3 Days in Dalat Itinerary: What to See in Vietnam’s City of Flowers

After living in Vietnam for over four years years, Dalat (aka “City of Eternal Spring” and “City of Flowers”) is easily one of our favorite cities in Vietnam.

Located in the Central Highlands and the capital of Lam Dong province, Dalat has everything that we love – high mountains, clean air, cool weather, stunning waterfalls, and incredible flowers such as hydrangeas blooming everywhere on the sidewalks.

We had 3 days in Dalat and it was a good amount of time to introduce us to the city. While the slow-paced city vibe isn’t for everyone, it’s a great addition to a South Vietnam itinerary if you love nature.

With this Dalat 3 days itinerary, we’re sharing what to do in Dalat, places to eat, accommodation, how to get around, and more.

If you want to explore other off the beaten track places of the Central Highlands, visit Bao Loc and/or Cat Tien National Park for a few days.

*Disclosure: Headed to Dalat? We have affiliate links in this post. If you click on them and make a purchase, we receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Dalat Itinerary Day 1 – Explore Dalat City by Foot

Once you arrived in Dalat, head to your accommodations to drop off your luggage. Afterward, it’s time to explore the main city center of Dalat by foot.

Walk Around the Ho Xuan Huong Lake

In the middle of the city center is a man-made lake, Ho Xuan Huong (Hồ Xuân Hương). The total distance around the lake is 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) long. Walking around the lake is a perfect way to start out your adventure in Dalat.

Depending on your walking speed, it’ll take between 45 minutes – 1 hour to walk around the entire lake.

If you need a break from walking, there are horse carriages that will go around the lake or you can sit in a swan boat to paddle in the lake. Another option is to stop by one of the vendors selling street food for a snack break.

Dalat Flower Garden

One of the tourist stops along the lake is the Dalat Flower Garden (Vườn Hoa). It’s a tranquil area with 300+ varieties of beautifully maintained flowers and plants.

The garden area has many flower sculptures to pose with, such as carriages, benches, and even an “I Heart Dalat” sign. It’s impressive to see the bushes in the shape of dragons and elephants. While it’s a bit random, there is a themed section that has Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs statues.

We recommend spending at least an hour in this park to soak in the beauty.

Admission: Adults 40,000 VND ($1.70 USD); Children 20,000 VND ($.90 USD)

Lam Vien Square & Yersin Park

You can’t miss the next stop which is the Lam Vien Square (Quảng Trường Lâm Viên). It’s a public area that has a giant artichoke and sunflower building.

The artichoke building is a trendy coffee shop, while the sunflower building is an underground shopping center with a Big C supermarket. This is one of the nicest Big C supermarkets that we’ve been to and it has everything that you need for your stay.

In front of the sunflower building has several street food vendors if you’re craving some skewered meats or grilled rice paper with stuffing (bánh tráng nướng).

In the evenings, this area is a popular hangout spot. Some teenagers practice their skateboarding techniques off of the stairs.

Across from the square is Yersin Park. Although not as impressive as the Dalat Flower Garden, it’s still a nice place to walk through for some greenery.

Dalat Night Market

We’re headed to the popular Dalat Night Market (Chợ đêm Đà Lạt) which is next to the Ho Xuan Huong Lake. Take your time to browse through the many stalls for souvenirs, clothing, snacks, and drinks.

If you’re coming from Ho Chi Minh City where the weather is warmer, you may have forgotten to pack a jacket. Since it’s chillier in the evenings, there are many vendors selling jackets and sweaters. You can purchase one starting at 100,000 VND ($4.30 USD) which is quite affordable.

If you love tea, stop by the L’ang Farm stores in the market area. We recommend oolong tea. Or, pursue the shop for various snacks.

Otherwise, try some of the amazing street foods such as ống lá dứa. It’s a warm coconut leaf cake that is rolled in a coconut and sugar concoction. We purchased 3 pieces for 20,000 VND ($.90 USD). If you need a drink, try a cup of hot soymilk for 10,000 VND ($.40 USD).

The market has a produce area where you can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. It was amazing to see a meticulously stacked mound of avocados, permissions, strawberries, dragon fruit, and much more. Consider trying the strawberries as they’re grown in Dalat.

Tip: Do not touch the produce unless you intend to buy them. We picked up asparagus to look at them and were yelled at by the seller.

Dalat Itinerary Day 2 – Crazy House & Dalat City Tour

On the second day in Dalat, we’re exploring more of Dalat by visiting the Crazy House and also going on a half-day Dalat city tour with OneTrip to explore the Central Highlands.

Crazy House

Start out the day with a little bit of craziness. The Crazy House is a must-visit when you’re in Dalat. Barcelona, Spain has artwork by Antonio Gaudi artwork, while Dalat has Crazy House.

