{"id":29,"date":"2025-07-04T15:08:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T06:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/?gallery=sample-gallery4"},"modified":"2026-08-02T07:19:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T22:19:01","slug":"dalat","status":"publish","type":"area_post","link":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/area_post\/dalat\/","title":{"rendered":"Da Lat sightseeing guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Da Lat is a town of flowers and cool retreats spread across the Central Highlands of Vietnam at an elevation of about 1,500 m. Cool year-round, it's dotted with villa architecture from the French colonial period, lakes, flower fields, and waterfalls. With many Instagrammable caf\u00e9s and strawberry farms, it's gaining popularity as a highland resort. This page brings together everything from an overview of the town to how to get around, classic spots, model courses, food, souvenirs, and the latest topics, guiding you to individual articles on caf\u00e9s, news, and souvenirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location<\/th>Lam Dong Province, Central Highlands<\/td><\/tr>
Elevation<\/th>About 1,500 m<\/td><\/tr>
Best season<\/th>December\u2013March<\/td><\/tr>
Suggested days<\/th>2 days<\/td><\/tr>
Language<\/th>Vietnamese (English also understood in tourist areas)<\/td><\/tr>
Currency<\/th>Vietnamese dong (VND)<\/td><\/tr>
Time difference from Japan<\/th>-2 hours<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What kind of town is Da Lat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Da Lat is the provincial capital of Lam Dong Province, a highland city located at an elevation of about 1,500 m. With an average annual temperature of 18\u201322\u00b0C, it's cool year-round and has been called the \"Paris of the East\" as a summer retreat since the French colonial era. Known as Vietnam's largest Arabica coffee-growing region, distinctive coffee roasteries are scattered throughout the city and its outskirts. Rich in original tourist assets like the Crazy House and Tuyen Lam Lake, it is also the No. 1 honeymoon destination for Vietnamese people. Da Lat's townscape is dotted with mountain-villa architecture from the French colonial era\u2014Europe's summer retreats themselves. Centered on Tuyen Lam Lake, the Han Market, Da Lat Station (a preserved station building of French architecture), and a romantic atmosphere where French and Vietnamese cultures intersect are the town's appeal. The outskirts spread with large-scale flower farms exceeding 1,500 hectares, coffee plantations, and greenhouse strawberry farms\u2014Vietnam's largest highland agricultural zone. On weekends it bustles with honeymooners and couples from Ho Chi Minh City, and the lakeside horse-drawn carriages and swan boats are an iconic tourist experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to Da Lat and getting around<\/h2>\n\n

[Important] Da Lat's airport is currently closed for renovation work.<\/strong>Lien Khuong Airport (Li\u00ean Kh\u01b0\u01a1ng \/ DLI)has suspended all flights since March 4, 2026<\/strong>, andis scheduled to reopen on August 19, 2026<\/strong>(though this depends on regulatory approval and could change). The runway is undergoing a full renovation at a total cost of 1,032 billion dong. Once finished, the runway will measure 3,250m by 45m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words,if you're heading to Da Lat right now, traveling overland is the only realistic option<\/strong>. Be sure to check the airline's official website for flight status before you travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the airport reopens (planned for after August 19, 2026)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

reports indicate Vietjet plans to operate 5 routes with 49 round trips a week (Hanoi 28, Ho Chi Minh City 7, Vinh 7, Hai Phong 4, Da Nang 3), while Vietnam Airlines plans 3 routes with 42 round trips a week (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang) \u2014 91 round trips a week combined. The only international route will be to Kuala Lumpur, andthere are no direct flights from Japan<\/strong>\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airport location<\/th>About 30km south of Da Lat city (elevation 962m)<\/td><\/tr>
Airport to city: shuttle bus<\/th>Around 50,000 dong \/ about 1 hour. Terminates near Da Lat Market or the bus terminal<\/td><\/tr>
Airport to city: taxi<\/th>250,000\u2013300,000 dong \/ about 40 minutes (plus a 10,000\u201315,000 dong airport exit fee)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Traveling overland \u2014 the realistic route for now<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Departure point<\/th>Means<\/th>Duration<\/th>Fare guide<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Ho Chi Minh City<\/td>Sleeper bus (about 300km)<\/td>6\u20139 hours<\/strong><\/td>250,000\u2013500,000 dong. Overnight buses mostly depart between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM<\/td><\/tr>
Nha Trang<\/td>Bus \/ shared van (135\u2013158km)<\/td>3 to 4 hours<\/strong><\/td>180,000\u2013600,000 dong. Around 230,000 dong for a limousine van<\/td><\/tr>
Cam Ranh Airport (CXR)<\/td>Car \/ van<\/td>3 to 4 hours<\/td>A strong alternative while the airport is closed<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The main bus operators include Ph\u01b0\u01a1ng Trang (Futa), An Anh Limousine, Di\u1ec5n Linh, and Kumho Samco.Da Lat has no mainline railway<\/strong>(the Da Lat train station in town runs only a short scenic line). The nearest mainline station is Nha Trang, from which you'd travel about 134km overland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also,an expressway connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat is under construction<\/strong>. The Tan Phu\u2013Bao Loc section (66km) broke ground in December 2025 and is due to finish by the end of 2027. Once the whole route opens, the trip is expected to shrink from over 6 hours to about 3, butas of August 2026 it has not yet opened<\/strong>\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting around town<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Central Da Lat \u2014 around the Hoa Binh district, Xuan Huong Lake, and the night market \u2014is walkable<\/strong>. That said, Da Lat is a highland town andhas a lot of hills<\/strong>, so wear comfortable walking shoes. Waterfalls, temples, tea plantations, and Lang Biang Mountain are all outside the city center, so you'll need a car or motorbike to reach them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grab (motorbike)<\/th>12,000 dong per km for the first 2km, then 4,000 dong per km after that. Surcharge applies from 11 PM to 6 AM<\/td><\/tr>
Grab (car, 4-seater)<\/th>25,000 dong for the first 2km, then 11,500 dong per km after that<\/td><\/tr>
Motorbike rental<\/th>80,000\u2013150,000 dong a day. However, Japanese international driving permits aren't valid here, so it's best to avoid driving yourself<\/td><\/tr>
Taxi<\/th>Mai Linh, Lado, Th\u1eafng L\u1ee3i, and others<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

