Traveling to Da Lat – Vietnam is an exciting journey of experience, when you can enjoy the fresh, cool air, admire the beautiful natural scenery and freely explore many delicious specialties.
Dalat tourism has long had an irresistible attraction and is the destination for those who love nature, peaceful space and the characteristic cool atmosphere.
The journey of sightseeing and relaxation in the city of thousands of flowers will become more convenient and complete with the following complete Dalat travel guide.
1. When is the best time to travel to Da Lat?
Da Lat city has a temperate climate all year round because it is located at an altitude of 1,500m above sea level and is surrounded by hills and pine forests. At each time of the year, Da Lat’s weather has its own unique beauty and contains many interesting things for you to discover.
1.1. January – April: Admire the spring of the mountain town
The weather of the city of thousands of flowers from January to April is not too cold but still chilly with a gentle breeze. Traveling to Da Lat this season, you will admire the fresh scenery of the mountain town in spring and the brilliant beauty of cherry blossoms, white ban and purple phoenix flowers blooming all over the roads and mountain slopes.
1.2. Travel to Da Lat in May – September: Welcome the cool summer with the city of thousands of pine trees
From May to September, Da Lat enters the summer with a fresh, cool atmosphere and occasional sudden showers. Da Lat in these months has a pure, romantic beauty under the rain, the fog covering and the brilliant yellow color of sunflower season.
1.3. October – December: Admire Da Lat in its most beautiful season
From October to December, Da Lat enters the dry season with the coldest climate of the year. Traveling to Da Lat during this time, you will admire the beauty of brilliant wild sunflowers, immense white mustard flowers, pink grass hills shimmering in the morning mist or seas of clouds covering the hillsides.
2. Means of transport to Da Lat city, Lam Dong
Da Lat is about 300km from Ho Chi Minh City and nearly 1,500km from Hanoi. Therefore, depending on your departure location, preferences and conditions, you can choose many types of transport when traveling to Da Lat as follows:
2.1. Traveling to Da Lat by bus
Departing from Ho Chi Minh City or the Southern and South Central regions, the popular means of transport chosen by many tourists is the bus. Buses to Da Lat are operated by many bus companies with many time slots from early morning to late night and a variety of options from seats, sleepers, single rooms, double rooms with ticket prices ranging from 150,000 – 380,000 VND/person.
2.2. Travel to Da Lat by plane
According to Da Lat travel experience, to save travel time, air travel is the best choice. Major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho, Nha Trang, Hue, Phu Quoc… all have flights from airlines to Da Lat airport with prices ranging from 400,000 to 2,000,000 VND/way.
The flight lands at Lien Khuong airport, about 34km from the center of Da Lat city. From here, you can take a taxi or bus to the central area of Da Lat.
2.3. Train
Da Lat does not have a train route, so you can take the train to Nha Trang station and then take a bus from Nha Trang to Da Lat. This route is about 130km long and the ticket price usually ranges from 100,000 to 150,000 VND/person. Although the travel time by train and bus is quite long, this is also an ideal suggestion for you to combine your Da Lat – Nha Trang travel itinerary with rich experiences.
2.4. Personal vehicles
In addition to the above means of transport, you can go by car or motorbike to Da Lat. This option helps you to be proactive and free to make the journey to have the most interesting Da Lat tour according to your wishes.
3. Means of transport in Da Lat
As a famous tourist city, Da Lat has many means of transport to serve the needs of tourists to travel and explore. Below are some popular means of transport that you can use:
3.1. Rent a motorbike
A motorbike is the most “luxurious” means of transport for you to explore every corner of Da Lat and conquer famous roads. You can book a motorbike rental service in Da Lat on fanpages, rent directly at hotels or cheap motorbike rental points on streets such as: Bui Thi Xuan, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Phan Nhu Thach… Motorbike rental prices usually range from 80,000 – 150,000 VND/day.
3.2. Taxi, self-drive car rental
If you travel to Da Lat with a group of friends or family, you can rent a self-drive car or taxi for convenient travel and explore places far from the center. Car rental service in Da Lat costs about 700,000 – 1,000,000 VND/day.
With Da Lat taxi, you can choose from many companies with fares from 10,000 – 18,000 VND/km. In addition, you can rent a car and a private driver to explore Da Lat with a service price of about 1,200,000 – 1,500,000 VND/day/7-seat car.
