Dalat Travel: Ultimate Guide to Dalat, Vietnam

Dalat is known by many different names such as “city of love” or “city of thousands of flowers”. With a cool climate, picturesque scenery and many interesting landmarks, Dalat is a destination in Vietnam attracting domestic and foreign tourists. Dalat is the city that you must visit at least once in your life.

Dalat is a city belonging to Lam Dong province, located on Lam Vien plateau in Vietnam. The city covers an area of ​​394.64 square kilometers at an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level.

Here is our comprehensive tourist guide to Dalat, providing detailed information about what to do, where to stay, what to eat, how to get to Dalat, etc.

Dalat Attractions

There are plenty of things to see and do in Dalat that are waiting for you to explore and experience. Top tourist attractions of Dalat are listed below.

Lang Biang Mountain

Lang Biang Mountain, know as the roof of Dalat, is the highest mountain in the area and is about 2,167 m high. Lang Biang Mountain consists of a pair of mountains, Nui Ong and Nui Ba, located in the territory of Lac Duong district, 12 km from Dalat city center. From the top of Lang Biang Mountain, you can admire the majestic scenery of the whole cloud-covered city.

Robin Hill – Dalat Cable Car

Robin Hill, also known for being the starting point of Dalat Cable Car, is located at the beginning of Prenn Pass. The length of the cable car route connecting Robin Hill and Truc Lam Zen Monastery is about 2200 meters. You can take the cable car to cross the hill, admire the view of pine forests, part of Tuyen Lam Lake, Phuong Hoang Mountain and Dalat city from above.

Crazy House (Hang Nga Villa)

Crazy House, also known as Hang Nga Villa, is the place that attracts most of tourists visiting Dalat. This spectacular mansion is a work of the famous Vietnamese architect, Dang Viet Nga. With the area of nearly 2,000 square meters, Crazy House includes several buildings consisting of guest houses, cafes and art galleries designed in different “crazy” styles. You can stay overnight at the Crazy House to fully experience and enjoy its “madness”.

Domaine de Marie Church

Domaine de Marie Church, also known as Vinh Son Church, is an attractive landmark of Dalat city. This place was built in the classic European style of 17th century, combining French architecture with A-shaped roof like the communal house of the Central Highlands ethnic people. Not only unique architecture, Domaine de Marie Church is also the place offering beautiful panoramic views of Dalat.

Xuan Huong Lake

Conveniently located in a prime location in the city center, Xuan Huong Lake is considered to be the heart of Dalat. Surrounding the lake are flower gardens and pine forests that just increase the poetic beauty of the lake.

Valley of Love

Valley of Love is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Dalat, especially adored by couples. With an area of nearly 140 hectares, fresh air and cool climate, picturesque and charming natural landscapes, Valley of Love is ready to bring you the most unforgettable experience of your trip.

Mong Mo Hill (Dream Hill)

Next to the Valley of Love, Mong Mo Hill or Dream Hill can be found. This place is filled with colorful flowers and architectural works imbued with Vietnamese culture. When visiting Mong Mo Hill, you will have an opportunity to enjoy the special gong performance and learn about the unique culture of the mysterious highland region.

Dalat Railway Station

Dalat Railway Station is considered to be the oldest station in Vietnam and the Indochina region. Being extremely impressive and unique, Dalat Railway Station is an ideal place to visit and take photos. Currently, Dalat Railway Station only operates the sightseeing train route to Trai Mat, for visitors to admire the romantic scenery of the city.

Clay Tunnel

Clay Tunnel is a unique tourist destination in Dalat. The designer of the clay tunnel is Mr. Trinh Ba Dung, a person who has a great passion for ancient architectural works. Clay Tunnel allows you to admire the vivid sculptures of clay.

Inside the Clay Tunnel, there is an artwork that is causing fever among tourists recently. Infinity Lake, a small landscape with faces of a man and a woman facing each other, is a must-see thing here.

ZooDoo Zoo in Dalat

ZooDoo Zoo is an ideal tourist destination for kids or those who love nature and animals. ZooDoo Dalat is a unique and new type of café business associated with an Australian-style zoo. The zoo is located on a hillside, surrounded by immense pine forest. There are many kinds of animals such as monkeys, kangaroos, alpacas, camels, and ponies.

Cau Dat Tea Hill

Cau Dat Tea Hill is one of the tourist resorts in Dalat, part of Xuan Truong village. When coming to the tea hill, you will be immersed in the rows of fresh green tea. Around the area, there is also a container café and hill country bars making the scene livelier.

