DaLat Itinerary, Self Guided Tour & DaLat Vietnam Map

Vietnam has been one of our favorite destinations in Southeast Asia. After multiple stays in Central Vietnam and Northern Vietnam, we kept hearing great things about the mountain city of Dalat.

We finally got to visit DaLat Vietnam in 2023, where our excellent homestay hosts helped introduce us to the city and culture of Da Lat.

If you’re putting together a Da Lat itinerary, we hope our Dalat travel guide will help you experience the best of Dalat Vietnam.

Where to stay in Dalat & How to get around

Depending on the transportation you want to use, there are many options for places to stay in Dalat center as well as the outskirts.

If you’re on a budget or prefer to get around mostly on foot, consider staying within walking distance of the market (Chợ Đà Lạt on Google Maps) or West of the lake.

If you don’t mind paying a little for transportation, you can stay further out and enjoy more nature-based settings.

Grab is the rideshare app used in Vietnam and much of Southeast Asia (like Uber or Lyft). Grab rides to most places in Dalat will cost around $2 US.

If you’re comfortable on a motorbike and familiar with Vietnamese traffic patterns, you can rent a scooter for 150,000-250,000 per day. While enforcement isn’t consistent, it’s best to have an international driver’s license with a motorcycle permit from your home country.

We highly recommend staying in a family-run homestay throughout Vietnam. Usually homestays include a private suite with bathroom and breakfast.

We loved our hosts in Da Lat, a friendly retired couple who introduced us to specialty Dalat foods and helped us get oriented. They made our experience so much richer!

Since we enjoy walking and also rented a motorbike for several days, we stayed toward the outskirts of town. 

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Here are some other highly rated places to stay in Dalat Vietnam:

Homestay in Da Lat – excellent hosts for cultural exchange, in the outskirts of town
Savio House – good value, family-run hotel in the town center
Kadupul Homecation – fun bed and breakfast with a range of room types
Dalat Rose Hill Villa – friendly staff and nice setting, with family rooms available

When to visit Dalat

We visited Da Lat in January, when the weather fluctuated between chilly with light rain and pleasantly mild (60-70 F). Coming from cold winters in the States, it wasn’t bad but you definitely need to pack warmer clothes in winter since indoor heating isn’t common.

Compared to many other destinations in Vietnam, the climate in Dalat is often much cooler. For this reason, many would say that the best time to visit Dalat is when it gets too hot elsewhere in Vietnam.

The rainy season in Dalat is summer, so the best chance of good weather tends to be March, April, or November. But as long as you pack properly, you can’t go really go wrong when you visit Dalat.

2 days in Dalat Itinerary

While we personally like to stay longer, two days in Dalat is enough time to see the highlights.

For our 2 day Dalat itinerary, we recommend spending at least half a day touring the center of the city, using our self guided tour suggestions. Then, choose one additional activity from our list below based on your interests.

On day 2, select a day trip. Dalat’s biggest draw is natural beauty, so we recommend exploring the surroundings.

Day 1: Self guided tour of Dalat map

If you only have one day in Dalat, this is where you can start. Use our self guided tour map of Dalat to sample the city’s top attractions.

In addition to key Da Lat Vietnam points of interest, our map includes a walking tour route.

You can sign up below to access the interactive map for free.

Day 2: Datanla Da Lat waterfall day trip

Here’s one of the day trips we really enjoyed near Dalat. There are other options below in our list of things to do, but I’ll share a detailed overview of our Datanla Waterfall hiking trip so it’s easy to replicate. 

Prices are as of January 2023.

Datanla waterfall park is only a 10 minute drive from Dalat along the main road to the airport. We arrived by motorbike, but you could also take a taxi or Grab. We even saw some tourists walking there, though there’s only a small shoulder on the road.

There’s a designated area for motorcycle parking and it’s 3,000 VND when you exit. It’s 15k VND (less than $1 US) for cars.

Datanla is like an adventure park, with alpine coasters (100k VND round trip), ropes course (350k VND for 120 minutes), zipline (600k VND), and of course the natural waterfalls.

