Đà Lạt is known as the “city of thousands of pine trees,” a top tourist destination in Vietnam. With a mild, cool climate and convenient transportation, you can visit Da Lat in a limited time or for a long vacation. However, I have not seen anywhere with as many attractions as Da Lat. The important thing is that nothing is alike here, each place has its own style, even two cafes next to each other. Let’s plan your trip to Da Lat today.
Video guide for independent travel in Da Lat
Origin and meaning of the name Da Lat
There are many documents discussing the origin of the name Da Lat:
- The French were the ones who discovered the unique climate and nature of this place. It was the French who first gave this land the phrase “Dat alliis laetitium alliis temperiem” – meaning “to give joy to one and coolness to another.” So people think that DALAT is formed by combining the 5 words in the sentence above.
- But according to the local ethnic language: Da Lat is pronounced as “Dạq Lạch,” Dạq means water, mountain, river,… Lạch is the name of a small ethnic group in the highlands of Lam Vien.
- But according to the Sino-Vietnamese dictionary: Đa means many, Lạt is close to “Lạc”: happy. Therefore, Da Lat means the land of joy.
In conclusion, no matter where the name Da Lat originated from, it always brings the meaning of a land of rivers, mountains, seas, and skies, always captivating every traveler. Pack your bags and go to Da Lat today.
Where is Da Lat located
Da Lat is a city in Lam Dong province in the Southeast region of Vietnam. Da Lat is located on the Lam Vien plateau, over 1,500m above sea level. Da Lat has convenient transportation, only 300km from Ho Chi Minh City. It is also close to some tourist destinations: Mui Ne 160km, Nha Trang 190km. You can reach Da Lat by road, air, and rail, very convenient, right?
Weather in Da Lat
Located on the Lam Vien plateau in Lam Dong province (Southeast region of Vietnam), Da Lat has a mild climate all year round, cool and never as cold as Sapa. A cool place all year round in the tropical region of the South, who wouldn’t want to run to Da Lat on a hot summer day?
However, at other times, Da Lat still attracts visitors. The weather in Da Lat at this time will be cooler than in summer due to less sunlight. The gentle coldness like autumn in Hanoi makes many travelers feel like they are in a different city, not in Vietnam.
Perhaps that’s why people still call Da Lat a city where everyone uses air conditioning. If you want to cool down, just open the window, no need to look for a remote control or an air conditioner.
What makes Da Lat attractive
Da Lat makes everyone who has been and has not been there feel nostalgic. Da Lat has a mild climate, making it a paradise for many types of flowers. The city of a thousand flowers, flowers bloom from street corners to small alleys, from tree branches to grass along the road, creating an unusually beautiful feeling as if you are lost in a fairyland. The flowers are not only beautiful but also fragrant, as if perfuming the air, creating a feeling of lightness and euphoria. Probably that’s why the people here are friendly and approachable, not as hot-tempered as in other cities.
A paradise of fresh and delicious fruits and vegetables. Da Lat is the vegetable garden of the country, especially in the Southern region. Da Lat’s vegetables are particularly clean due to advanced cultivation techniques in greenhouses. Moreover, with a mild climate (though slightly cold), Da Lat can grow many types of vegetables that are only grown in the winter in the North: cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi… Vietnamese people prefer to use Vietnamese products, so if you can, remember to support Da Lat vegetables.
Đà Lạt is a land of thousands of pine trees. Speaking of trees and flowers, pine trees prefer temperate and cold climates. It’s strange how they are so suitable for the soil of Da Lat. You can find pine trees everywhere in the city. The feeling of riding a motorbike under the pine trees, playing and laughing in the wind, or walking under the pine trees, picking pine cones, is truly romantic.
The only city without traffic lights. People look at each other and walk without haste or rush, in case of a collision, they apologize. Life in Da Lat is a bit slow, relaxed, making tourists seem to forget the worries and bustle of urban life.
How to get to Da Lat
As mentioned above, you can get to Da Lat in 3 ways: by air, by road, by rail.