Hoa Son Dien Trang

Hoa Son Dien Trang is a peaceful green oasis in the heart of Dalat. This is not only a great place to rest and admire the wonderful scenery and magical landscape, but also an extremely hot check-in place in Dalat for tourists to take pictures. The famous spots here include the floating heart, Buddha’s hand, triangular flower field banyan tree, bungalow trees, waterfalls, and more.

Waterfalls in Dalat

Dalat not only boasts the attractive beauty of the countless fields of colorful flowers, romantic hills or green pine forests running endlessly, but also its incredibly majestic waterfalls.

One of the most popular waterfalls in Dalat is Datanla Waterfall, situated on the Prenn Pass. You can take the Datanla New Alpine Coaster to see the majestic mountain and the poetic beauty of the waterfall. Additionally, here you can participate in various thrilling activities such as Canyoneering, and High Rope Course Adventure.

Whether you love adventures or not, visit at least some of the most popular waterfalls in Dalat that are covered in our guide.

Flower Gardens

There is no doubt that visiting flower gardens in Dalat has become one of the “must-do” things when coming to the city of thousands of flowers.

In Dalat, there are many flower gardens you can choose from for sightseeing. The most famous flower gardens include Van Thanh flower garden, Trai Mat hydrangea flower field, sunflower field in Me Linh Coffee, Thai Phien flower garden, and Ha Dong flower garden, with other attractive places to see flowers found in the list of flower gardens in Dalat.

If you are a flower lover, you can choose the most captivating places to visit depending on your favorite flowers:

Walls in Dalat

The walls of Dalat buildings are currently very popular places for tourists to visit as these walls become impressive backdrops ideally suitable for photography. Some of the most photographed walls in Dalat are listed below.

Windmill Bakery: The ancient yellow backdrop and the classic 80-style words, has made this place really famous. When coming here, you not only can enjoy the bread with a variety of fillings, but also have the opportunity to create some cool photos.

Soul & Story store: In addition to the golden wall of the bakery, a white wall with Korean words at this clothing store can also be used as the background to create impressive pictures.

Nguyet Vong Lau: Nguyet Vong Lau is a tea house located on the corner of Truong Dinh and Tang Bat Ho streets. The dark red wall with ancient Asian architecture will make the perfect picture for your feed.

Family-friendly Activities in Dalat

Dalat isn’t just about the cool weather and flower fields, it also offers a wide range of family activities that will keep everyone happy. Explore the best places to visit in Dalat with kids.

Free Attractions

If you’re traveling on a budget and planning to visit Dalat, here is the list of the best attractions to see for free in this dreamy city.

Other Attractions

The extended list of top tourist attractions in Dalat can be found here: Best Things to Do in Dalat.

Cafes in Dalat

Cafes can be found everywhere in Vietnam and the list of beautiful coffee shops in Dalat is getting longer and longer. Dalat is taking coffee culture to the next level and each café has a unique feature to attract visitors. But in general, the thing you can expect to find here is the coffee shop with an extremely poetic view that would make you fall in love with the city even more.

If you’re a sweet tooth or a coffee lover looking for a good place to sit and enjoy your time in Dalat, here’s our list of the best coffee shops and cafes in Dalat.

Cafes in Dalat are also the place for a gorgeous photoshoot. If you need to add some colors and life to your feed, get the perfect picture at the best Instagrammable cafes in Dalat

Dalat also offers a surprisingly great number of themed cafes. Check our list of the most unique themed cafes in Dalat to choose the one you’ll want to visit.

No matter where in Dalat you go to, don’t miss these beautiful coffee shops that offer the impressive view that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

Where to Stay in Dalat

There are several areas in Dalat that are good to stay for tourists and each of them has different advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the place to stay in Dalat can be overwhelming. This city offers accommodation for various tastes and budgets, from luxury to budget hotels. You can read our guide to Dalat best areas to discover the best areas in Dalat and find the place to stay on your next trip.

The main area to stay in Dalat tends to be around Dalat Night Market and Xuan Huong Lake. If you want to stay in the most central location, check the tips for finding the perfect hotel near Dalat Night Market.

However, we would suggest planning your trip in advance and booking the room nearby attractions you want to visit so you could save travel time and costs.

Some of the best rated hotels in Dalat are listed below.

Homestays with affordable room rates:

Nhà Tím Homestay

Doc May Boutique Villa

Eudora Homestay

In Dalat, there are many homestays from luxurious, high-class to popular with unique decor styles. Depending on your preferences, you can choose the appropriate homestay for your stay from the list of the best homestays in Dalat.

