8 Places To Visit in Da Lat, Vietnam

When visiting Vietnam, tourists commonly flock to the larger cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. Yet away from the hustle and bustle lies Da Lat, a beautiful city that’s often forgotten, yet is definitely worth one’s visit.

Located in the central highlands region of Vietnam, Da Lat is the capital of Lam Dong province and offers a cool, temperate climate all year round. This city also houses some of the most captivating natural and historical sites, from well-constructed Buddhist temples to stunning waterfalls. Known as the City of Eternal Spring, Da Lat is loved for its rich greenery and beautiful flora, having been a popular local getaway destination since the French colonial times.

Da Lat offers a myriad of activities for tourists to see and do, catering to both travellers who desire a relaxing getaway and those who seek adventures and thrills. Apart from taking therapeutic strolls in the midst of nature in Da Lat, this city is also ideal for sports enthusiasts, with opportunities to hike and partake in activities like white-water rafting. For foodies out there, Da Lat also offers delicacies unique to the city, including their popular warm soybean milk and banh trang kep (otherwise known as the Vietnamese pizza).   

As seen, there are plenty of things to experience in this city and here are eight special places you must visit on your trip to Da Lat, Vietnam!

1. Crazy House

Hằng Nga Guesthouse, otherwise known as Crazy House, blows visitors away with its unconventional and fairytale-like architecture. From walking through strange tunnels to manoeuvring across narrow twisted pathways, Crazy House offers an adventure for both young and old alike. While the construction of Crazy House was initially a personal project of Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga, she eventually opened it to the public in 1990. The place is continuously expanding with the addition of newer and more fascinating structures.

Get lost in the land of your childhood fairytales and explore the nook and crannies of this work of art. This popular Crazy House was met with an overwhelming amount of both praises and criticisms from around the world. Come and see for yourself if Crazy House is a praiseworthy masterpiece or the exact opposite!

For those of you who can’t get enough of Crazy House, why not stay in the compound for a night or two? Crazy House provides rooms for accommodation, functioning just like a hotel with room service and daily housekeeping. What’s more, each room has a unique theme and design, making your experience all the more special and exhilarating!

2. Trai Ham Da Lat Weasel Coffee

I’m sure most of you would ask: “How do weasels and coffee come together?”

In Vietnam, weasels are known to pick and consume the best coffee berries. Hence, coffee beans retrieved from their faeces make the most fragrant of coffees. Hard to believe isn’t it? Visit Da Lat’s first organic weasel coffee farm, and learn more about the process of producing weasel coffee. There is also a weasel enclosure in the farm for curious visitors to walk around!

Your trip to the farm isn’t complete until you have a cup of home-brewed coffee there. Ranging from Americano to Cappuccino, the farm offers a variety of coffee types, although their weasel coffee is highly recommended. While the coffee can be a little pricey, the breathtaking panoramic views from the farm do make up for it.

3. Truc Lam Pagoda

Spreading across twenty-four hectares, Truc Lam Pagoda is a Buddhist Zen monastery which houses over 100 monks and nuns who study and reside there. Whether you are a practising Buddhist or not, this place is definitely worth visiting for the tranquil atmosphere and beautiful nature that surrounds it. Walk a short distance through pine trees to get to Tuyen Lam Lake. Although the lake is man-made, it proves to be a sight that you must not miss – you can even rent a boat out into the waters to soak in the scenic views!

The best way to get to Truc Lam Pagoda is by Da Lat’s cable car, which stretches 2.4km from Robin Hill to the monastery. It is inexpensive and totally worth the amazing landscapes promised.

4. Bao Dai’s Palace

Partake in a mini history lesson by exploring the summer palace of Emperor Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam. Built in 1937, the interior of the house remains intact, allowing you to glimpse at how the royal family lived – from the view of their bedrooms to the cutleries used. Don’t worry if you have no clue about Vietnam’s royal family; information is provided as you tour the palace, making it a fun and educational tour especially for tourists. Fun fact about King Bao Dai: he had a total of seven wives and concubines and two of them were French!  

Walk around the perimeters of the palace as well and you will understand why emperor Bao Dai picked this location to build his summer home. Not only is the air around the palace very fresh, it proves to be an idyllic setting with abundant trees and gardens around, perfect for a getaway.

5. Da Lat Railway

One of the oldest railway stations in Vietnam, Da Lat Railway is known for its art deco architectural style and its high pointed roofs. Initially planned by the French colonists as a route for tourists to Da Lat, this well-constructed station was sadly left abandoned as a result of the Vietnam War.

Today, Da Lat Railway Station is a popular attraction for tourists, especially train lovers! You will find an old steam train within the station, giving you the prime opportunity to snap some Instagram-worthy photos. To enhance your experience there, take the world’s shortest railway train to Trait Mat village and back again! You will be greeted with a great view of mountains, greenery and even more greenery.

6. Da Lat Night Market

Haggle for inspired goods at the lowest prices or find cute gifts for your friends here! This market attracts both tourists and locals and is buzzing with people every night.

You can hardly get bored at Da Lat Night Market since everything can be found here from local produce to handbags. Just make sure you don’t bargain for an item and decide not to buy it, the locals may fume at you for that! For those who aren’t into shopping, visiting this market proves to be quite an experience on its own as you can catch how locals in Da Lat communicate and make a living.

7. Pongour Waterfall

While there are many waterfalls around Da Lat City, Pongour Waterfall is easily one of the most beautiful of them all. If you only have time to catch one waterfall, I highly recommend making a trip to Pongour Waterfall, you definitely won’t regret it. It may be quite a walk down before you reach the waterfall, but the area is filled with lush and healthy foliage. In October, yellow flowers are even seen to line the path down to the waterfall!

Pongour Waterfall offers a more poetic feel compared to the other waterfalls in Da Lat. The flow of water here is more gentle and it cascades down the multi-layered rocks, offering an extraordinary sight for visitors. It is also cleaner and quieter here, as many tourists miss this hidden treasure. While signs are put up to prevent visitors from entering the waters, feel free to remove your shoes for a salubrious walk along the waterfall! The guards won’t stop you unless you scale too high up.

8. Lang Biang Mountain

Just 12km away from Da Lat City, Lang Biang Mountain is another attraction not be missed. The name Lang Biang is derived from a folklore about star-crossed lovers K’Lang and Ho Biang, who weren’t allowed to be together due to the feud between their tribes. This caused the pair to meet a tragic end, and the mountain hence represents their eternal love.

Yet more than the love story behind Lang Biang Mountain, this place offers one of the most breathtaking sights over Da Lat City at 1,950m high. For sports enthusiasts who fancy a quick climb up, be prepared to take roughly three hours before you reach the peak! (not so quick after all). Another way to get to the peak would be to hop onto one of their old Russian jeeps, a fun experience, albeit more costly than the hike.

So there you have it, presenting the eight places in Da Lat that you shouldn’t miss on your next trip. More than just the usual shopping and good food, Da Lat tells a story with intriguing attractions and allows tourists to really appreciate her beauty. From fancy architecture to being close to Mother Nature, Da Lat offers a unique and unforgettable experience to tourists.

So for those of you who are thinking of travelling to Vietnam, don’t forget to add Da Lat City into your itinerary!