Da Lat is a beautiful city in southern Vietnam, blessed with stunning natural sights and a pleasant climate. The city features French architecture, remarkable pagodas, picturesque lakes, astonishing waterfalls, lush green landscapes of forests and flower gardens and a very charming vibe.
The charming hill town of Da Lat houses beautiful French villas and bungalows, sprawling gardens, farms and plantations of coffee, tea, fruits and vegetables. The train station is particularly notable as it is one of the oldest in the country and still retains its traditional charm. You can get on the train for a short 7 km ride that will take you through scenic mountain landscapes and villages.
Da Lat is often called the ‘city of flowers’ and has a lovely flower garden near Xuan Huong Lake in the heart of the town. There are more than 300 varieties of flowers on display which are at their best during the summer months. Apart from the main flower garden, the town also has other beautiful farms like the Langbiang Flower Farm, Anh Quynh Orchid Farm and Lam Sinh Farm.
If you wish to experience the local culture, head to the bustling Da Lat Market with rows of vendors and stalls selling a wide range of products. There is a weekend night market as well, with a vibrant atmosphere and amazing food stalls.
Bai Dai was the last emperor of Vietnam and this palace was constructed in 1933. The charming palace served as a summer retreat for the royal family and features impressive manicured gardens with an exotic collection of plants and trees. The palace still houses its original furniture and displays photographs, sculptures and other possessions of the royal family. Today you can visit the entire palace, including its 25 rooms, library, entertainment room, huge balconies and lavish dining room.
The Hang Nga Guesthouse & Art Gallery, more popularly called Crazy House might be the last thing you would expect to see in Vietnam. The structure resembles a tree, contains statues of wildlife, tunnels and ladders and features more than a dozen rooms for stay, with each room bearing a different theme. The eccentric architecture of the house can be attributed to Dang Viet Nga, a notable Vietnamese architect.
The Datanla Waterfalls are just 10 km away from the town and hence usually packed with people. A visit here involves a bit of trekking and you can also swim in certain shallow spots. There is also a small alpine coaster ride that drops from the top of the falls and leaves you at the pools below.
The Elephant (Lieng Rewoa) Falls are located around 25 km away from the city and are one of the most scenic natural sights in the region. The 30 metre high and 15 metre wide waterfall is surrounded by rocks and thick green forests, and offers a secluded atmosphere.
The Pongour Falls, located almost 45 km away from Da Lat, is a popular day trip. These magnificent seven-tiered waterfalls are one of Vietnam’s largest, with a height of 20 metres and a width of 100 metres.
The Prenn Falls are not as grand as the others in the region, and barely 10 metres high. However, located just 10 km away from the city, they have become a popular local spot and even have a short cable car ride that passes above the falls. Near the falls, you will find plenty of food stalls and opportunities to ride horses and water buffaloes!
On first sight itself, you will notice that the Linh Phuoc Pagoda is not your typical Vietnamese pagoda and is in a class of its own. The multicoloured mosaic work of the pagoda is impressive, especially the huge dragon at the entrance which was made from broken glass bottles. The interior follows a similar fashion and you can admire the mosaics of mythical creatures and the life of Buddha. The pagoda also features a golden statue of the Buddha and has a 37 metre high bell tower, believed to be the tallest in Vietnam.
The beautiful Truc Lam Pagoda was constructed in 1994 atop a small hill, about 6 km from the city centre. You can reach the monastery by a cable car and the short journey here is simply amazing with scenic views of the town, forests and the monastery itself. The cable car station is just 3 km from the town’s centre. The monastery displays impressive architecture, well-kept gardens and has a very serene atmosphere. You can also walk to the nearby Tuyen Lam Lake, where you can go boating or kayaking.
Da Lat shows a different side of Vietnam with a wonderful climate and serene vibe compared to the hot and noisy plains. It is the perfect refreshing getaway, complete with spectacular natural scenery and sounds of the mountains.
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