* Vietnam is a signatory to the Vienna Convention, so international driving permits issued in Japan (under the Geneva Convention) are not valid there.Riding a rental motorbike would count as driving without a valid license<\/strong>, so we don't recommend it. Use Grab or a taxi instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Da Lat's classic sightseeing spots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We've summed up the representative spots in a quick-reference table. Use it as a guide when planning your route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spot<\/th>Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Crazy House (Hang Nga Guesthouse)<\/td>Fairy-tale organic architecture<\/td><\/tr>
Xuan Huong Lake<\/td>A man-made lake in the center<\/td><\/tr>
Linh Phuoc Pagoda<\/td>A vividly colored temple of glass and ceramic shards<\/td><\/tr>
Datanla Falls<\/td>Waterfalls you descend by coaster<\/td><\/tr>
Prenn Falls<\/td>A wide waterfall on the outskirts<\/td><\/tr>
Flower fields (such as Mai Anh Flower Garden)<\/td>Large-scale highland flower gardens<\/td><\/tr>
Da Lat Old Station<\/td>A retro preserved station building<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Crazy House (Hang Nga Guesthouse)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An organic building begun in 1990 by architect Dang Viet Nga, with almost no right angles. Passageways and stairs shaped like tree trunks, caves, mushrooms, and spiderwebs intertwine intricately, and from the rooftop terrace and suspension bridges you can survey the pine forest and Da Lat's townscape. Built on the theme of coexistence with nature, walking through its maze-like interior is itself a highlight. It's about 5\u201310 minutes by car from the center; to avoid crowds, the morning right after opening is the easiest time to move around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xuan Huong Lake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A crescent-shaped man-made lake in the center of the city, with a lakeside promenade that's a standard course for walking and jogging. Riding a duck-shaped swan boat, you can view the pine forest and townscape from the water. Going around the lake is several kilometers and takes time to walk, so it's recommended to narrow down your aim and enjoy it. Early morning with mist and dusk when the sky takes on color are the photogenic times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linh Phuoc Pagoda<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A temple begun in 1949 and completed in 1953, with walls, pillars, and balustrades covered in fragments of ceramics and glass bottles\u2014also nicknamed the \"Bottle Temple.\" The biggest highlight is a 49-meter-long giant dragon sculpture made using discarded beer bottles and the like, whose intricacy is overwhelming. Several impressive structures, such as a tall bell tower and a giant Buddha statue, are dotted around the grounds. It's about 15\u201320 minutes by car east of the center, and since the grounds are large, visiting in walkable shoes is reassuring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Datanla Falls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A seven-tiered waterfall embraced by pine forest along the Prenn Pass, about 5 kilometers from the center. The biggest appeal is the alpine coaster, whose speed you can control yourself, gliding down about 1 kilometer of rails through the forest toward the falls. You can also descend the stairs on foot to see the falls up close. The coaster is very popular, so to avoid wait times, the early morning is the easiest time to move around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prenn Falls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A wide waterfall on the south side of the city, a few kilometers from Datanla Falls, with a promenade that lets you walk around behind the falls to view them. The surroundings are maintained as a park, where you can stroll leisurely amid the greenery. Since it's near Datanla Falls, combining the two as a waterfall tour is efficient. In the rainy season the water volume increases and the power grows, so its character changes with the seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flower fields (such as Mai Anh Flower Garden)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Taking advantage of the cool highland climate, Da Lat is dotted with large-scale flower gardens gathering roses, hydrangeas, and more, where you can enjoy a variety of flowers at once across spacious grounds including greenhouses. The colorful flower fields are popular as photo spots. Since they're large, checking the garden map before walking makes it easier to get around. The best viewing times differ by variety, so looking up peak-bloom information before your visit will boost your satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Da Lat Old Station<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Characterized by an Art Deco triangular roof, it's one of Vietnam's oldest railway stations, and the retro station building itself is a photo spot. Within the grounds are preserved old-type rail cars, and a short tourist train runs toward nearby Trai Mat. It's close to the center, easy to drop by between town walks. The train operating hours are limited, so if you're thinking of riding, checking the times in advance is reassuring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Da Lat model courses<\/h2>\n\n

Da Lat's sights aregrouped into four clusters<\/strong>. Knowing this layout will cut down on wasted travel time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n