Đà Lạt, a place that is already famous among foreign visitors for its romantic and mystical beauty with its lingering mist, beautiful flower fields, pine forests, and attractive tourist spots. However, it is even more famous with the presence of Zoodoo, a friendly zoo that has captured the hearts of many animal lovers. Not everyone knows about this tourist spot in Đà Lạt, so Cuồng will provide a guide to visit Zoodoo Đà Lạt for you to learn more about this famous tourist destination. Let’s go explore Zoodoo Đà Lạt with Cuồng now!!!
1. Where is this place located?
ZooDoo Da Lat Zoo is one of the very suitable places. For those who love nature and cherish animals. Although located quite far from the city center, this Da Lat tourist destination attracts many tourists to visit.
ZooDoo friendly zoo is a tourist destination quite far from the city of Da Lat. About 40 km northeast of the city center of Da Lat. Located on a high hillside below is a valley covered with green grass carpets so you can stand here to admire the pristine beauty of the natural mountain forest scenery typical of Da Lat. For those who have visited Da Lat many times, this place is surely not unfamiliar to them.
This is a type of business combining a coffee shop with a zoo in the style of Australia. It includes many cute and funny animals such as camels, Alpacas, and ponies…
Introduction to ZooDoo Dalat Zoo
ZooDoo Zoo owns many rare and precious animal species. Most of the exotic animals here are imported from Australia and trained to be friendly and sociable with humans. Although the ZooDoo Dalat Zoo has recently started operating, the kangaroo residents and the miniature horses brought from distant Australia have been bred and will be born in the spacious pine forest on the highland of Lam Dong province.
Every day, this place welcomes many visitors. When you visit here, you will be guided to experience this friendly zoo in an Australian style. You can feed the animals, take pictures with them, or even play with them in the most comfortable way.
ZooDoo Zoo is not only famous for its rare and friendly animals. This place also offers many interesting activities such as camping amidst the pine-covered hills. And the spacious and cool coffee space will surely be an ideal resting place for tourists.
2. How to get there? (directions)
Although a bit far from the city center, the road to get here is very easy. Along the way, there are many lush trees that will make you feel more comfortable when visiting. You can also record videos along this beautiful natural route and share them on popular social media platforms nowadays. To reach more viewers and likes. Starting point is from Dalat Market. Drive towards Lam Vien Square. Then onto Yersin Street, pass Quang Trung Street and continue straight until you reach Phan Chu Trinh Street. Then turn left onto Chi Lang Street, then onto Me Linh Street. Continue straight until you reach Ngo Gia Tu Street on provincial road 723. From here, just keep going straight until you see the zoo sign on the right. The road to Zoodoo is beautiful and spacious. The feeling of relaxation is gentle as you move away from the noisy city, so the over 30km journey is no longer a hindrance. The main house of Zoodoo is surrounded by pine forests. Being on a hillside, it offers a panoramic view of the lush valley below.
3. How to get there?
To get to ZooDoo, you can use any means of transportation. However, Cuong advises those with weak health or who do not want to face harsh weather conditions like strong sun or rain and wind to go by car or taxi. As for young people, it is very suitable for them to travel by motorbike to Zoodoo Zoo in Da Lat. Because along the way, there are many beautiful landscapes for you to enjoy while riding and you can stop anywhere to take photos.
For travelers coming to Da Lat by bus, you can rent a car at the hotel where you are staying. Almost all hotels in Da Lat offer this car rental service. Or if you want to save money or visit many other tourist spots in one day, you can book a one-day tour in Da Lat.
BUSS TO ZOODOO DA LAT
We have received a lot of feedback from tourists. Therefore, this friendly zoo in Da Lat has started a bus service to Zoodoo Da Lat for visitors to explore. It is very convenient and fast, the bus departs at specified hours and the price is relatively cheap. Below are the bus pick-up times and prices for your reference.
- Ticket price is only 40k/one way, round trip 80k for guests over 120cm, under 120cm only 40k, and under 90cm is free.
- You can arrange to take the ZooDoo Bus with fixed routes at 4 time slots during the day: 7:30 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM.
- The Zoodoo bus will pick you up at your location (within a 6 km radius from the center of Da Lat city or you can move to 114 Hai Ba Trung, Ward 6, Da Lat City 15 minutes in advance.
Or you can contact the ZooDoo Da Lat bus hotline at 0905.333.261 to book a ticket to Zoodoo Da Lat.