Created by Dr. Dang Viet Nga, she wanted to build a place where she didn’t want to follow any architectural rules and also an expression of her creativity. The whole place is a giant maze with quirky sculptures and decor everywhere.

Navigate through the tight walkways (enough for 1 person to pass by). End up at the rooftop with beautiful views of the city, a souvenir shop, or a room with an ocean theme and 3D artwork. It’s a fun visit to walk around and see Dr. Dang Vietn Nga’s vision. During our visit, there was construction to expand this place even larger.

If you want a unique accommodation in Dalat, stay overnight at one of the themed rooms, such as tiger, pheasant, ant, kangaroo, bamboo, gourd, and more. Due to the interesting decor of the rooms, visitors might try to open your door to look inside if it’s closed. Check availability and reserve one of the awesome themed rooms.

It’s recommended to come in the early morning or late afternoon as this place is challenging to walk through when there are tour groups.

Admission: Adults 50,000 VND ($2.15 USD) / Children 20,000 VND ($.90 USD)

Dalat Cathedral (Aka Chicken Church)

About a 10-minute walk from the Crazy House is the Dalat Cathedral (aka Chicken Church).

Built during the 1930s, it’s the largest church in Dalat with French architecture. The nickname “Chicken Church” comes from the chicken sculpture located on the roof of the church.

To get a good picture of the church, you’ll need to take the photo across the street.

Although the church was closed in the mornings during our visit, it’s open to the public in the afternoon.

Half-Day Dalat City Tour

After an amazing half-day tour in Nha Trang with OneTrip, we decided to go on a half-day afternoon city tour of Dalat via motorbike. The four-hour city tour is an amazing opportunity to explore the Central Highlands.

*Update: The OneTrip city tour has been discontinued for now. Please check out the Facebook page for updates.

We had three people in our tour. Our tour guides, Binh, Tin Tin, and Tri (who guided us in Nha Trang) were awesome to hang out provided a great overview of the places we visited. The friendly connection is like we’ve been friends forever! 

Here are some alternative city tours that you can take instead:

During our tour, explored through the countryside of Dalat and went to the following places:

Robin Hill & Dalat Cable Car Ride

Robin Hill is the perfect postcard photo place. You’ll walk up a short hill to see the breathtaking views of Dalat city.

From here, take a short one-way cable car ride to overlook the countryside, numerous strawberry farms, lakes, and observe the greenery. Each person costs 60,000 VND ($2.60 USD) for the one-way ride.

The cable car ride isn’t required. If you’re afraid of heights, the guides can drive you to the other side of the mountain where they’ll wait to pick up the others on the cable car.

If you visit Robin Hill cable car without the tour, purchase the round trip cable car ride for a discounted price here! Save some money by buying tickets ahead of time. 

Tuyen Lam Lake

We’re off to the Tuyen Lam Lake which is perfect for couples to observe the sunset. It’s a quick rest stop here where you can try the Hong Kong-style dragon’s beard candy (kẹo chỉ) and mango with chili salt.

King Palace

If you love visiting beautiful palaces, then you have to visit King Palace (Dinh 1 Đà Lạt). The palace opened to the public over 2 years ago and provides the history of the king, Bao Dai, and his family during the Nguyen Dynasty.

One of the highlights includes walking through the families’ house to see the living arrangements of the king. You’ll receive shoe covers before entering the house. To feel like royalty, dress up as a king and queen for photos for 50,000 VND ($2.15 USD).

Admission: Adults 40,000 VND ($1.70 USD); Children 20,000 VND ($.90 USD)

Dalat Railway Station

The Dalat Railway Station (aka Crémaillère Railway Station) has iconic French architecture and a nice place to take photos (and engagement photos!).

Although we didn’t have time, we would return to take the train to go to the Linh Phuoc Pagoda. This pagoda is known to be created out of mosaic tiles. The train departs every day at about every hour so check the schedule at the station for the exact departure times.

Snack Break of Bánh Căn

We had a quick snack of small crispy rice pancakes with quail eggs (bánh căn). What is also unique about Dalat’s bánh căn is that it’s paired with anchovies sauce or fish sauce. Don’t worry, the anchovies sauce is not as strong as you think it is.

Van Hanh Monastery

The last stop of the tour is the monastery to see a 24 meter (79 feet) high golden Buddha statue. It’s told that Buddha is gold color since Buddha came from the skies so it’s good luck.

Helpful Tips:

• Going on the tour in the early morning or the afternoon will have different experience. It’ll be cooler in the morning, however, the afternoon is just as lovely with the sunset.
• Ensure that pick up and drop off is at your hotel/accommodations.

• Bring water and a jacket. Dalat has cooler weather so the motorbike ride will have more wind. 

