Best Things To Do In Da Lat

This is our blog on the best things to do in Da Lat. We have compiled our thoughts and experiences on Da Lat into one big blog post. Enjoy!

DA LAT

Da Lat is a beautiful town found in the Southern province of Vietnam. Surrounded by a lake in city centre and situated amongst the mountains of Vietnam, Da Lat is any nature lovers dream! The city itself is located 1500m above sea level, making for a much cooler climate and escape from the city life. With dozens of pine trees, beautiful waterfalls and lakes; Da Lat is genuinely one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam.

How to get there

Traveling to Da Lat Is relativity easy, either by bus or by plane. If you’re traveling by bus the most common route is from Ho Chi Minh city, Mue Ne or Hoi An. If you’re flying into Da Lat then a domestic flight from Da Nang, Hanoi, or Ho Chi Minh. Travel times may vary and prices will range form $10-15 for busses and $120 for flights.

BEST THINGS TO DO IN DA LAT – WHAT TO DO

Hydrangea Fields

Da Lat is home to some of the most incredible flower fields around. Known for its wide variety of plants and agriculture, there is definitely no reason why you shouldn’t put these hydrangea fields on your list. Entrance for the Hydrangea field will cost around 20,000 VDN each, but this will give you access to stroll through the various paths of flowers and enjoy the beauty of mother nature! 

Flower Gardens

All throughout Da Lat you’ll see green houses and polly tunnels. Hence why it’s called the town of ‘eternal spring.’ There is one place in particular though which is worth a visit and that is the Da Lat flower garden! Found North of the central lake in Da Lat, you’ll be walking through some amazing flower gardens with a wonderful view. 

Crazy House

The ‘crazy house’ found in Da Lat is definitely the most unique house there is. Entrance is 50,000 VND and you’ll be granted accesses to this strange, yet incredible place. Like something out of a Disney movie, the building is filled with winding stairs and peculiar architecture. Each room set with various themes, this place is definitely a work of art you can’t miss.

Vally of Love

The Vally of Love is considered the most romantic attraction in Da Lat. Filled with decorations, flowers and famous land marks like the Eiffel tower, Petronas towers and Taj Mahal. You’ll see a lot of couples taking many romantic pictures. There is also a central lake where you can take a ride on the swan boats. Overall, the place is a pretty impressive with a lot to see and do. Keep in mind that it is a bit out of town, so if you feel that it is too far out, don’t worry if you miss it. There are plenty of other beautiful nature heavy spots around.

Night Market

The night market in Da Lat is something special. Both myself and Hanna have been too many night markets, but we haven’t seen anything like the one in Da Lat. Found centrally in town, the market starts off with many and we mean many food stalls, selling their version of a ‘pizza’ (rice paper and tomato sauce). This leads to the central roundabout where the main action is. The overall experience of the night market in Da Lat is pretty impressive. There are a ton of people and if you’re not into crowds then it can be a little overwhelming. 

Linh Phuoc Pagoda

The Linh Phuc Pagoda is certainly one of the most impressive pagodas regarding art work and design. The temple is free to enter so it can get very crowded at some points during the day. The main attractions are the dragon that is made up of 12,000 bottles and the woman made of flowers. They are both stunning in there own right and definitely worth the trip to the pagoda. Be sure to arrive there early to avoid the tremendous amounts of people!

Datanla Waterfall

Certainly a sight to behold, the Datanla waterfalls feels more like a small theme park than a natural waterfall. The main attraction here is not the waterfall, but the very fun rollercoaster down to the waterfall. The over all experience is interesting, the rollercoaster down is fun as we mentioned, but once down, the waterfall is a little lacklustre. Be sure to get the return ticket up the hill if you don’t want to walk up the many steps back up. Overall, it is fun for the experience and rollercoaster, but we have seen far more impressive waterfalls in our day!

Truc Lam Zen Monastery

The Truc Lam Zen Monastery was a true delight to go and visit. Accessible via car or cable car (which we recommend), you’ll arrive to a beautiful zen monastery surrounded by some incredible nature. Walking around the grounds of the zen monastery will definitely be a highlight of your trip and for us the added cable car ride was bonus. 

BEST THINGS TO DO IN DA LAT – WHERE TO EAT

Ha Cao Tran Le Dumplings and Noodles

For cheap and amazing dumplings be sure to hit this place up. Found just a little bit out of town and on the same road as Hai Long Vaunt Hotel, it will definitely be worth the trip. The dumplings range from pork and shrimp to chicken. Our favourite was the noodles and roast chicken, perfect for lunch or dinner. 

Maze Bar / 100 Roofs

Designed by the same architect as the ‘Crazy House,’ the Maze Bar is the perfect place to spend an afternoon ‘getting lost’. Upon entry you are required to purchase one drink. After you have a drink in hand, you are free to roam and explore this bizarre bar. With dozens of twists and turns, tunnels, themed rooms, dungeons, and even the secret rooftop, this bar is by far one of the coolest we have ever been to.

Rather than a typical bar with music and rammed with people, this bar is more for the experience. We actually suggest you visit around 4pm while it is still a bit of daylight. You can watch the sun set from the rooftop and see the bar during two different times. It is important to note that there are only two bars, one at the entrance and one half way, so if you get thirsty you’re gonna have to find your way back through the maze to get a drink.

Tiem Banh

Tiem Banh is known for their Banh Mi sandwiches. They are incredibly cheap and very tasty, a great option for breakfast, or lunch. If you are in Vietnam, chances are you have tried the infamous Banh Mi. This place serves up some great varieties. We suggest you try the garlic chicken one!

Restaurant Ichi

If you know us, then you probably know our love for sushi. This little adorable Japanese restaurant is really top notch. Serving up a wide variety of sushi options you can’t go wrong! Although a bit pricier than your average street food, we strongly suggest you give this place a try if you want to treat yourself!

WHERE TO STAY

Hai Long Vuang Hotel

For our stay in Da Lat, we stayed at a wonderful homestay called Hai Long Vuang Hotel. The rooms are average size but they are clean and comfortable. The family that runs the hotel are there 24/7 to help you with anything you might need. Laundry, transport, tours, they have it all! The price will range from $8-10 per night. Overall, it was extremely affordable and a great base for us during our time in Da Lat. Book your stay here.

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