4. Animals here.
Guinea Fowl
Guinea Fowl, also known as Numida Meleagris, is a bird species in the Numididae family and is the only species in the Numida genus. This species originates from Africa, mainly in the South Sahara, and has been introduced to many places in West Indies, Brazil, Australia, and Asia. They are quite interesting due to their lively nature. Therefore, they sometimes fight for food. But what’s special is that the guinea fowl enclosure has a Vietnamese rooster.
At first, I thought the ZooDoo zoo wanted to crossbreed between the West and the East. However, when asked, the Vietnamese rooster is like a fierce boss in the chicken coop. Any guinea fowl that fights is subdued by him and becomes much more obedient. The Vietnamese rooster keeps the peace in the chicken coop better.
Meerkat
Meerkat, pronounced in Vietnamese as Mê-kát or also known as suricate, ground squirrel, African ground squirrel, suricata, or meerkat, is a small mammal, a member of the mongoose family, and the only species in the Suricata genus. Meerkats live in all areas of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana and South Africa. These animals live in groups, with each group consisting of about 20 to 30 individuals. Some groups can have up to 50 members. Meerkats have an average lifespan of 12-14 years.
Meerkats are very active and have a special talent for digging. Occasionally, they take turns standing guard by assigning one individual to keep watch. Standing on the highest mound of dirt, they stand upright on two legs and look around to warn of danger. They are very cute and lively. The most famous meerkat is Timon in the animated movie “The Lion King” produced by Disney.
Wallaby Kangaroo
Wallaby is a small-sized kangaroo-like marsupial, but smaller in size. It is a marsupial similar to a kangaroo but classified as a separate species. Wallabies are smaller than regular kangaroos, with the largest reaching about 1.8m from head to tail and weighing around 30kg. Kangaroos and wallabies vary greatly in size and weight, ranging from half a kilogram to 90kg. Wallabies are native to Australia, found everywhere, especially in remote areas, rocky mountains, and rugged terrains.
The wallabies at ZooDoo each have their own territories. When food is brought to them, they choose to either come out and play with visitors or stay in their “homes.” When they are in their homes, it is considered a “no visitor zone.” Visitors should not invade their privacy when visiting.
Pony Dwarf Horse
Dwarf horses, also known as ponies or Cu horses, are a breed of horses with small stature, typically not exceeding 58 inches in width and about 147cm in height.
The ponies at the ZooDoo zoo are quite adorable. Each one has its own unique hairstyle designed by the staff here. If you come back after a few weeks, you will see their bangs have changed their fashion a lot!
Especially, there is a pony leader here who is quite greedy. Once he notices you, you won’t be able to feed any other horse! Because he only allows you to feed him alone. When you try to feed another horse, he will push that horse away.
Sheep
Sheep, also known as Trưu, Chiên, Mục Dương, Dê Đồng, is a domesticated species of mammal in the bovine family. This is one of the earliest domesticated livestock species by humans for wool, meat, milk, fat, and skin.
The sheep at ZooDoo zoo are extremely cute. When they have food, they will run to you and follow you closely. You should hold the food up high and feed them generously. When you don’t want them to follow you, put your empty hand out to let them know you’re out of food. They won’t follow you anymore.
Sparrow
The passerine order is a diverse group of birds with a large number of species. Over half of bird species belong to the passerine group, sometimes known as perching birds or more inaccurately as songbirds. The passerines make up one of the most diverse orders of vertebrates on land with around 5400 species, which is about twice as diverse as the most diverse mammalian order, the rodent order.
The passerine birds at the ZooDoo zoo are colorful and diverse. They will perch on your hand and eat food from it. It’s quite interesting, but be careful under your feet. You might accidentally step on them while they hop around. Especially for families with children, be cautious. Many cases have resulted in paying fines for accidentally stepping on and killing them when not paying attention.
Monkeys
Monkeys are very familiar to you. Surely the most famous monkey you know is Sun Wukong or the giant King Kong monkey in movies.
But the monkeys at the ZooDoo zoo are not heroes. They are quite mischievous and like to tease visitors. Be careful with their water spitting antics. Don’t tease them, keep your distance while visiting.
Dry turtle
The tortoise family, also known as the land tortoise family, is a reptile family belonging to the tortoise order. Since the Mesozoic era, tortoises have undergone complete metamorphosis and have hardly changed until now. Similar to aquatic turtles, land tortoises use their hard shells to protect themselves from predators.
The tortoises at ZooDoo are quite slow and very greedy. You can watch them eat grass, touch their shells. Note that you should only touch their shells, if you touch their heads, they will snap at your hand. It will be very difficult to get them to release it then.