By air:
The airport in Da Lat is called Lien Khuong Airport or Lien Khuong Air Harbor. This airport is located in Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province, 31km from Da Lat city. With a standard runway that can accommodate common aircraft like A320, A321… Lien Khuong Airport is always ready to welcome tourists from all over the world to Da Lat. Currently, there are many airlines operating domestic flights to Da Lat: Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Jetstar Pacific, Bamboo Airways… Flights to Da Lat include:
- Ho Chi Minh City – Da Lat (SGN – DLI): operated by Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Jetstar Pacific with frequent flights and relatively cheap fares. You can book promotional tickets for less than 1 million VND round trip.
- Hanoi – Da Lat (HAN- DLI): operated by Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Jetstar Pacific, Bamboo Airways with many flights. Ticket prices range from around 1,000,000 VND/one way.
- Vinh – Da Lat (VII- DLI): operated by VietJet Air, Jetstar Pacific with approximately 1 flight per day for each airline.
- Hue – Da Lat (HUI- DLI)
- Can Tho – Da Lat (VCA – DLI): operated by Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific
- Da Nang – Da Lat (DAD- DLI): operated by Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air
- International flights: Bangkok – Da Lat (BKK- DLI), Mexico – Da Lat (MEX- DLI)… and many other commercial flights.
Note that transportation from the airport to Da Lat can be expensive. If you take a taxi, choose those with full service from the airport to Da Lat, with prices starting from 160,000 VND/vehicle/one way. Avoid metered taxis, as prices can go up to over 300,000 VND/one way.
By rail
Previously, Da Lat had an important railway line connecting Da Lat with Mui Ne, Nha Trang. However, due to the strong development of roads and air travel, this railway line has ceased operation. Currently, Da Lat station is still operational and only runs the Da Lat – Trai Mat route to serve tourists for sightseeing purposes only.
By road is the most convenient and commonly used route no matter where you are. With a distance of 300km from Ho Chi Minh City, you can take a bus, rent a private car, or ride a motorbike to Da Lat. Other provinces such as Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Gia Lai, Dong Nai… are also easily accessible through this route.
By road to Da Lat
By bus:
There are many buses to Da Lat, mainly sleeper buses. The travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat is about 6 hours, so it’s best to take a night trip around 10-11pm to arrive in Da Lat the next morning (ticket price is around 230,000 VND/one way). For other provinces, plan your travel time wisely, don’t end up sleeping at the Da Lat bus station in the middle of the night. Sleeper buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat include:
- Khanh Thanh Buoi Bus
- Phuong Trang Bus
- Mai Linh Bus
- Phong Phu Bus
- Minh Tri Bus
- Open buses: The Sinh, Hanh Cafe, Kim Travel
By motorbike to Da Lat:
Here, I mainly guide those in Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat by motorbike. Since it’s a motorbike ride, the travel time will be longer, about 8-10 hours. I advise you to:
- Start early in the morning to arrive in Da Lat in the afternoon or evening to avoid traffic jams.
- Avoid traveling in the afternoon when it’s hot and tiring, and by the time you reach Da Lat, it will be late and you won’t be able to go anywhere.
- Many people ride at night, but I also advise against it as the roads are deserted, there are many vehicles, and it’s quite dangerous to ride at night.
From Saigon, you just need to head towards Xa Lo Ha Noi, cross Saigon Bridge to Dong Nai Bridge, turn onto the bypass route to Bien Hoa city, then continue straight on National Highway 20 until you reach Dau Day. The road is not difficult, but you need to have a steady hand on the wheel as the section of National Highway 20 to Da Lat has many dangerous slopes and passes.
The road to Da Lat is much simpler, just follow the map and you’ll get there. Although it’s on a plateau, there aren’t many steep slopes or passes there. Riding a motorbike in Da Lat under the cool weather is extremely enjoyable. Taking your loved one to visit Da Lat is a great idea.
When riding a motorbike in Da Lat, remember:
- Differentiate between front and rear brakes. Prefer using the rear brake.
- Downshift to a lower gear on steep slopes like 23.
- For scooters, squeeze the left brake: Squeezing the right brake will make you fall flat on your face.