Mid-range hotels that offer affordable and comfortable stay:

Silent Night Đêm Lành Hotel

Kim Oanh Orchids Hotel

Casanova Dalat Hotel

Luxury hotels for the best relaxation:

Dalat Edensee Lake Resort & Spa

Terracotta Hotel & Resort Dalat

Binh An Village Resort

Our top recommendations for the best hotels in Dalat City can be found here: Best Hotels in Dalat.

Dalat hotel we were staying at recently: MINE Hotel [Review].

Honeymoon in Dalat

When it comes to romantic destinations, Dalat is one of the best places in Vietnam to visit for celebrating a new chapter as a newlywed couple. Take your new partner to the city of thousands of flowers and enjoy the romantic moments by spending time at the best honeymoon attractions in Dalat.

If you are on a honeymoon or romantic getaway in Dalat, make sure your time in Dalat to be memorable by staying at one of the best romantic honeymoon hotels in Dalat.

Dalat Nightlife

In the day time, you will enjoy visiting and exploring the famous tourist destinations of the city. At night, Dalat city is also offering impressive activities that will provide you different experience. Let’s find out what you can do and what places to visit in Dalat at night.

Dalat Transportation

Flights to Dalat

Lien Khuong International Airport (DLI) is the main airport serving Dalat and Lam Dong province.

Domestic Flights to Dalat

Currently, several airlines such as Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air are flying from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Dalat. Ticket prices range from 850,000 VND – 2,000,000 VND, depending on the type of ticket. If you have time to sit and hunt cheap tickets, it can save you a lot as various discounts might be offered.

The flight time from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat is about 50 minutes. The journey by air from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi to Dalat Airport takes about 1 hour 40 minutes.

Flight schedules can be found and tickets can be booked here:

Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat

Flights from Hanoi to Dalat

Flights from Thailand to Dalat

There are directs flights from Bangkok to Dalat offered by Thai Vietjet Air. The flight time is about 1 hour 45 minutes. The best rates with real-time schedule on this route can be found here:

Flights from Bangkok to Dalat

How to get from Dalat Airport to city center

Lien Khuong Airport or Dalat Airport is located about 30 km from city center. When flying to Lien Khuong Airport, you can travel to Dalat city center by several means of transportation.

The most popular and cheapest way from getting from the airport into the city is taking Dalat airport bus. The bus ticket costs just 40,000 VND per person. However, sometimes the bus needs to wait for more passengers before leaving, so the journey might be a bit longer. This bus only stops at Ngoc Phat Hotel (opposite Big C supermarket gate) so you need to travel to your hotel from there.

Another good way for getting from the airport to Dalat is taking airport taxi or booking a private transfer. If traveling in group, booking a car in advance is the most reasonable and convenient way for reaching the city. By choosing this option you will be transferred straight to your hotel and the cost is also quite reasonable.

Find detailed information about the main transportation options that can be used for getting from Dalat Airport to City Center

Bus to Dalat

For getting to Dalat from Ho Chi Minh City or other southwestern provinces, you can choose to take a bus. Buses depart regularly almost every hour, starting from 5:00 to 1:00 the next morning.

The bus ticket fare for a trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat normally ranges from 200,000-400,000 VND per trip.

Domestic Travel

From Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat

The distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat is approximately 300 km. You can go to Dalat by plane, bus, car or motorbike. Detailed information about transportation options for covering this route can be found here: How to get from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Dalat.

From Hanoi to Dalat

As the distance between Hanoi and Dalat is really long, by far the most convenient way for traveling on this route is flying. The price of flight might be a bit high, but you can fly from Noi Bai Airport directly to Lien Khuong Airport and then take a taxi or airport bus to the hotel in the city.

Additionally, you can travel from Hanoi to Dalat by bus or train (partially). However, the journey would take much longer and you would need to transfer at another city.

From Mui Ne to Dalat

Mui Ne in Phan Thiet and Dalat are two completely different cities in terms of attractions, weather, climate, customs and food. The distance from Mui Ne to Dalat is about 160 km. There are several choices for the trip between these two Southern Vietnam’s destinations. Find the detailed information about how to get from Mui Ne to Dalat.

Other Transportation

If you are looking for transportation for you trip to/from Dalat, use this search form.