South American Llama
The South American camelids, also known as Laminoids, are a species within the camelid subfamily of the camel family, consisting of two genera with 4 species still existing in South America and two genera that have become extinct. They are not true camels like the one-humped or two-humped camels in Asia and Africa, living in plateaus rather than deserts, agile and without humps.
The llamas at the ZooDoo zoo are quite adorable. Especially with their thick and carefully trimmed fur. They look like mischievous little kids and are also very greedy eaters. In the video above, there is an interesting food fight among them that I captured.
When they “fight,” they don’t use physical force but rather use the tactic of “spitting saliva.” A war in peace quite strange and peculiar, isn’t it?
South American bear cat
The American black bear is a native North American animal. It is the largest species in the bear family. This species has a body length of 40-70 cm and weighs 3.5-9 kg. They are nocturnal and primarily carnivorous, with a diet consisting of about 40% invertebrates, 33% plant food, and 27% vertebrates. Their fur is gray, with nearly 90% being dense underfur, providing insulation against cold weather. Its two most distinctive features are its extremely dexterous front paws and the mask-like markings on its face. These are themes in the mythology of some Native American tribes.
The South American black bear at ZooDoo Zoo was just brought in in March. He is chubby and very greedy. Looking at his round body makes you want to cuddle him a lot.
In addition, the Zoodoo Zoo also imports many different species of animals. Such as South American bears, geese. All are friendly and worth visiting. As the staff here confided, they want to build a friendly Zoodoo zoo for everyone, especially children to visit.
5. Entrance fees?
To provide visitors with the most complete experience. We will list the latest ticket price information along with the regulations when visiting here. If there are any changes in ticket prices, we will update them as soon as possible for your reference.
Zoodoo Zoo Da Lat Ticket Prices
- For adults 100,000 VND/person.
- For children under 120cm 50,000 VND/person.
- Children under 90cm are free of charge for admission.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Book Zoodoo Da Lat tickets
Due to the large number of visitors coming to visit, Zoodoo Zoo cannot manage all of them. Therefore, the zoo has set specific visiting hours for visitors. But the number of people allowed is very limited, so if you want to visit this place as quickly as possible, you can book tickets in advance. By contacting the hotline number or the information we have listed above. Note that when booking tickets, you must inquire about the specific visiting hours.
The zoo opens at 9 AM and closes at 4 PM. In addition, the zoo also specifies visiting hours for guests. Remember the following visiting hours to avoid wasting your precious time. Visiting hours: 9AM – 10AM – 11AM – 1PM – 2PM – 3PM – 4PM
6. What to play for fun
Observe wild animals in a natural environment
You will be guided by a zookeeper to explore the natural habitats of animals from all over the world. There are many types of animals that visitors would think they have to go to the ends of the earth to touch. From small animals like hamsters, rabbits, meerkats (the prototype of the famous Timon), alpacas, ponies, curly-haired sheep, kangaroos, Asian monkeys… to representatives of colorful tropical feathered species. Alongside this are the cool green landscapes of the highlands.
For a small fee, you can buy food and feed your adorable friends in the zoo. Surely, whether you are a fan of animals or not, getting close to them at an extremely close distance will be an unforgettable experience. Especially, this is also a great way for children to interact with the natural world.
So from now on, without leaving Vietnam, visitors can observe these animals living and interacting in their natural environment.
Feeding the animals by hand
Not only can you admire animals like in other zoos, but at Zoo Doo Da Lat, you can also personally pet and feed these adorable “friends.”
At Zoo Doo Da Lat, the staff and animal keepers are always friendly and enthusiastic in guiding children about animal love, the characteristics of each species, and the best ways to care for these “pets.” It can be said that Da Lat is not only a relaxing place for parents but also a special “school” about the natural world for children.
Zoo Doo Café
Next to the animal garden, ZooDoo also has a small cafe area with cozy wooden decorations. Before or after visiting the adorable animals, you can enjoy a hot coffee in the chilly weather. Even though it’s just a small stop, the fresh and airy space here will be an unforgettable memory for you and your family. Most reviews about this zoo recommend families with young children to bring them here to help them get closer to nature, play and interact with camels, sheep, and ponies.
If you arrive early and haven’t reached your tour time, you can enjoy one of the 30 enticing drinks from Zoodoo café in a high house according to the menu below.
In the cool atmosphere of Zoo Doo Da Lat, the small and cozy space with wooden decorations at Zoo Doo Café also provides visitors with special feelings and experiences. At Zoo Doo Cafe, visitors can enjoy delicious “imported” peach juice at a very affordable price of 40k. Additionally, the café offers a variety of fast food options to meet the needs of relaxation and exploration of the zoo.