3.3. Bicycle
To exercise, enjoy the fresh air and explore the poetic beauty of the foggy city, you can choose a bicycle. The average bicycle rental price is about 20,000 – 30,000 VND/hour.
4. Famous tourist attractions in Da Lat
Da Lat tourism has countless famous destinations from beautiful natural landscapes to unique constructions. Each destination has its own unique features that bring you many memorable experiences. Here are some attractive suggestions that you should not miss:
4.1. Lam Vien Square
Lam Vien Square is a familiar check-in location for many tourists when coming to Da Lat. The construction impresses with its architecture of wild sunflowers and artichoke buds made of stained glass in front of the poetic Xuan Huong Lake.
Coming here, you will be immersed in the bustling atmosphere, enjoy the fresh air, enjoy street food and freely pose for photos with the symbol of Da Lat…
4.2. Xuan Huong Lake – a famous tourist destination in Da Lat
Xuan Huong Lake is considered the “heart” of Da Lat city with its calm water surface, grass carpets, and surrounding trees. In addition to enjoying the scenery and admiring the peaceful beauty of Xuan Huong Lake in Da Lat, you can pedal a duck boat, ride a motorbike around the lake and take impressive photos at the Y-shaped bridge.
Address: between Tran Quoc Toan and Nguyen Thai Hoc streets, Ward 1, Da Lat City
Ticket price: free
4.3. Bao Dai Palace
History has left Da Lat with many ancient structures of great architectural value. The Bao Dai Palace system is part of them. The building was once the workplace and resort of the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty with ancient French architecture harmonizing with the ancient Hue royal style.
Address:
Palace 1: 01 Tran Quang Dieu, Ward 10, Da Lat City
Palace 2: 12 Tran Hung Dao, Ward 10, Da Lat City
Palace 3: 01 Trieu Viet Vuong, Ward 4, Da Lat City
Ticket price:
Palace 1: 50,000 VND/adult, 25,000 VND/child
Palace 2, Palace 3: 30,000 VND/ticket
4.4. Tuyen Lam Lake
As the largest lake in Da Lat, Tuyen Lam Lake is located in the middle of a green pine forest, creating a poetic and romantic scene. There are many interesting services and activities for you to participate in such as: rowing, pedaling, camping… The area around the lake also has cafes, resorts, flower gardens for you to leisurely enjoy the scenery and take pictures during your trip to Da Lat.
Address: Ward 4, Da Lat City, about 6km from Da Lat center
Ticket price: free
4.6. Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Truc Lam Zen Monastery located on Phung Hoang Mountain is a famous pilgrimage and sightseeing destination in Da Lat. The large-scale project belongs to the Truc Lam Yen Tu lineage with a peaceful, serene space and beautiful scenery towards Tuyen Lam Lake, surrounded by vast and majestic pine forests.
Address: Truc Lam Yen Tu Street, Ward 3, Da Lat City
Ticket price: free
4.7. Cau Dat Tea Hill
On your trip to Da Lat, you will have many interesting experiences when visiting Cau Dat Tea Hill. Coming here at dawn, you will feel the fresh air of the early morning dew, the gentle sunlight creeping on the green tea hill. Cau Dat Tea Hill is also an ideal place to hunt clouds in Da Lat and gives you an interesting experience visiting the tea museum.
Address: Truong Tho village, Xuan Truong ward, about 25km from the center of Da Lat city
Ticket price: free
4.8. Domaine de Marie Church Da Lat Vietnam
Domaine de Marie Church with its brilliant red-brown tones is a unique setting for check-in photos in Da Lat. The church’s architecture has a bold modern style, reminiscent of the typical features of the Central Highlands communal house and is located in the middle of a brilliant campus of cherry blossoms and daffodils.
Address: No. 1 Ngo Quyen, Ward 6, Da Lat City
Ticket price: free
4.9. Da Lat City Flower Garden
Da Lat City Flower Garden is located on the northern bank of Xuan Huong Lake, where many beautiful and rare flowers from Vietnam and around the world are gathered. The campus of this Da Lat flower garden also has many impressive miniature landscapes with orchid gardens, orchids, and large rose houses, meeting the needs of tourists to enjoy, take photos, and buy flowers and ornamental plants.
