When Traveling Is Caring ❤️
Đà LạtCentral Highlands11.94° N · 108.44° E
A cool highland city of pine forests, lakes, flower farms and coffee plantations, with French villas on its hillsides. Here is what is worth your time, what to skip and when to go.
At around 1,500 metres above sea level, Dalat is a world away from the heat of the coast. After the scientist Alexandre Yersin recommended the Lang Biang plateau in the 1890s, the French developed it as a hill station, and they left behind villas, a railway station and a cathedral among the pine trees.
Today Dalat is a favourite holiday spot for Vietnamese couples and families, who come for the cool air, the flower gardens, the strawberries and the café culture. The surrounding hills are covered in greenhouses, coffee farms and pine forest, with waterfalls and lakes a short drive away. Some attractions in and around town are kitsch and built for selfies, but the countryside and the coffee more than make up for it.
Two or three nights is ideal. Dalat pairs well with Nha Trang on the coast, or with Ho Chi Minh City, a short flight away.
Every journey below is private and tailor-made, so you can spend slow days in the highlands and pair Dalat with the coast or Saigon.
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The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
The lake at the centre of town, ringed by pines and a walking path. Pleasant at dawn and in the evening, when locals stroll and exercise.
An Art Deco station from the 1930s, with a short heritage train ride to Trai Mat village and the mosaic-covered Linh Phuoc Pagoda.
A pagoda covered in mosaics of broken pottery and glass, including a long dragon made from glass bottles. Eccentric, colourful and worth an hour.
The 1930s villa of Vietnam's last emperor, furnished in period style and set in pine-shaded gardens. A short but interesting visit.
Visit a hillside farm to see coffee growing and being processed, then taste a cup. Both arabica and robusta grow in the highlands around Dalat.
Datanla is close to town and has an alpine coaster; Elephant Falls and Pongour are further out, wilder and most impressive after rain.
A pine-fringed lake south of town and a peaceful Zen monastery above it, reached by a cable car with views over the forest.
The highest peak around Dalat, with a trail or a jeep ride up to viewpoints over the plateau. Go on a clear morning.
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Customise My TripLocal specialities worth seeking out, and when the locals eat them. Your guide will know the best places to try each one.
Add a food experience →Each neighbourhood has its own rhythm. Pick the one that sounds like you, or let us surprise you.
Around Xuan Huong Lake and the market, close to cafés, the night market and restaurants. Busy at weekends.
Restored colonial villas and small hotels on the pine-covered slopes, a short drive from the centre.
Resorts among the pines around the lake, about 15 to 20 minutes south of town. Peaceful, with walking and cycling.
Tell us your style and our consultants will hand-pick a stay you would never find on your own.
A restored heritage house, a quiet lakeside villa or a family-run boutique: we match the hidden gem to you, and reveal it with your itinerary.
Ask for a surprise stayLien Khuong Airport has frequent flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Many travellers also drive up from Nha Trang in about 3.5 to 4 hours, or from Mui Ne in about 4 hours, on scenic mountain roads.
The centre around the lake and market is hilly but walkable.
Best for: Town centreApps such as Grab are easy for hops between cafés and sights.
Best for: Short tripsIncluded on our journeys for waterfalls, coffee farms and Lang Biang.
Best for: CountrysidePlaces that pair well with Dalat, with approximate travel times.
Dalat is cool all year. December to March is the dry season, with sunny days and cold nights, and the best time to visit. April is warm and pleasant. From about May to October afternoon rain is common, though mornings are often fine. Nights can be chilly in any month.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppYes, especially as a cool break from the coast or Saigon. The countryside, coffee and French-era architecture are the highlights. Skip the most kitsch theme gardens, focus on lakes, waterfalls, farms and cafés, and Dalat is a relaxing stop.
Two or three nights is ideal: one day for the town, the railway station and pagodas, and one or two for waterfalls, coffee farms, Lang Biang and the lakes.
December to March is the dry season and the best time, with sunny days and cold nights. May to October brings frequent afternoon showers. Dalat is cool all year, so pack a warm layer whatever the month.
Days are mild and spring-like for most of the year, but nights and early mornings can be properly cold, especially from December to February. Bring a fleece or a light jacket.
Fly into Lien Khuong Airport from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, then drive about 40 minutes to town. From Nha Trang the mountain road takes about 3.5 to 4 hours, and from Mui Ne about 4 hours.
Yes. Children enjoy the waterfalls, the alpine coaster at Datanla, strawberry farms and the cable car to Truc Lam Monastery. The cool weather also makes sightseeing easier than on the hot coast.
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