Camping at Zoodoo (Zoodoo camping)
Zoodoo Zoo covers an area of up to 16 hectares. Besides the animal enclosures and coffee shop, there are also many ideal camping spots for visitors. Camping at Zoodoo Zoo is amazing. It feels like immersing yourself in nature, admiring beautiful landscapes.
When visiting for tourism and relaxation, those who plan to camp here don’t need to prepare anything. Zoodoo Zoo will provide you with tents, stoves, toilets, and everything you need. The prices for renting these items are quite affordable, so visitors can rest assured.
As for food, we recommend that visitors bring their own food and drinks here. However, if anyone finds it inconvenient, they can also purchase food here. The owner of Zoodoo Zoo is quite friendly, so if you need any help, just ask him.
7. What about dining?
In terms of dining, Cuong Travel recommends that you bring your own food and drinks here. However, you can also enjoy coffee at Zoodoo Cafe. Note that the food and drinks you bring here are not for the animals to eat. The animals here have their own feeding regime.
Light Meals:
You can enjoy lunch right at ZooDoo with dishes like fried noodles, fried vermicelli, or some Western dishes like smoked meat with bread, German sausages. There are also healthy options like oatmeal and snacks like french fries, fried corn, and more.
Beverages
ZooDoo Cafe serves over 30 different drinks ranging from 15k to 45k per item. They offer various teas, machine coffee, Vietnamese coffee, smoothies, and soft drinks including beer with gas!
8. Notes for having fun here
- There are strict rules here to ensure the safety of visitors. Do not disturb or chase the animals while having fun. This is to keep the animals friendly and not scared of humans.
- Remember the following important points:
- Do not tease, chase, or make loud noises to avoid scaring the animals.
- The zoo limits the number of visitors per day to allow time for care and rest for the animals.
- The zoo is open from 9 AM to 4 PM. However, there are notable visiting hours: 9AM – 10AM – 11AM – 1PM – 2PM – 3PM – 4PM
9. Feeding the animals
Here, Cuong will share some personal tips with you. First, you can buy food for the animals as much as you want, with each cup of food costing 10k. Then, you will be led into a house to quickly introduce some animals that eat first. Remember to give each animal only a small handful, as the real feast is outside. Skip some species that you can’t “enter the enclosure” like monkeys, otters, or quails, and you will be thrilled to be “inside the enclosure” for the first time with the adorable and quite greedy sheep. Hold the cup tightly and give them small amounts to eat in your hand, and take the time to pet, pamper, and take pictures with the cute sheep, although sometimes they may seem a bit silly.
Next up are the non-humped Abaca camels, smaller than the camels we usually see in desert movies. I heard that they can’t carry people, so don’t even think about jumping on their backs.
Next are the miniature Pony horses that are usually raised by Westerners for children to play with! You can’t feed these horses by hand, they have big jaws, so just put the food in a tray and let this Pony team handle it themselves! After they finish eating, they will shake their butts, so you can only pet them while they eat!
And here is the first time I got close to kangaroos! You need to be a bit more cautious with this species, so I kept my distance, put the food tray far away, sat quietly for a while, patiently waiting for them to come and eat. And when they were eating, I was quite surprised that when I offered them food, they didn’t run away immediately.
Yes, and the last enclosure we entered was filled with colorful swallows. They are very used to being fed by hand, so you will have a whole flock pecking birdseed right from your hand. These birds have their claws trimmed carefully, so they perch quite comfortably, even on Cuong’s shoulder, and Cuong doesn’t even flinch hehe! But be careful not to accidentally step on any of the birds because they roam freely under our feet.
And that concludes the short visit with the friendly, tiny animals. There is a small handwashing area prioritized for young children to wash their hands independently. The feeling after the trip is still delightful! Extremely suitable for those who enjoy being close to animals. The only downside is that this place no longer offers overnight stays due to poor service and rumors of excessive littering, so the area with the pre-built tents has been abandoned!
Here, every time you visit, you have to follow a tour and be guided by the staff. Each tour is about 1 hour apart. You should be patient and wait if it’s not your turn yet.
Each animal has its own characteristics and habits. You should respect and listen to clear instructions from the staff. Avoid mistakes that could affect the zoo’s pets!
There are two types of food: pellets and fruits. Cuong has tried both types and recommends buying pellets. This type is easier for the animals to eat and makes them enjoy it more.
