Da Lat, Vietnam Travel Guide: Things to do in this Mountain Town
At almost 5,000 feet above sea level, Da Lat dishes a chill vibe—both literally and figuratively—that appeals to travelers. The cool weather coupled with an array of nature and man-made attractions—make this city in Central Vietnam—an ideal place for wanderers crisscrossing the land of Pho, to make a pit stop for several days. To give you an idea on what to do in Da Lat, follow some of the things I did.
Da Lat Travel Guide at a Glance
Take the Easy-Rider Day Tour
As a city situated in the central highlands of Vietnam, Da Lat is surrounded by jaw dropping scenery consisting of pine forests, glass-like lakes, waterfalls and quaint towns. What better way to explore all these places than go on a motorcycle tour.
Travelers can easily rent a motorbike in the city but for those wanting a hassle-free exploration and also to make sure you won’t miss any place of fascination, I suggest you avail the Easy-Rider Day tour available at most hotels and hostels. It starts at 8:00 am and ends before 5:00 pm taking you to coffee farms, silk factories, waterfalls, various temples, local villages, heritage sites and more.
Hang out at Hip Cafes
In a place where the cool weather prevails all year round—especially in a country known for coffee—it comes as no surprise that Da Lat is spoilt with cafes each screaming of trendy interiors and bursting with pure coffee aroma. Rest your weary legs from hours of wandering at one of Da Lat’s hip cafes and to also enjoy a cup of coffee Vietnam is known for.
Stroll at the Old French Quarters
French inspired buildings and houses built in the late 19th century and early 20th century still exists in a small neighborhood in Da Lat. While some are in disrepair, most still exude a sense of Da Lat's old character during the French colonization years. Taking a stroll here at the Old French Quarter will indulge you to the classic Art Nouveau architecture of the city. Also, don’t miss the old Da Lat Train station also located in this neighborhood.
Vietnamese Food trip
Da Lat’s location in the highlands of Vietnam makes it as an ideal place for farmers to grow vegetables thus earning the moniker "vegetable garden of the south". Since everything here is grown organically, expect the freshest and healthiest savory local cuisines to be served in the many side street restaurants in the city.
Visit Pongour Waterfalls
Gushing over a massive boulder wall of over a hundred meters wide and 40 meters high is the cascading waterfalls of Pongour. Truly, a marvel of sight located just 40 kilometers from downtown Da Lat. This is a side trip one mustn’t miss when visiting Da Lat.
Go Wacky at the Crazy House
Originally known as Hằng Nga Guesthouse, it has become more identified as the Crazy House because of its, uhm well—crazy but imaginative architecture. Designed by Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga, it incorporates influences of Antoni Gaudi by blending perfectly the sculptured elements of Earthly natural forms such as animals, insects, caves to go along with other non-rectilinear shapes. Described as an "expressionist" type of Architecture, seeing the "Crazy House" up close is definitely an experience you cannot pass up on.
Find your Zen at Xuan Huong Lake
A man-made lake situated in the city center of Da Lat, Xuan Huong Lake is a place teeming with lush gardens or colorful flowers and indigenous plants. Sitting under the tree and enjoying a couple of hours of relaxation here shall have you achieving a piece of mind in no time.
Trek to Elephant Falls
Another waterfalls worthy of a side trip from Da Lat, Elephant Waterfalls encompasses a bundle of energy as evidenced by its forceful flowing waters. This waterfalls is also situated almost adjacent to Linh An Tu Pagoda - which is highlighted by a huge white Buddha statue.
Check out my blog post Things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam.
✈️ How to Get to Da Lat
From Ho Chi Minh City:
• ✈️ Flight: About 1 hour to Lien Khuong Airport
• Sleeper bus: 6–8 hours (I took the one from Ho Chi Minh)
From Hanoi:
• ✈️ Direct flight: Around 1 hour 50 minutes
From Nha Trang:
• 🚐 Bus or private transfer: 3–4 hours
🗓️ Suggested 4-Day Da Lat Itinerary
Crazy House / Da Lat Market / Xuan Huong Lake / Night Market
Lang Biang Mountain / Coffee plantation / Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Datanla Falls / Alpine Coaster / Clay Tunnel
Pongour Falls / Elephant Falls / Café hopping
✅ Da Lat Bucket List
☕ What to Eat in Da Lat
🚕 Getting Around Da Lat
• Taxi: Metered models readily available outside key hubs.
• Scooter Rental: Excellent for navigating hilly viewpoints autonomously.
• Private Drivers: Ideal for long-range waterfall tracking tours.
• Walking around the city center: Perfectly practical for exploring urban streets.
💰 Estimated Daily Budget
📸 Best Photo Spots
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, its unique cool mountain microclimate, striking French colonial heritage remnants, and cascading multi-tiered waterfalls present a thoroughly unique contrasting dynamic to Vietnam's standard tropical trails.
A standard window of 3 to 4 days provides the ideal runtime to balance deep backcountry exploration tours alongside relaxing café-hopping itineraries.
It is globally celebrated for its lush pine forests, sprawling agricultural yields (such as flowers and organic produce), thriving localized specialty coffee culture, and multi-tiered canyoning features.
Positioned 1,500 meters above sea level, it maintains temperate, breezy micro-conditions ranging between 18°C–21°C on average, dipping considerably cooler after nightfall.
The dry weather frame between November and March serves as the prime seasonal window for maximum clear conditions and comfortable sight-seeing cycles.
Perfectly possible. The main lakeside grid is incredibly straightforward to manage on foot, while short-haul transits can be efficiently supported via local metered taxis or on-demand Grab operators.
🌿 Nomadic Experiences Take
Da Lat feels unlike anywhere else in Vietnam. While much of the country is defined by tropical beaches and bustling cities, this mountain retreat slows the pace with cool air, pine forests, and cafés overlooking mist-covered hills. It's the kind of destination that invites you to linger rather than rush from one attraction to the next.
I first wrote this article for Windowseat.ph on August 15, 2019