Renting a vehicle to Da Lat
Regarding renting a vehicle, it depends on your needs so I won’t delve into it further. However, you should plan to arrive in Da Lat early in the morning to have more time to explore this attractive destination. You can consider the service of renting a vehicle from Saigon to Da Lat here.
Cost of traveling to Da Lat
In general, traveling by motorbike or sleeper bus and then renting a motorbike there is the most cost-effective option. Furthermore, Da Lat has a moderate cost of living, not as expensive as remote islands or big cities, so you can rest assured. Just have enough money for transportation and accommodation, and bring some instant noodles to eat. It’s a joke, but I think if you’re traveling with friends, around 1 million VND per person is still okay. Below, I share my trip with my girlfriend for 3 days and 2 nights in Da Lat, which cost only 3 million VND. Splitting that, it’s about 1.5 million VND per person. We took a coach to Da Lat. If you ride a motorbike to Da Lat, it will be even cheaper (saving over 400k VND per person on bus tickets).
Where to stay in Da Lat
Wherever you go, you should stay in the city center. Think of the Da Lat Night Market as the heart of the city. Just book a room nearby. However, there’s a unique feature of Da Lat that I must introduce to you, which is Da Lat Homestays. Each homestay in Da Lat has its own style and unique charm. I’ve clearly compared homestays and hotels in the article comparing homestays and hotels in Da Lat, so I won’t repeat it. I’m just suggesting for you to have a new experience when visiting Da Lat.
Check the location of homestays carefully, don’t book homestays too far from the city center. Refer to the reviews of other travelers about the homestay you want to book. Also, be cautious to avoid being deceived by cheap homestays in Da Lat priced at 60,000 – 70,000 VND per night. If you’re not familiar with this trick, you can read more in the article: Avoiding Scams When Traveling to Da Lat.
What to do in Da Lat
There are not many places with as many sightseeing and entertainment options as Da Lat. You can find more than 70 sightseeing spots in Da Lat and over 50 most beautiful cafes in Da Lat. I will just briefly introduce a few main spots.
- Da Lat Flower Garden: Located in the city center, entrance fee is 50,000 VND per person
- Tuyen Lam Lake: Surrounding the lake are many cafes, restaurants, and beautiful pine forests.
- Valley of Love: A place that creates the romantic charm of Da Lat, associated with many beautiful love stories from the French colonial period.
- Xuan Huong Lake: Located in the city center
- Dinh 1 – Bao Dai Palace: Located in the city center, this place was the palace of Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam
- Zoodoo Zoo: This is a new place where you can have coffee, enjoy and play with animals.
- Da Lat Railway Station: This is an old railway station, where steam locomotives in Vietnam are still preserved
- Chicken Church: With French architecture, after decades, the Chicken Church still retains its unique beauty.
- Strawberry Gardens: This is the most attractive sightseeing spot in Da Lat. You can pick strawberries by hand and enjoy them. Many Instagram-worthy photos are taken here.
- Da Lat Market: Da Lat market has both a night market and a day market. You can stroll around, visit, or buy Da Lat specialties as gifts here
- Clay Tunnel (Sculpture Tunnel): This is an artificial architectural work located next to Tuyen Lam Lake. It showcases the creativity and talent of the artisans here.
- Flower Gardens: Da Lat is a city of thousands of flowers. There are many self-cultivated flower gardens where visitors can tour for 10-30,000 VND per visit: Cam Tu Flower Garden, F Cafe Sunflower Field, Sunflower Garden…
- Waterfalls: Camly Waterfall, Dlanta Waterfall……
- Cafes: Da Lat has a lot of beautiful cafes. You can find more than 50 most beautiful cafes in Da Lat here
- Homestays in Da Lat: As mentioned above, homestays in Da Lat are the check-in destination for thousands of social media influencers.
- Cloud Hunting:
- The feeling of waking up early, riding a jeep through misty roads, breathing fresh air in the mountains of Da Lat, and witnessing the vast sea of clouds will surely be a memorable experience when you visit the mountain town. Make sure to note down these top 9 incredibly beautiful cloud hunting spots in Da Lat.Famous cloud hunting spots: Da Phu Hill, Hon Bo Peak, Thien Phuc Duc Hill, Cau Dat Tea Hill….