Address: No. 02 Tran Nhan Tong, Ward 8, Da Lat City
Ticket price: 50,000 VND/child, 100,000 VND/adult
4.10. Linh Phuoc Pagoda (Ve Chai Pagoda)
Linh Phuoc Pagoda is a tourist destination in Da Lat that has a special attraction with its unique architecture and sophisticated porcelain reliefs and holds many records such as: the tallest bell tower, the heaviest Great Bell in Vietnam. The pagoda is also mentioned with the statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara made from 700,000 immortal flowers and a solemn and peaceful space.
Address: 120 Tu Phuoc, Trai Mat, Ward 11, Da Lat City, about 8 km from Da Lat center
Ticket price: free
5. Places to visit in Da Lat
Besides the mild, cool climate and poetic natural scenery, Da Lat is also an interesting destination with a variety of fun activities and attractive check-ins. Whether you are a quiet or lively person, Da Lat is always the right choice for you to explore and fully enjoy your vacation. Below are some super hot places to visit that you can refer to for your Da Lat travel itinerary:
5.1. Da Lat tourist area – Datanla waterfall
Located next to Prenn pass, Datanla waterfall has a gentle, majestic beauty with cool water flowing all year round. Coming here, you can experience walking through the forest, going down the waterfall to admire the majestic natural landscape or participating in thrilling games such as: waterfall slide, zipline through the forest, canyoning over waterfalls, adventurous rope swing…
Address: Prenn pass, National Highway 20, Ward 3, City. Da Lat
Ticket price: 50,000 VND/child, 80,000 VND/adult
5.2. Zoodoo Zoo
Zoodoo Zoo is an Australian-style open zoo model with many animals such as kangaroos, ponies, sheep and alpacas. This is an attractive tourist destination in Da Lat with interactive experiences, taking photos and learning about the lives of animals.
Address: QL27C, Da Nhim Ward, Lac Duong District, about 30km from Da Lat center
Ticket price: 75,000 VND/child (0.9m – 1m2 tall), 150,000 VND/adult
5.3. Dalat Tourist Area – Puppy Farm
Located on a large hillside, Puppy Farm is built in an interesting model with flower fields, high-tech strawberry gardens, tomato farms, new hydroponic vegetable gardens and succulent and cactus gardens.
In particular, when coming to the farm, you can also play and take pictures with many lovely and friendly dogs and Alpaca camels, Pony horses. Most of the sightseeing areas are equipped with roofs, helping you comfortably participate in activities.
Address: Cam Ly, Ward 7, Da Lat City
Ticket price: 50,000 VND/child 1m2 – 1m4, 100,000 VND/adult, free for children under 1m2
5.4. Langbiang Tourist Area
Langbiang Peak is a great location for you to see the whole view of Da Lat city. This Da Lat tourist area converges the beautiful natural landscape of Lam Vien plateau and many attractive experiences such as: horse riding, jeep riding, trekking through the forest, camping…
Address: Lac Duong Town, Lac Duong District, Lam Dong Province
Ticket price: 25,000 VND/child, 50,000 VND/adult
5.5. Beautiful view cafes in Da Lat
Beautiful cafes are one of the hallmarks of Da Lat tourism, bearing the peaceful, poetic space typical of the city of love. These are lovely cafes with rustic architecture, in harmony with nature and open views towards pine hills and valleys. Below is a list of Da Lat cafes that are loved by many people:
Cheo Veo: 116 Hung Vuong, Da Chien alley, Ward 11, Da Lat City
Lung Chung: 31/8 alley, 3/4 street, Ward 3, Da Lat City
Nha Ben Suoi: 03 Truc Lam Yen Tu street, Da Lat City
Chenh Cafe: Da Chien area, Ward 11, Da Lat City
Xom Leo Coffee: Huynh Tan Phat street, Ward 11, Da Lat City
Me Linh Coffee: Group 20, village 4, Ta Nung commune, Da Lat City Dalat
5.6. Cu Lan Village – Da Lat
Cu Lan Village is a beautiful ancient village located peacefully in the middle of a vast primeval forest. The village is located at the foot of the majestic Langbiang mountain and is covered by the shade of pine forests. This is a unique destination in the Da Lat tourist journey with the experience of visiting and learning about the cultural identity of the indigenous people and the pristine beauty of the great forest.
Address: Suoi Can village, Lat commune, Lac Duong district, about 22km from the center of Da Lat
Ticket price: 100,000 VND/ticket
5.7. Fresh Garden Dalat
Fresh Garden is known as a flower hill located in the center of Da Lat city. No need to go far, you can still enjoy the beautiful natural space with thousands of blooming flowers, a lake with a forest view and many unique miniatures. The destination promises to leave you with many unforgettable memories during your trip to Da Lat.
