the persimmon. Depending on the drying time, a plastic pink piece or a dried persimmon piece will be produced. There are people who just like to eat very softly, but also people like to eat dry.
Strawberry
Strawberry, also known as mulberry, is a genus of angiosperms and flowering plants of the rose family are popular with many people. Strawberries originated in the Americas and were bred by European gardeners in the 18th century to create a widely cultivated strawberry variety today.
Strawberries are grown for fruit in temperate regions. With an attractive aroma and sweet and sour strawberry flavor, strawberries are popular. In Vietnam, the cool climate of the mountains of Da Lat is a suitable environment for mulberry cultivation, so this fruit is considered a specialty of this highland.
Atiso Flowers
The artichoke tree, whose scientific name is Cynara scolymus, is a perennial thorn plant native to Southern Europe (around the Mediterranean). They were grown by the Ancient Greeks and the Romans for flowers as vegetables. Artichokes have been present in Vietnam since the early 20th century. They are grown in Sa Pa, Tam Dao, and mostly in Dalat.
There are not many species of plants that all plants from roots, roots, stems to leaves, and cotton is used as artichokes. Science has proven artichoke is a medicinal plant, has many good effects on health, and is favored by consumers.
Dalat Wine
Dalat wine is a wine originating in Da Lat, made from grapes and fruits of this region’s specialty. The first Dalat wine product was born in 1999, also the first grape wine product made by Vietnamese people.
Dalat Travel Schedules
Because there are so many interesting tourist attractions in Dalat, it is difficult for you to go all the way to Dalat in a few sessions. Some of the recommended schedules are below to help you explore Dalat as much as possible. can.
Tour 1: Hanoi – Dalat – Hanoi
The itinerary for you starts from Hanoi in the morning of the 1st and will fly back in the afternoon of the 5th. Total time is 5 days and 4 nights with the main means of transportation by motorbike. Depending on your personal preferences, you can choose other tourist destinations in Da Lat to change and supplement your itinerary.
Day 1: Hanoi – Da Lat
Depending on the flight from Hanoi, your arrival time to Da Lat may vary. If you choose a nice flight, you will arrive at Lien Khuong airport at noon, from here you will go straight to the hotel to rest.
In the afternoon, around Xuan Huong Lake, Dalat Flower Garden, Con Ga Church, Domaine-de Marie Church,…
Evening enjoy delicious food in Da Lat, walk around Da Lat night market, and rest
Day 2: Explore the center of Da Lat
On this day, please leisurely drive a motorbike around Dalat, the city does not have any traffic lights. You can visit Xuan Huong Lake to enjoy a cup of coffee by the lake, hang around Lam Vien Square, or take a train from Dalat Railway Station to Trai Mat. Do not forget to visit Dalat Teachers College to take pictures and run around to enjoy delicious food in Dalat.
Day 3: Golden Valley – Cu Lan Village – Ma Rung Lu Quan
Get up for breakfast, make a glass of Dalat coffee to wake up, and start the journey.
From the center of Dalat city to the Golden Valley tourist area, about 20km. You can rest for lunch here and then continue to Ma Rung Lu Quan. This place is more than ten kilometers from the Golden Valley, the entrance is quite bad. At this point, I just sat in a cafe and took pictures for a while and then continued to go to Cu Lan Village.
Evening back to Da Lat city to eat and rest
Day 4: Valley of Love – Truc Lam Zen Monastery – Tuyen Lam Lake – Dat Clay Tunnel
In the morning, you can take the time to go out and explore the Valley of Love, take advantage of and combine to explore the strawberry gardens. You should also visit XQ Da Lat Su Quan, near the entrance to the Valley of Love.
Lunch at noon, back to the hotel to rest
The afternoon goes around Truc Lam Da Lat Zen Monastery, Tuyen Lam Lake, and Sculpture Tunnel.
Day 5: Visiting Flower Village – Back to Hanoi
On this day, get up early and visit one of the famous flower villages of Dalat such as Van Thanh, Thai Phien, or Ha Dong.
Near noon, then go back to the hotel to check out, pack up things to the airport in time to fly back to Hanoi
Tour 2: Saigon – Da Lat – Saigon
Itinerary from Saigon for those who love to travel by motorbike Da Lat. With a distance of about 300km from Saigon Da Lat, it will take you about 10-12 hours to travel. If you do not like to travel by motorbike, you can travel by bed bus to Dalat and rent a motorbike here.
Day 1: Saigon – Da Lat
On this day, you should leave early to go to Da Lat. Define that all day you only sharpen your butt in the car, so be prepared to be very tired.
If you move from early morning, until late afternoon, you will be in Dalat, if you have booked a hotel in Dalat or a homestay in Dalat, you will go straight to the hotel, check-in, rest, and eat. dark.
Day 2: Dalat – Valley of Love – Trai Mat – Temple of Ve Chai
In the morning, go to No. 7 Mai Anh Dao, the address of the Valley of Love. At the gate of the tourist area not far away is XQ Da Lat Su Quan, a beautiful space in the heart of Dalat. If you have free time, you can also visit some strawberry gardens.
Afternoon rest, lunch and then you can take advantage of the hotel to rest.
Afternoon to Dalat station, buy tickets to Trai Mat. This is the remaining route (only about 7km) of the very famous serrated railway line from Dalat to Thap Cham. Go to Trai Mat Station, do not miss Linh Phuoc Pagoda (Ve Chai Pagoda) which is very famous and has special architecture.
Back to the hotel to rest, at night to enjoy the specialties of Dalat, visit the night market of Dalat to play.
Day 3: Golden Valley – Cu Lan Village – Ma Rung Lu Quan
Get up for breakfast, make a glass of Dalat coffee to wake up, and start the journey.
From the center of Dalat city to the Golden Valley tourist area, about 20km. You can rest for lunch here and then continue to Ma Rung Lu Quan. This place is more than ten kilometers from the Golden Valley, the entrance is quite bad. At this point, I just sat in a cafe and took pictures for a while and then continued to go to Cu Lan Village.
The area of Cu village is also quite a lot. If you do not like it, you can rent a jeep to experience the feeling of peace around the village.
Evening back to Da Lat city to eat and rest
Day 4: Dalat – Prenn Waterfall – Datanla Waterfall – Tuyen Lam – Truc Lam Zen Monastery
The total distance is only about 30km all the way out and back, but you will spend a lot of time on each point because there are very interesting games in the waterfall areas. In the morning you can go to Prenn waterfall.
From Prenn waterfall, you follow the Prenn Pass to Datanla Waterfall. Datanla waterfall is much larger, flowing from above, through 7 layers of rock falling down large rocks. From above, there is a system of adventurous sleds to take guests down the foot of the waterfall. Young people traveling should play this game, the length of the slide is nearly 1000m and many bends and curves will give you the feeling of being very excited.
Leaving Datanla waterfall, you will go one more distance to come to Tuyen Lam Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Dalat. This is considered an area with many beautiful landscapes and rich tourist services. You can walk around the lake, rent a hammock to rest, or rent a boat to walk on the lake. You can choose to have lunch and rest in the area of Tuyen Lam Lake.
Next, go to visit the Zen Monastery located on Phuong Hoang Mountain, the atmosphere is very pure and quiet. After a long tiring day, let your soul and body relax and rest.
Day 5: Dalat – Saigon
Finish the journey and spend the whole day going back to Saigon.
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