🌺 Dalat: the pearl of the Vietnamese mountains

Did you know that Vietnam is not only about the sea and palm trees? And also about mountain valleys, powerful waterfalls, evergreen forests, flower gardens, fruit and coffee plantations. To get acquainted with this side of Vietnam, I suggest going to the city of Dalat, which is located in the central highlands of the country, 150 km from the famous resorts of Phan Thiet and Nha Trang.

Dalat itself is considered a resort, only a mountain one. The city is located at an altitude of almost 1500 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by picturesque nature. It is not as hot here as on the coast: about 25°C all year round. And even during the rainy season, the skies over Dalat usually remain clear.

French colonialists discovered this pearl at the end of the 19th century and immediately began building hotels. Vietnamese newlyweds now adore this place and choose it for their honeymoon. Dalat is called the “city of lovers”, “city of flowers”, “city of eternal spring”, “Vietnamese Paris “. And then you will understand why.

What to see in Dalat?

French Quarter

The city's colonial period is reminiscent of typical French architecture : elegant villas of the 20-30s of the last century, a Catholic cathedral and a mini-copy of the Eiffel Tower (which, by the way, serves as a radio tower).

And in Dalat, like in the Alps, there are many aristocratic entertainments: golf courses and tennis courts, horse riding areas and boating on the lakes. A kind of piece of Europe in the middle of Asia. But it’s worth noting that the Vietnamese flair is felt everywhere, which, it seems to me, is good, because for France you need to go to France.

Crazy House 

We are not talking about a mental hospital, but about an unusual hotel, which is located near a Catholic church. The architectural miracle was built in the 90s of the last century. There are no straight lines or angles in this building. The house looks like a stump with the root of a giant tree. The hotel's interior is decorated no less whimsically. You can see the crazy imagination of a local architect for a small fee – you don’t have to stay overnight at a hotel.

Xuan Huong Lake 

This artificial lake, formed by a dam, is a favorite place for walks among local residents. The pond is surrounded by gardens, flower beds and lawns. Here you can have a romantic boat ride and then drink local wine in a café on the waterfront.

Flower garden 

On the other side of the lake there is a beautiful garden with more than three hundred species of flowering plants. This place is beautiful at any time of the year – some flower beds are fading, new ones are blooming. But in December it is especially beautiful here. At the end of the year, they even decided to organize a themed festival in Dalat, during which a colorful procession is held with carts and dresses decorated with flowers. 

Central Market 

This place will allow you to feel the real atmosphere of Vietnam. The shopping area is large – more than a thousand shops. In them you will find anything you want: from fresh fruits to clothes from branded factories without brand tags – Asia, after all. You can also taste traditional Vietnamese cuisine at street eateries in the market. 

The main city market is open from morning until late evening. There is a night market nearby. Getting there is a separate development for a tourist.

Golden Buddha

The 24-meter golden Buddha with a lotus flower in his hand was installed in the early 2000s. The statue took its place at the highest point of Dalat, so an excellent panorama of the city opens from the site at the foot. Near the landmark is the Wang Han Temple, which houses a museum-workshop of Buddhist art.

What to see near Dalat?

Mount Lang Biang

From the top of Lang Biang – which is 2167 meters – Dalat and its surroundings will be in full view. But be prepared that climbing the mountain, especially closer to the peak, is not the easiest. 

Park Valley of Love

This is a theme park. Entrance to it is paid. The park workers are dressed like western cowboys. Here is a museum of the world's landmarks in miniature. Green hills, orchards, a lake with a beautiful embankment – expect to spend at least half a day here. The territory of the “Valley of Love” is huge. To explore it, you should use an electric car.

There are many themed places in this region. Next to the “Valley of Love”, for example, there is a “Garden of Lights” with hundreds of open-air lanterns – it’s better to plunge into this romantic atmosphere in the evening.

Village of embroiderers

Literally across the street from the “Valley of Love” there is another iconic attraction – the XQ brand museum. Here you will learn about the history of silk embroidery and see canvases of incredible beauty. 

Cable car 

Flying over the tops of pine trees is already a cool attraction. But what is no less cool: the cable car will take you to one of the newest temples in the region – Chuk Lam Pagoda. Only part of the monastery is open to the public, the other part is a functioning Buddhist school.

Linh Phuoc Pagoda 

This Buddhist temple cannot leave you indifferent. There is such a riot of colors in it! Millions of details that you can look at for hours. The decor uses a mosaic of glass fragments and clay shards. Here you will find a 49-meter dragon made from beer bottles. The pagoda is famous for its 37 meter tall bell tower. 

Waterfalls 

Prenn 

The highlight of this waterfall is the passage through the gorge behind it. A special wooden path has been equipped for tourists, from which it is cool to watch the jets falling from a 10-meter height. Near the waterfall there is a park with traditional Vietnamese flavor. Nearby is the Au Lak Temple.

Elephant

This waterfall is located further away – 30 kilometers from Dalat. It has a height of 30 meters and a width of 15 meters. The water falls from the cliff in a smooth white stripe, which looks impressive. Near the waterfall is the Linh An Tu Pagoda.

Pongour 

Drive another 15 kilometers and you will find yourself at the largest multi-level waterfall in Vietnam. During the rainy season, Pongur spreads over the rocks to a width of about 100 meters. The height of the waterfall is 20 meters. 

What else is worth seeing in these parts?

Coffee plantations

If you are interested in seeing how Vietnamese coffee is grown – by the way, it tastes nothing like Brazilian or African coffee – be sure to visit a local farm. There are plenty of them in the vicinity of Dalat. 

Ask if they have kopi luwak. A kilogram of grains of this rare variety costs about a thousand USD. But the cup is interesting to taste. The method of processing this coffee is quite non-standard: first, Asian palm martens must taste the coffee cherry, digest it and go to the toilet in a big way, and then people extract the grains from the resulting mass and bring them to a ready-to-use state.

Winery

The French began making wine in Dalat during the colonial period. It turned out that this region has ideal conditions for grapes. The most famous wine brand in Vietnam is Vang Dalat. But there are also plenty of smaller industries near the city. I recommend going to Fairytale Land for wine tasting. Not only will you get acquainted with the local peculiarities of drink production, but you will also be able to stroll through the park, equipped as a gnome village.

Silk factory

Vietnamese silk is famous throughout the world. If you want to see the production process of this material and perhaps buy a couple of meters of fabric or a finished product, there are several factories near Dalat. In the city you can book a group excursion to one of them.