Address: 90B Van Thanh, Ward 5, Da Lat City
Ticket price: 80,000 VND/child, 120,000 VND/adult
5.8. Da Lat Night Market – a familiar tourist destination in Da Lat
Da Lat Night Market is a familiar gathering place for tourists every time they come to Da Lat. The market has a bustling and extremely lively atmosphere with all kinds of goods for sale from clothes, scarves to souvenirs, dried fruits as gifts…
The market is also a culinary paradise with irresistible delicacies such as: grilled rice paper, hot soy milk, corn, grilled potatoes and strawberry shake…
Address: Hoa Binh area, Ward 1, Da Lat City
Ticket price: free
6. What to eat and where to eat delicious food in Da Lat?
Cuisine is one of the attractions that make up the Da Lat tourism brand. The foggy city conquers diners with a series of delicious dishes. Below is a list of 5 dishes that you “cannot miss” on your Da Lat trip:
6.1. Banh mi xiu mai
Da Lat “banh mi xiu mai” is the perfect suggestion for your breakfast in the city of thousands of flowers. In the cold weather, you will have an unforgettable culinary experience when tearing each piece of bread and dipping it in hot sauce, with a little scallion oil, spicy satay and eating with sweet and fragrant meatballs.
Suggested delicious restaurants:
No. 26 Hoang Dieu, Ward 5, Da Lat City
No. 4 Tran Nhat Duat, Da Lat City
BH Restaurant: 16A Nguyen Chi Thanh, Ward 1, Da Lat City
6.2. Lau ga la E
“Lau ga la” is a famous specialty of the city of thousands of flowers. The dish has a sweet broth, cooked with firm chicken, mushrooms, crispy bamboo shoots, dipped in perilla leaves and many kinds of green vegetables.
Recommended restaurants:
Tao Ngo Perilla Chicken Hotpot: 10 BIS, 3/4 Street, Ward 3, Da Lat City
668 Perilla Chicken Hotpot: 2B Chu Van An, Ward 3, Da Lat City
6.3. Banh uot long ga – a specialty not to be missed when traveling to Da Lat
Unlike the usual banh uot served with pork roll, “Da Lat banh uot long ga” has a special flavor thanks to the combination with flavorful chicken salad. When enjoying, you will feel the sticky aroma of banh uot, the sweetness of meat, chicken giblets with sweet and sour fish sauce and the fresh taste of herbs.
Suggested restaurants:
Long Chicken Rice Noodle Soup: Alley 202, Phan Dinh Phung, Ward 2, Da Lat City
Trang Restaurant: 15F Tang Bat Ho, Ward 1, Da Lat City
Hang 68 Restaurant: 68 Phan Dinh Phung, Ward 2, Da Lat City
6.4. Grilled Banh Trang
Da Lat grilled rice paper has a very unique delicious flavor when combined with many ingredients such as: chicken eggs, cheese, liver pate, dried beef, dried shrimp and mayonnaise sauce. Because it is grilled on a charcoal stove, the cake has a hot, crispy and attractive flavor.
Recommended restaurants:
Di Dinh Restaurant: 26 Hoang Dieu, Ward 5, Da Lat City
61 Grilled Rice Paper: 61 Nguyen Van Troi, Ward 2, Da Lat City
Bui Thi Xuan Grilled Rice Paper: 180 Bui Thi Xuan, Ward 2, Da Lat City
6.5. Da Lat Banh Can
Da Lat Banh Can is made from rice flour with many types of fillings such as: eggs, beef, shrimp, squid… The dish makes a special impression on diners thanks to its crispy crust and the diverse flavors of the filling, combined with fish sauce, onions and meatballs.
Suggested restaurants:
Banh Can Nha Chung: 1 Nha Chung, Ward 3, Da Lat City
The restaurant at Doc Nha Lang: No. 15A Nguyen Bieu Street, Ward 1, Da Lat City
Banh Can Thuy: 20 Anh Sang Hamlet, Da Lat City
In addition to the famous specialties above, Da Lat also makes you remember with many attractive dishes such as: beef hotpot, crab soup, stone pot beef noodle soup, stuffed snails, grilled spring rolls, avocado ice cream, soy milk, grilled meat in bamboo tubes… Therefore, you will have a very special culinary discovery journey during your vacation and travel to Da Lat.