There are two main entrances via alpine coasters, sort of like a roller coaster but you control the speed of your own car, which lead back and forth to the two main waterfall areas.

The entrance fee to walk in is 50,000 VND per adult and 25k for kids. Walk ins must go through the Main Entrance, where the ticket booth looks like two large mugs (pictured below). From there, follow signs for “Walking Track” (the trail is not depicted on their official map).

The hike starts on rock steps heading downward. Eventually you get to one of the waterfall areas with some random photo opps, like a giant gorilla and a spider web.

From the first waterfall to the second, there’s a sign by one of the souvenir booths that says THAC 3. Follow the path down more rock steps for about 15 minutes to a small shrine above the other falls. Then follow the sign “trekking way to waterfall” down even more steps.

This second falls has a whole area dedicated to photo backgrounds. There’s even a place to rent costumes for your pictures. You can hike back up or take the alpine coaster heading back up the hill (for a fee).

If you have your own vehicle, an easy next stop after visiting Datanla is to ride around Tuyen Lam lake. Head back toward Dalat on the main road for just a minute, then turn left (West) and you’ll be there in less than 5 minutes.

We saw several couples taking wedding photos on the lake. Continuing on, there are a few cafes, fields of strawberries and greenhouses, some construction areas, and some eerily empty palatial resorts (likely a consequence of the pandemic).

You can check out Lavendar Cafe on the other side of the lake. Definitely built for instagram tourism, they have some trendy-looking glamping sites, fields of flowers, and a cafe with nice view. Coffees were around 60k but unlike many similar places, there didn’t seem to be an entrance fee.

List of Things to Do in Dalat

Before we dive into what to do in Da Lat Vietnam, I have to admit that we were surprised: the entrepreneurs of DaLat have fully embraced Instagram tourism to an extent we haven’t seen anywhere else.

Many DaLat cafes and attractions are designed around photo opps. In fact, destinations without any historical or cultural significance have been recently constructed, solely to charge an entrance fee for taking pictures.

It’s an interesting phenomenon.

There are cultural experiences and natural beauty well worth exploring in DaLat as well, which is what we tend to prefer. We’ll share a variety of options in this list of Dalat things to do below but will focus on intentional travel experiences for your Dalat itinerary. 

DaLat Crazy House

DaLat Crazy House is one of the most popular places to visit in Dalat Vietnam because it’s so unique. The creative personal project of a Vietnamese architect, the house is a fantastical free-flow of playful design.

Visitors can explore the nooks, crannies, and ever-expanding structures that the creator has dreamst up and constructed, all for a modest fee (a few dollars). There’s also an option to stay overnight in the treehouse-like guest rooms.

While Crazy House pre-dates Instagram and TikTok, in a way, it seems to have started the pattern for DaLat tourism that features interesting photos for social media. When we stopped by, a large busload of tourists had just arrived with cameras ready.

Visit the Local Market: Chợ Đà Lạt

One thing we highly recommend adding to any Dalat itinerary is a stroll through the market, whether you’re shopping or not.

The Dalat market is a large multi-story complex centrally located, just West of the lake. This is a great place to simply witness local culture with all your senses.

You’ll find areas for local produce, snacks and home goods, fish and meat, lots of clothing, street food stalls, and some souvenir items. Don’t expect too much in the way of expert crafts, vendors are mostly reselling wholesale products.

The DaLat Night Market also starts here and expands down Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai street toward the lake-side roundabout. There’s not much at the night market you won’t also find during the day and in fact, prices may be higher as it’s primarily tourists who visit at night.

Enjoy Coffee at a Vietnamese Coffeeshop

When we asked our homestay hosts about their favorite things to do in Da Lat, having coffee with friends ranked very highly.

Coffee is a big part of Vietnamese culture, and DaLat has many great coffeeshops to try!

The typical Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk is called cafe sữa. You can get it hot or iced. 

From the very basic: plastic stools on the side of the road, to extravagant settings and fancy concoctions, you’ll find a wide range of cafe options and prices in Dalat.

See some of our recommendations below.