What to Eat in Da Lat
Da Lat has many delicious and unique dishes. But for me, eating grilled rice paper and drinking hot soy milk is simple, cheap, and super delicious. Under the cold weather, amidst the rain, sitting by the charcoal stove waiting for the rice paper to be grilled, with a cup of hot soy milk in hand, there’s nothing better.Visiting Da Lat without trying grilled rice paper is a waste. Some good and cheap places to eat grilled rice paper:
- Banh trang be Lun 50 Pham Ngoc Thach (remember to try the soft yogurt here): Opening hours: 3:30 PM – 10:30 PM
- Banh trang di Dinh 26 Hoang Dieu:Opening hours: 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Grilled rice paper 61 Nguyen Van Troi:Opening hours: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Grilled rice paper Co Mai 1/11 Nha Chung:Opening hours: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Grilled rice paper 46 Nguyen Van Troi:Opening hours: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Grilled rice paper Minh Chau 180 Bui Thi Xuan:Opening hours: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Grilled rice paper Co Hoa 9 Thong Thien Hoc:Opening hours: 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM
In addition, there are many other dishes you can try when visiting Da Lat. Here are some delicious eateries to check out in Da Lat:
- Quán 368 Gà lên mâm & Nướng BBQ (159 Ngô Quyền, Đà Lạt)
- Bánh mì xíu mại Hoàng Diệu (26 Hoàng Diệu buổi sáng)
- Lẩu gà Lá É Tao Ngộ (5 Đường 3 Tháng 4, Đà Lạt)
- Hương Quê Quán Gà Nướng Cơm Lam (5B Hai Bà Trưng, Đà Lạt)
- Bò Lạc Lối Nướng & Lẩu Bò Tơ Tây Ninh (206 Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh & 1Bis Phan Đình Phùng, Đà Lạt)
- Tre Trăm Đốt BBQ – Nướng & Lẩu (303 Hai Bà Trưng, Đà Lạt)
- Chợ Hải sản Kyla Lẩu hơi & Cơm Gia đình (21 Trần Bình Trọng & 03 Trần Hưng Đạo, Đà Lạt)
- Chú Hà Bê thui nóng nguyên con ( 402 Hai Bà Trưng, Đà Lạt)
- Lẩu Khap Bun Kha Món Thái (26 Nguyễn Văn Cừ, Đà Lạt)
- Lẩu bắp hoa (12 Yersin, Đà Lạt)
- Quán xưa Đà Lạt (427/3 Phan Đình Phùng, Đà Lạt)
- Misty Forest Đà Lạt (124 Bạch Đằng, Đà Lạt)
- Đông Sương Sầu (42 Phan Đình Phùng)
- Quán Trang Bánh ướt lòng gà (15F Tăng Bạt Hổ)
- H’mông Quán Chuyên thịt ngựa (1719 Đường 3 Tháng 4, Đà Lạt)
- Nhà Hàng Trên Đỉnh Đồi Trăng (01 Triệu Việt Vương, Đà Lạt)
- Tam Nguyên Ayun Cơm lam & Gà nướng (An Kroet, cách Thung Lũng Vàng 300m)
- Lẩu đuôi bò & Ốc nhồi thịt Quán 33 (4D Hai Bà Trưng, P. 6, 33 Hai Bà Trưng, 41 Hai Bà Trưng, 157 Hai Bà Trưng)
- Nướng BBQ No.1 Lê Hồng Phong (Cuối Hẻm 1 Lê Hồng Phong)
- Bánh căn xíu mại Cây Bơ (56 Tăng Bạt Hổ, P. 1)
- Lẩu gà : 313 Hai Bà Trưng, rẻ + có lòng gà xào mướp
Unique experiences in Da Lat
- You used to live a peaceful life, not hating anyone, until you decided to go to Da Lat and rent a motorbike… then Google Maps led you down a hill that made you almost lose your pants, the alleys were so steep you felt like climbing someone’s roof!
