At almost 5,000 feet above sea level, Da Lat dished a chill vibe—both literally and figuratively—that appealed to travelers. The cool weather coupled with an array of natural and man-made attractions made that 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 of what to do in Da Lat, here are some of the things I did.
Da Lat, Vietnam Travel Guide: Things to do in this Mountain Town
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 was surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery consisting of pine forests, glass-like lakes, waterfalls, and quaint towns. What better way to explore all those places than to go on a motorcycle tour?
Travelers could easily rent a motorbike in the city, but for those wanting a hassle-free exploration and also to make sure they would not miss any place of fascination, I suggested availing the Easy-Rider Day tour available at most hotels and hostels. It started at eight o'clock in the morning and ended before five o'clock in the afternoon, taking one 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 prevailed all year round—especially in a country known for coffee—it came as no surprise that Da Lat was spoilt with cafes, each screaming with trendy interiors and bursting with pure coffee aroma. Resting one's weary legs from hours of wandering at one of Da Lat’s hip cafes was a great way to also enjoy the cup of coffee Vietnam was known for.
Stroll at the Old French Quarters
French-inspired buildings and houses built in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century still existed in a small neighborhood in Da Lat. While some were in disrepair, most still exuded a sense of Da Lat's old character during the French colonization years. Taking a stroll there at the Old French Quarter would indulge one in the classic Art Nouveau architecture of the city. Also, one should not have missed the old Da Lat Train station, also located in that neighborhood.
Vietnamese Food Trip
Da Lat’s location in the highlands of Vietnam made it an ideal place for farmers to grow vegetables, thus earning the moniker "Vegetable Garden of the South." Since everything there was grown organically, one could expect the freshest and healthiest savory local cuisines to be served in the many side-street restaurants in the city.
☕ What to Eat in Da Lat
Visit Pongour Waterfalls
Gushing over a massive boulder wall over a hundred meters wide and forty meters high were the cascading waterfalls of Pongour. Truly, a marvel of sight located just forty kilometers from downtown Da Lat. That was a side trip one must not have missed when visiting Da Lat.
Go Wacky at the Crazy House
Originally known as Hằng Nga Guesthouse, it had become more identified as the Crazy House because of its—well, crazy but imaginative architecture. Designed by Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga, it incorporated influences of Antoni Gaudi by perfectly blending the sculptured elements of earthly natural forms such as animals, insects, and caves to go along with other non-rectilinear shapes. Described as an "expressionist" type of architecture, seeing the "Crazy House" up close was definitely an experience one could not 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 was a place teeming with lush gardens, colorful flowers, and indigenous plants. Sitting under the tree and enjoying a couple of hours of relaxation there would have one achieving peace of mind in no time.
Trek to Elephant Falls
Another waterfall worthy of a side trip from Da Lat, Elephant Waterfalls encompassed a bundle of energy, as evidenced by its forceful flowing waters. That waterfall was also situated almost adjacent to Linh An Tu Pagoda—which was 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
❓ 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