Dalat Itinerary Day 3 – Exploring Dalat Waterfalls

We had an amazing time with OneTrip with yesterday’s half-day city tour so we signed up for the full day Dalat waterfalls tour via motorbike for our third day. This tour was one of our favorite aspects during our time in Dalat. Not only were our guides, Tin Tin, Tri, and Hung, awesome as usual but we chased waterfalls and visited unique areas of Dalat.

Don’t forget to bring a swimsuit or another set of clothes for the waterfalls. Read our helpful Vietnam packing list here. 

Tuyen Lam Lake for Coffee & Breakfast

After grabbing sandwiches (bánh mì) and sweet sticky rice (xôi) for breakfast in the city center, we drove to the Tuyen Lam Lake to enjoy breakfast and a cup of coffee or tea. The lake is peaceful in the morning.

Chicken Village

Did you know that there is a “Chicken Village?” The village area has a huge iconic chicken statue.

While you can climb into the chicken’s stomach to sit inside, you won’t be able to go on top of the chicken’s head.

The area is known for the ethnic minorities of Vietnam and they focus on farming. They also sell stunning handicrafts made out of silk.

Mushroom Farm

Love mushrooms? We’re off to a local mushroom farm to see fresh shimeji and wooden ears grown out of vertically stacked tubes.

Pongour Waterfall

Pongour Waterfall is the second largest waterfall in Vietnam. It’s a jaw-dropping waterfall with multi-tiered layers.

From the parking lot, walk down along a dirt path to the base of the falls. We went during the start of the rainy season so the cascades were heavier but still magnificent to see.

While you can’t swim in the falls, you can walk onto the first level of the falls and up to a certain point. Don’t rush when walking on top of the rocks. The moss makes the rocks very slippery. Feel free to have a brief meditation underneath your waterfall “shower.”

Lunch at a Local Host’s House

Remember how we stopped by the mushroom farm? We had it as a part of our lunch.

To get to our lunch host’s house, we went through an off-road muddy path. Luckily our tour guides were used to riding through the mud with ease and we didn’t have any motorbike injuries!

Lunch was delicious and also tailored to our pescatarian diet (no meat but seafood is okay) with rice, egg with green onions, tuna, spinach, squash and shrimp soup, and the squid with fresh mushroom. So good!

Elephant Waterfall

While Pongour Waterfall has elegant cascades, Elephant Waterfall has powerful cascades. Although you can view the falls from above, the best view is at the bottom of the falls. Be careful as the rocks and walking paths are slippery from the mist.

Another unique area is to head behind the falls. You’ll need to straddle between rock and branches. It’s quite the adventure but well worth the effort. Prepare to get drenched from the waterfall’s pressure.

Weasel Poop Coffee Farm

While weasel poop coffee is one of the souvenirs to buy in Vietnam, for us it was sad to see the civets (not officially weasels) in their cages. Many of the civets were distressed in their cages as they roamed back and forth in them. The civets are force-fed coffee cherries so they can defecate the coffee.

Other Things to Do in Dalat

If you have additional time during your after your 3 days in Dalat itinerary, check out these other things to do in Dalat.

Domaine de Marie

What – a pink Catholic church?! Check out this Instagram-worthy spot and also take a walk around their gardens.

Canyoning

If you want a fun adventure in Vietnam, consider canyoning. It’s such a rush to rappel down a canyon and into the waters. Click here to reserve a spot for your canyoning adventure. 

Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance in advance if you do this adventure! You never know if you get injured or need medical assistance during canyoning.

Langbiang Mountain 

Langbiang Mountain (Núi Langbiang) is the perfect place to hiking spot in Dalat. The round trip trek takes 3-4 hours, or you can take a Jeep to the peak of the mountain. We didn’t get a chance to visit here but it’s on a bucket list. Don’t forget to take a photo of the giant Langbiang sign. 

Click here to buy your Langbiang ticket in advance!

Hike to Tam Tham Waterfall

One of the hidden gems of Dalat is Tam Tham Waterfall. It’s located in the Langbiang Mountain area. Spend about 5-6+ hours round-trip to hike to this secret Tam Tham Waterfall. You walk through the quiet and peaceful forest area and will have the waterfall to yourself. 

Read more: Guide to Tam Tham Waterfall

Bidoup Nui Ba National Park Trek

As you know, Dalat has amazing trekking opportunities due to its gorgeous mountains.

If you have at least two full days, consider taking a trek up Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. This national park is not crowded as the trail is hard to get to.

The trek takes at least 28 kilometers (17.3 miles). You’ll walk through the forest area, reach the summit at 2,287 meters (7,503 feet), and spend the night at a campsite.

Read more about our intense Bidoup Nui Ba National Park trekking experience here.