- You booked a homestay thinking it had a beautiful view, but when you got there, it was a dark, scary road, full of bushes and dark alleys that made you scared to death… it might be beautiful, but going out at night was terrifying!
- That’s when you realize, even the locals in Da Lat sometimes don’t know where a certain address is, like when you ask for directions at Huynh Tan Phat, Tuong Pho, To Vinh Dien…
- Out of ten “Home stays,” eleven times you had to ask the people there to guide you in, and then when leaving, you had to ask them again to show you the way out to the main road.
- The hardest part wasn’t choosing between booking a room in the city center or far away with a nice view, but rather when you had to check out and couldn’t remember where you were staying or how to get back… and your phone was dead!
- Still don’t understand why three-digit addresses are at the beginning of the street, the end of the street has a front house, and in the middle of the street, they add the word “Mysterious” not to mention ABC and all sorts of ostrich signs…
- The locals are always helpful with directions, but the disaster is when you’re directionally challenged and ask someone who’s just as lost as you, but if you still follow them, consider this life abandoned.
- You always thought Da Lat was small, with all the trees cut down, only lonely trees left, but when you went looking, you found a whole forest, and couldn’t find your way out. Especially when it’s raining while you’re out…
- Until now, you still wonder, how did people in Da Lat in the past walk or ride bikes with these crazy steep slopes…
- Good people deserve to go to heaven, but those who use outdated addresses for homestays/hotels or online orders deserve to be thrown into Ho Xuan Huong Lake…
- When looking for an address, it’s best to go when it’s still light out, or at least when you can still tell the difference between a street and a flower garden, a deep abyss… etc…
- When you hear “Everyone knows where my house is,” but when you ask, no one knows.
- There are two stupid things when looking for an address in Da Lat: One is thinking Google Maps is all-powerful, and the other is asking the rickshaw or taxi drivers (in German) to take you around in circles and then say something like…
- No matter what, you still want to go to Da Lat a thousand more times, to experience, to have fun, to be sad, to remember that…
TRAVEL ITINERARY FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVEL IN DA LAT WITH 1,500,000 VND
Starting from Saigon, take a sleeper bus from Thanh Buoi to Da Lat. Ticket price is 220k/person. Departure is at 10pm from Saigon. Around 4am you will arrive in Da Lat (there is a shuttle to the hotel). I stayed at Arapang Hotel for 300k per night. I stayed for 2 nights with an early check-in for half a day, totaling 750k for the hotel (you can check out many hotels with similar prices).
Transportation in Da Lat: I rented a motorbike from the hotel for 120k/day. Don’t bother renting elsewhere, just rent from the hotel, and when you return at night, leave it at the hotel.
First Day in Da Lat
- Had breakfast across from the hotel: 2 bowls of bun rieu, 1 banh mi with 2 eggs, 2 glasses of soy milk => 120k. I recommend going to Da Lat market for cheaper options.
- Lam Vien Square across from Xuan Huong Lake and near the night market (free)
- Went to The Sparrow café for coffee, which is also close to the city center and has great photo spots for social media
- Returned to the hotel to rest and had lunch on the way back!
- Rest until around 5 pm, then walked to Da Lat market, took photos, and had dinner there.
- Walked to the windmill, which is also near the market and hotels.
Second Day in Da Lat
This day was all about exploring, so I woke up early to have breakfast and start the journey.
Morning
- First stop was DEMAINE DE MARIA church (free)
- Then visited Da Lat Station. Entrance fee is 10k per person, and parking fee is 5k => 15k
- Visited Da Lat Pedagogical College (parking fee 5k)
- Returned to rest and have lunch before heading out in the afternoon
Afternoon
- Visited some places quite far from the city center, so it’s best to go early
- Tuyen Lam Lake (free)
- Happy Hill (entrance fee 30k, parking fee 5k)
(As I went out late in the afternoon, I couldn’t visit more places. You can also visit WILLER NEST HOMESTAY, SECRET GARDEN)
Evening
- Dinner at Poc Poc hotpot and barbecue restaurant. 300k for 2 people
- Strolled to Lam Vien Square for snacks and listened to people singing
- Returned to the hotel, parked the car, then walked to LangFarm to buy some gifts for everyone
Last Day in Da Lat
I had a midday return, so I woke up early to pack my things in the suitcase before going out. This way, when I returned in the afternoon, I could just pick up my things and check out to avoid rushing.
