At the flower garden \u201cCao Nguyen Hoa\u201d in the highland city of Da Lat, Vietnam, a gravity kart that descends slopes using only brakes and steering\u2014without an engine\u2014is spreading widely on TikTok as a \u201creal-life Mario Kart.\u201d The power is all gravity. Footage of it descending paved slopes in one go while dodging hairpins and obstacles is being played around the world, and it\u2019s becoming a new attraction of Da Lat sightseeing. Admission is 100,000 dong (about 570 yen), with plenty of highlights too, such as flower fields and a cliff-edge infinity pool.<\/p>\n
This kart has no engine. Once released at the top of the slope, the mechanism keeps it descending on gravity alone. Control is by two hand brakes (left for the front wheels, right for the rear wheels) and a steering bar. If you gather too much speed, you pull the brakes to slow down before the successive hairpins. The course is fully paved, with cushions to soften impacts placed at various points. Since each group starts separately, it plays out just like a game\u2014overtaking the kart ahead, dodging someone who ran wide on a hairpin, and so on.<\/p>\n
The course is built to descend an undulating slope in succession, with sharp curves and exhilarating straights appearing in turn. \u201cChicane\u201d-like obstacles are also placed, giving a thrill of not knowing what awaits beyond. Since speed changes with the angle you steer and how you pull the brakes, a trade-off arises between attacking and going safely. This very experience was hailed as \u201cMario Kart itself,\u201d leading to its spread on TikTok. A post by video creator cocolastic9 has been picked up on overseas media\u2019s TikTok as well.<\/p>\n
Cao Nguyen Hoa\u2019s admission is 100,000 dong. Da Lat International Airport (DLI) is the nearest, easy to head to from the city. Here\u2019s a summary of the basics.<\/p>\n
| Item<\/th>\n | Details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n |
|---|---|
| Venue name<\/td>\n | Cao Nguyen Hoa (flower garden)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Location<\/td>\n | Da Lat, Vietnam (nearest: Da Lat International Airport, DLI)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Admission<\/td>\n | 100,000 dong (about 570 yen)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Kart<\/td>\n | No engine, descends on gravity \/ two hand brakes front and rear + steering<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Course<\/td>\n | Fully paved with cushions \/ a continuous downhill slope<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Spread<\/td>\n | Buzzing on TikTok as a \u201creal-life Mario Kart\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n |