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Transportation within Dalat

By Motorbike

Motorbike is the most economical option for exploring Dalat. The motorbike rent rate is also quite low, about 80,000-120,000 VND per day, depending on the type of motorbike and the rental period (multi-day rentals will be even cheaper). The main attractions in Dalat are relatively close to each other, so motorbike is the most ideal mean of transportation for you to fully explore this city and its surroundings.

By Taxi

Taxi is a vehicle suitable for families or group of friends to explore Dalat. You just let the driver know your destination and he will take you there. Some of the main taxi companies operating in Dalat are Taxi Lado, Taxi Thang Loi, and Taxi Mai Linh Dalat.

By Private Car

When booking a private car charter, you don’t need to worry about transportation and have more time for exploring all the attractions around Dalat. Pre-booked private car can be significantly cheaper than taking a random taxi. Choose the right type of vehicle to fit your traveling needs here: Dalat Private Car Charter.

By Tour

If you are visiting the city alone or in a small group with elder people or kids, taking a tour to visit the main sights around Dalat is a worthwhile option to consider. Traveling with a tour saves your money and time. The tour normally provides everything you need for the trip like a bus, guide, and entrance tickets at all tourist attractions.

There are many interesting tours in Dalat that are reasonably priced and offer great value for money:

Dalat City Day Tour: Discover the sights in the central highlands of southern Vietnam such as Truc Lam Zen Monastery, Emperor Bao Dai’s Summer Palace, waterfalls, temples, and more.

Dalat Countryside Day Tour: Explore Dalat’s scenic countryside such as pagodas, flower village, cricket farms, and waterfalls, while learning more about local cultures and lifestyles.

Weather in Dalat

Because of its location in the Central Highlands region and an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level, surrounded by mountains of diverse vegetation and pine forests, Dalat has a mildly temperate mountainous climate. Unlike other tourist destinations, weather in Dalat is pleasant all year round. In every season, Dalat is beautiful in a unique and different way. You can freely choose the most suitable time for your trip to Dalat.

January – March

This is one of the two peak tourist seasons in Dalat because of the extremely cool climate. The temperature ranges from 15-19 degrees Celsius. This is the best time to admire the flowers when spring comes.

April – June

The summer is another peak season of Dalat so expect to be quite crowded and higher prices. The average temperature in Dalat is about 20-22 degrees Celsius. It is normally raining in April but not heavily. In May and June, there is a chance of thunderstorms. During this time of the year you can experience swimming at the waterfalls with exciting activities.

July – September

The average temperature is 22-25 degrees Celsius. This is a quite an empty time of year in Dalat. If anyone is looking for a peaceful atmosphere, this is the best time to visit the city.

October – December

This is one of the periods when Dalat is the most charming and poetic. Winter in Dalat is not as cold as in the North, just a little chilly. Moreover, clouds are often covering the place making the scenery very picturesque. It is also the time when countless of flowers such as wild sunflowers, pink grass, rose gardens are blooming. If you will be traveling to Dalat during this time, remember to be fully equipped with warm clothes.

Food in Dalat

Besides being the city of thousands of flowers and having the cool and dreamy year-round climate ideal for travelers, Dalat is also an attractive destination for food lovers as city’s cuisine offers many typical dishes. Some of the most famous specialties here:

Kem Bo (Vietnamese Avocado Mousse Ice Cream): Kem Bo is a popular street food in Dalat. It seems that the carefully selected avocados have made this dish a lot more special.

Grilled Rice Paper (Vietnamese pizza): This is most popular Dalat street food dish, also known as street pizza. You can find this pizza on every corner of Dalat.

Banh Beo (Steamed Savory Rice Cakes): This is a Dalat cup cake with a very specific flavor.

Dalat Wine: Dalat Wine is a wine originating in Dalat, made from grapes and specialty fruits of this region. The first Dalat wine product was born in 1999 and it is also the first grape wine made by Vietnamese people.

Dalat Strawberries: The cool climate of the mountainous region is an environment suitable for strawberry cultivation, so strawberries are one of the most famous specialties in Dalat. With attractive fragrance, sweet and sour strawberry flavor, strawberries are very popular here.

When visiting a strawberry garden in Dalat, you will have an opportunity to pick your own strawberries and eat them right at the garden which is a great experience. In Dalat, there are many strawberry gardens that are open for tourists to visit and each garden is growing varieties of strawberries such as Japanese strawberries, French strawberries or New Zealand’s strawberries. Some of the most famous strawberry gardens are listed here here: Top Strawberry Gardens in Dalat.

Top Delicacies to Eat in Dalat – the ultimate food guide to delicious foods to try in Dalat and favorite places to eat them.

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