Try Local Specialties Like Banh Can

Vietnamese food is always a highlight of any Vietnam trip. Some DaLat regional specialties include:

• Bánh Căn (savory glutinous rice cake)
• Bánh Mì Xíu Mại (shumai meatball soup with bread)
• Dried fruits like persimmon
• Artichoke tea
• Hot soya milk

The first time we tried banh can on our own, it was ok. But it was so much better when our hosts took us to their favorite spot, where this lady has been perfecting her crispy cakes for decades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bánh Căn are savory little rice flour cakes baked in clay molds eaten with a dipping sauce, usually for breakfast. Quail egg is a common filling. The sauces are either based from fish sauce or shrimp paste.

Explore Xuan Huong Lake Area

One of the main features you’ll see on the map of Dalat Vietnam is Xuan Huong Lake. Lam Vien Square, a lake-front park, is a DaLat landmark and one of the top attractions.

There is a cafe building shapes like a giant artichoke bud out of glass and another dome housing a theater. This area is also home to an underground shopping mall, movie theater, and supermarket known as GO! Da Lat.

Around the lake, you’ll also find cafes, swan-shaped paddle boats for rent, horse-drawn carriage rides, and other fun things to see.

Visit Bao Dai Kings Palace in Dalat

A short drive into the outskirts of town is where you’ll find another popular Dalat attraction: the King’s Palace. It was the royal residence of Vietnam’s last emperor, Bao Dai.

The French colonial building and manicured grounds are not ostentatious but an interesting sightseeing stop, especially for those interested in Vietnamese history.

Get a Massage or Spa Treatment in DaLat

Ớt Care Spa offers a good value for massages and other treatments. It’s a few blocks away from Crazy House and you can make an appointment through Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp.

Their services include massages and facials in a simple, clean setting. At the time of this writing, a basic full body massage costs 240,000 VND (just over $10). 

Where to Eat in DaLat Vietnam

To sample the best of Dalat food, it helps to get some local advice.

Our homestay hosts explained that DaLat’s quality of life attracts people from all over Vietnam to settle there, resulting in a mix of regional foods available in the cuisine.

Nhà hàng MÓN NGON ĐÀ LẠT – The first restaurant our hosts recommended is located in the underground GO! complex near the lake. This sit-down restaurant features vendors who were hand-picked to showcase the area’s regional specialties.

There is an extensive menu with pictures and English translations.

Quán bánh căn Thúy street food – As mentioned above, banh can is a local specialty. This was one of our host’s favorite spot for breakfast. For details, see our map.

Bong Bun Cha Hanoi – A specialty of Northern Vietnam, vermicelli rice noodles to be dipped in fish sauce with pork meatballs, lettuce and herbs. They have a picture menu on the wall to facilitate ordering. Complimentary tea on the table.

Pho Hieu Dalat – Warm and flavorful pho is perfect for a cool day in Dalat. You can get the standard pho in large or small, which comes with a side of greens and hoisin sauce on the table. Complimentary tea. They have an English picture menu available if you need it.

An Cafe – A popular place for visitors and expats, this cute cafe in the city has several levels of open-air seating in an aesthetically pleasing setting. They offer drinks as well as food menu. The mulberry smoothie was wonderful.

Lien Hoa Bakery – This large bakery has a couple locations in DaLat. Pick up a tray and tongs to select your items and then bring them to the cashier. Pack up for take-away or eat on site. Bread rolls, cakes, and other treats available.

Blue Dream Bread – A bit out of the way, but a great example of young DaLat entrepreneurs providing top notch food and atmosphere. The quaint cafe and garden are popular for young people to take pictures and enjoy a English-style “tea time.” Great croissants and desserts.

Hill Hill Dalat Cafe – Another photo-worthy spot that seems to be frequented by young adults. A nice place to sip coffee overlooking peaceful hills. A full menu is available, at least for dinner, which is quite pricey but gets good reviews.

Best Dalat Day Trips

Dalat has many great day trip options nearby. You can take a motorbike, hire a driver, or join a tour to explore the surrounding area.