Clay Sculpture Tunnel 

Love seeing artwork? Check out the Clay Sculpture Tunnel. While we haven’t been here, it looks like a fun place to see sculptures made out clay. There are sculptures of animals, two heads looking at each other (one of the popular pieces for social media), life in Dalat city, and more. Buy your tickets in advance for Clay Sculpture Tunnel and save money!

Other Waterfalls

Add these other Dalat waterfalls onto your list – Prenn and Datanla which are nearby the Dalat city center.

If you visit Datanla, you can ride an alpine coaster and zip through the forest area. Purchase your alpine tickets at discounted prices here. 

Visit a Dalat farm to pick fruits.

Many of Vietnam’s produce comes from Dalat. To experience the fresh produce, stop by a farm to pick your own fruits, such as strawberries.

How to Get to Dalat

The fastest way to get to Dalat is to take a flight to Lien Khuong Airport (airport code: DLI). Daily flights to Dalat are available on VietJet, Bamboo Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines. From Ho Chi Minh to Dalat, the flight is 50 minutes.

The airport is 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of the main Dalat area, so you can take a Dalat airport shuttle bus to the city center for 40,000 VND ($1.70 USD).

Another option is to hire a private airport transfer to the Dalat city center. It’s hassle-free! Click here to check availability and book your airport transfer in advance. 

The cheaper route is to take the sleeper bus to Dalat. We’ve been to Dalat from Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City via bus and sleeper bus, respectively. From Ho Chi Minh City, the bus ride is about 6 hours and costs between 180,000 VND – 220,000 VND ($7.75 – $9.50 USD) one way. It’s an affordable way to travel as a weekend trip from Ho Chi Minh. 

We can’t recommend the sleeper buses enough. It’s one of the easiest ways to travel throughout Vietnam. You get to recline in a bus and not have to worry about driving. 

How to Get Around Dalat

If you’re staying in the city center, walking is the best way to get around Dalat. It’s good exercise and you can take your time exploring. Check out our post on tips to cross the streets in Vietnam. 

Otherwise, you’ll need to rent a motorbike if exploring areas outside of the city center. Local buses, Grab car and motorbikes, and taxis are also available.

Where to Stay in Dalat

Due to Dalat’s focus on increasing tourism, there are plenty of guesthouses and hotels that you can stay at.

Check out places to stay in Dalat here.

We prefer the more affordable route and found a clean hotel, Mộc Trà Hotel, located in a residential area for around $25 USD per night. This hotel is hidden as it’s in the back of an alleyway. It wasn’t an issue as the area was quiet. The hotel is less than a 10-minute walk to the Night Market.

Our bedroom and bathroom was very clean. The bed was also very comfortable. The receptionist was so friendly during our stay and helped us reserve bus tickets to head to our next destination, Mui Ne. She even brought us to the bus pick up spot to ensure that we made it on board.

Check availability for Mộc Trà Hotel and reserve a room.

If you’re looking to stay at higher-end resorts and hotels, here are three highly-rated recommendations for you to consider:

Where to Eat in Dalat

Dalat has a mix of Western and local cuisine. With three days here, we only had a taste of the restaurants in the area.

After visiting Dalat several times, we created a full list of recommended places to eat in Dalat.

Hoa Sen Vegetarian Place

This is a fabulous vegetarian place to eat in the city center of Dalat. While it’s not a local “quán” type of place, it has reasonable prices and delicious food. We had lotus sen fried rice, 3 types of mushroom clay pot, sweet and sour Thai soup, banana leaf salad, and fried eggrolls (although, we wouldn’t recommend the eggrolls). Cash only.

Address: 62 Phan Đình Phùng, Phường 1, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng

Quân Ốc

Located in the Night Market, this place has delicious BBQ seafood. Choose your seafood such as shrimp and squid and have it prepared however you’d like. Don’t forget to ask how much it costs because there aren’t any prices on the menu. The servers have limited English so it’s helpful to know Vietnamese and/or Chinese.

Address: Dalat Night Market

Chè Thái

Are you a fan of Vietnamese desserts (chè)? This place is well known for its Thai Vietnamese desserts. We’ve had the special and regular chè and each mug had jellies, lychee, jackfruit, a dollop of durian, and mixed with coconut milk. Thumbs up for the durian addition as we love durian!

Address: 15 Bà Triệu, Phường 1, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng

We hope you enjoyed this 3 days itinerary for Dalat. There is a lot to explore in this city, so spend more time in this mountainous area if you can such as hiking, trekking, or mountain biking.

Check out our Vietnam posts for more inspiration:

What excites you the most about visiting Dalat, Vietnam? Let us know in the comments.

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Pin #1 photo credit: Ekaterina Abramova via Scopio Photos