Had breakfast near the hotel and then went to Gau Garden to have coffee and take beautiful photos with a stunning view.
Checked out at noon and had lunch at Lien Hoa Bakery near the hotel. They offer a variety of foods like rice, banh mi, noodles, dumplings, pastries, drinks, etc.
After lunch, around 2 pm, I took a shuttle to Thanh Buoi Bus Station to return to Saigon.
Arrived in Saigon around 10 pm, went home to rest, and the next day went back to work as usual.
Total Cost for a 3-day, 2-night Trip to Da Lat from Saigon
I calculated the total cost for transportation, food, accommodation, and rental car, which came to 3 million for 2 people, so it’s about 1,500,000 VND per person. If you also buy souvenirs, it might cost a few hundred thousand more. Going to Da Lat once every 1-2 months seems reasonable, right?
What to buy when traveling to Da Lat
Buying souvenirs on this trip can be a bit costly, but if you don’t, your roommates might give you the cold shoulder. The good thing is that Da Lat is full of snacks, so souvenirs are quite affordable, unlike when I went to Phu Quoc and spent over 1 million on dried seafood, and half a month later, I couldn’t even go out for bubble tea. Here are some popular souvenirs from Da Lat:
- The most popular souvenirs to buy when visiting Da Lat are dried fruits: bananas, sweet potatoes, etc. These are super cheap, around 20-30k per bag, so you can buy plenty to share.
- If you have a better budget, visit a strawberry farm and buy fresh strawberries as gifts. Remember not to buy strawberries at the night market, as they might go bad before you get home.
- For elderly family members, a bag of artichoke tea is a great gift that they will love.
- For kids, besides buying dried fruits, you can also get some jams or candies. Kids love them!
This trip to Da Lat will be both affordable and luxurious.
Tips for traveling to Da Lat
- When planning your itinerary, use Google My Maps, it saves a lot of effort and is very efficient.
- When traveling together, the key to survival is to always stay cheerful.
- All the comments reminding you to bring warm clothes in the reviews are serious, so make sure to bring warm clothes.
- In the afternoon, it often rains, so always remember to bring an umbrella and a raincoat.
- Don’t try to reach the lonely pine tree by motorbike. We learned our lesson. You can take a canoe for 80k per person. Note that even if you go by motorbike, don’t trust the signs along the road that lead to the pine tree. Many sections are only for jeeps, going down means coming back up tired. Ask the locals there very carefully if you can go down by motorbike. Otherwise, rent a jeep for 50k, they will take you down. Personally, I find the road leading to the pine tree beautiful, but the pine tree itself is not very impressive and crowded.
- There are two tunnels, one tunnel is managed by the locals there, so you will have to buy drinks when you arrive. The price of bottled water is 20k, soft drinks 25-30k. Ice cream is also priced similarly (20-30k). However, there is an old tunnel without anyone looking after it, it looks ancient and more beautiful. It’s just a pity that I only noticed it when turning back. Pay attention to this.
- At the Tea Hill of Cau Dat, there are 2 spots for cloud hunting, one is still operational, while the wooden house for cloud hunting has been banned. The road to this place is a dirt road, with only a small concrete path in the middle, which can be very slippery in rainy conditions. So be careful not to slip.
- In Da Lat, during the summer days, the sun rises early, and the mist dissipates quickly, so you can start your journey early.
- Actually, the cold rains in Da Lat can make people lazy, but it’s also a good opportunity to carry out other plans, such as changing your exploration trip in Da Lat to visiting unique food and coffee shops in the city.
- Try going against all the plans you’ve made once, you’ll find it equally interesting. Especially in Da Lat, there is never a shortage of romantic, dreamy, and beautiful food and coffee shops.