DaLat Waterfalls

Like many of the natural attractions near Dalat, waterfalls have often been turned into tourist attractions with an entrance fee.

Elephant Falls and Tiger Cave are both closed as of early 2023. Datanla Waterfall is the closest to the DaLat and most accessible for casual visitors (see above for details).

Other nearby falls to check out include Thác Voi Waterfall (30 miles from Dalat), Lien Khuong Waterfall (20 miles, near the airport), and perhaps the best option: Thác Pongour Waterfall and gardens (30 miles from Dalat) as it has fewer gimmicky tourist exhibits attached to it.

Bidoup Nui Ba National Park

This small, forested national park to the North of Dalat is a great place to find hiking trails, camping, animal and bird watching, and indigenous ethnic minority culture. It’s recommended to hire a guide for the best experience.

There is also an interpretive center, guesthouse, and restaurant in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.

Dalat Motorbike Easy Rider Tour

One of the best ways to experience a Vietnam day trip is from the back of a motorcycle. This way, you can get off the beaten path and see a lot in a short time.

A full day tour allows you to see so much: Dalat’s agriculture, coffee and silk production, rice fields, villages, and local craftspeople. 

Check out this highly rated Dalat motorbike tour on GetYourGuide >

Top Photo Attractions

These are Dalat attractions specifically for taking selfies and fun photography. Expect an entrance fee.

Vuon Anh Sang Lumiere (Light Garden) – Located on the far North end of town, this indoor attraction features lanterns and other illuminated art. 

Clay Sculpture Tunnel – An easy add-on after Datanla and Tuyen Lam Lake, this amusement park is full of all kinds of giant manmade sculptures from giant dragons to trains and buildings.

Truc Lam Monastery and Cable Car – Another option to add to a Datanla/Tuyen Lam Lake excursion, the cable car goes from Robin Hill to the monastery and pagoda grounds. From there, you can walk around a bit, take stairs down to the lake, or simply return via cable car.

Thung Lũng Tình Yêu (Valley of Love) – Originally named by the French, the valley now has a giant theme park with gardens and a lake using the romantic theme, including swan boats and an Eiffel Tower. There’s also a quirky wax museum.

Linh Phuoc Pagoda – Just 5 miles West of town is one of Vietnam’s most colorful pagodas, unlike what you might find elsewhere in the country. It’s a quick visit but a sight to behold all the elaborate tile work throughout this Buddhist temple. 

Other Top-Rated Dalat Tours and Experiences

Dalat Street Food Tour – An evening private walking tour to experience Da Lat’s street food favorites.

9-hour Dalat Outskirt Tour – See beautiful scenery, participate in various outdoor activities, and taste some of the local delicacies, coffee and rice wine.

Dalat organic farm experience – Discover how a small coffee farm operates and learn how to roast and make your own coffee.

Our Top Tips for Intentional Travel in Dalat Vietnam

• • 🤝 Try to make a local connection, whether it’s meeting a friend-of-a-friend you find through social media, staying in a family-run homestay, or hiring a local guide.
  • 🗣️ Learn essential Vietnamese phrases, like “hello” and “thank you”.
  • 🛍️ Shop at locally owned, independent businesses when possible
  • ❤️ For more guidance, see: how to have authentic, meaningful travel experiences in touristy areas and our simple rules for intentional travel series.
  • 📱Master phone travel essentials with our Smartphone Savvy Travel course to travel safely, confidently, and improve connections with locals.
  • ᯤ Stay connected with an eSIM – learn more and look for our discount code in this eSIMs for travel post.
  • ✈️ Find better flight deals to Dalat Vietnam with our Book Better Flights tutorials.
  • 🛏️ Pinpoint perfect accommodations efficiently and avoid disappointing stays with our Smart Stay Finder course.
  • 🛟 Protect your Dalat trip with insurance – We’ve started using Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing for affordable evacuation, international medical, and trip coverage.
    

You might also like:
Vietnam Itinerary and Best Places to Visit
Central Vietnam Itinerary
Things to Do in Hoi An Vietnam

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