7. Suggested itinerary for Da Lat 3 days 2 nights
With many interesting destinations, the city of thousands of flowers is a suitable choice for both short and long trips such as Da Lat 2 days 1 night tour, Da Lat 4 days 3 nights tour… The most popular is the Da Lat 3 days 2 nights tour itinerary. This is enough time for you to feel the unique beauty of the city of thousands of flowers and explore some famous places. If you still don’t know what to eat and what to do in Da Lat, you can refer to the following suggested itinerary:
7.1. Day 1
Morning: Have breakfast with meatballs, check in at Tuyen Lam Lake, have fun at Da Lat Datanla Waterfall tourist area, visit Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Noon: Have lunch with chicken hotpot with basil leaves, return to room to rest
Afternoon: Go to a cafe to watch the sunset at Xom Leo
Evening: Eat grilled food, walk around Da Lat night market
7.2. Day 2
Morning: Have breakfast with banh uot long ga, go to Langbiang tourist area
Noon: Visit Cu Lan village, have lunch, return to the hotel to rest
Afternoon: Visit the City Flower Garden, paddle boat at Xuan Huong Lake
Evening: Stroll around, enjoy the cool breeze at the City Square
7.3. Day 3
Morning: Wake up early, enjoy morning coffee at Hoa Binh area, eat banh tieu with sticky rice or Da Lat banh can
Noon: Depart for Cau Dat tea hill, visit Linh Phuoc pagoda, return to the hotel to rest, check out and leave luggage
Afternoon: Walk around the city, stop by Da Lat market to buy specialties as gifts, check in at Domaine de Marie church
Evening: Have dinner, prepare to get on the bus, end the 3-day, 2-night Da Lat tour itinerary
If you don’t have much time and want to rest and relax, you can walk around the city, explore the roads and slopes and stop at cafes to admire the scenery and enjoy drinks…
8. Suggested top 5 Da Lat specialties as gifts
Da Lat is a paradise of many specialties for you to freely choose as gifts for relatives and friends after your trip. The following 5 specialties are suggestions that you can consider:
8.1. Da Lat Wind-dried persimmons
Da Lat wind-dried persimmons are a famous specialty of the city of thousands of pine trees with a rich sweet flavor, soft texture and more sweet honey than other regions. The ingredients are large, round, crispy and sweet persimmons that go through a sophisticated processing process such as natural wind-dried or industrially dried.
Suggested address:
Da Lat market
Specialty stores
Gardeners, wind-dried persimmon farms: La Fresh Da Lat, Moc Tra Farm…
8.2. Dalat specialty jams
Dalat has many delicious and unique jams for you to buy and enjoy as gifts such as: rose jam, strawberry jam, mulberry jam, artichoke jam, tomato jam… Dalat jams have moderate sweetness and still retain the sour, fresh taste of the fruit.
Suggested address:
Dalat Market
Jam oven, specialty store
8.3. Dalat strawberries
One of the gifts that many people love in Dalat is strawberries. Thanks to the favorable climate and soil, Dalat strawberries grow well, with large yields of juicy, fresh fruits.
Suggested address:
Dalat strawberry gardens
Fruit warehouses, fruit stores in Dalat market
Specialty store
8.4. Cau Dat Coffee Dalat
Cau Dat Coffee is a famous brand of Dalat with moka coffee products with a strong aroma and a slightly sour taste on the tip of the tongue. Besides moka coffee, you can choose to buy civet coffee as a gift after the trip.
Suggested address:
Cau Dat Coffee Shop
Specialty stores: L’angfarm, Berryland…
8.5. Artichoke Tea Dalat
Artichoke is a typical plant, widely grown in Dalat and processed into many products such as: tea, dried, cooked into extract. In which, artichoke tea is a product that is favored by many people because it is easy to preserve, convenient to use and has many wonderful effects on health and skin.
Suggested address:
Da Lat Market
Da Lat specialty stores: L’angfarm, DaLaVi, Cau Dat Farm…
Summary
Here is a complete guide to Da Lat about transportation, sightseeing experiences, entertainment schedules, dining and accommodation options… With beautiful natural scenery and fresh, cool air, Da Lat is the ideal destination for you to enjoy a relaxing, experience-rich vacation.
Hopefully, the information and experiences shared will help you not be confused when planning to explore and relax in the city of thousands of flowers in Vietnam.
