Da Lat: A City of Love

Da Lat (or Dalat) is the capital of the Lam Dong province in Vietnam and has a population of a little over 200,000 people. It is located in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and with its elevation of 4,900 ft (1,500 m) its weather is significantly cooler than most other parts of tropical Vietnam. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly among the Vietnamese themselves. A Vietnamese friend once told me that Da Lat is “a city of love,” and with its mist covered mountains, French colonial architecture, and plethora of cozy cafes, it is not difficult to understand why. 

What to See

Da Lat Cathedral

At the center of Da Lat is the beautiful Xuan Huong Lake. Walking along the lake gives you stunning views of Da Lat and its surrounding areas. There are a few restaurants along the lake if you want a relaxing place to sit and enjoy a meal. For the more active, swam-shaped boats can be rented and taken out on Xuan Huong Lake, although Sarah and I chose to skip this.

While roaming around Da Lat’s city centre, you are unlikely to miss the high-rising Da Lat Cathedral. It is known locally as “Cock Church” in honor of the man-made rooster standing at the very tip of the church on the beautiful bell tower. The priest and staff are very friendly and welcoming. There are numerous Mass services held here throughout the week, and we attended one of the 5:00 pm services while in Da Lat. The inside of the church is beautiful, and although the services are all held in Vietnamese, it is a beautiful and interesting event to experience.

If you are interested in architecture or are a fan of Walt Disney, check out Hang Nga Guesthouse, popularly known among locals and tourists as the “Crazy House.” Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga is the creator of this beautiful piece of art. Many people compare the design of this building to artists such as Walt Disney and Salvador Dali. This magical building incorporates things such as caves, giant spider webs, stairs leading to the sky, bridges, mushrooms, giant animal sculptures, and trees in its beautiful and incredibly complex design. For 35,000 VND you can explore the Crazy House, and if you are willing to pay the price you can even stay a night or two in one of the spectacular rooms scattered around the building. This is a fun  and unique place and, at minimum, will produce many humorous pictures!

Crazy House

Easy Riders

If you visit Da Lat, you will undoubtably run into many Easy Riders enthusiastically offering you tours to pretty much anywhere in or around Da Lat. Easy Riders is a group of local tour guides who provide tours of various cities in Vietnam via the backs of their motorcycles. It is a way to travel “off the beaten track” and see the beautiful views Vietnam offers firsthand. Da Lat is the birth place of Easy Riders, and you cannot walk more than a few minutes without running into one. They offer tours through the Central Highlands, the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh Trails, and more. They can even take you to the next city you are heading to if you want to make it into a two or three day excursion. They also do shorter and simpler day trips to nearby waterfalls or villages. Their prices are usually pretty reasonable, and they can be bargained with to reach a happy medium. If you need more convincing, you will more than likely be presented with a binder full of pictures from past tours and notes from previous clients saying how wonderful their experience was. In the end, Sarah and I decided not to do one of these tours, but it could be a fun way to spend a day or two if you have the extra time and money!

Where to Eat

In the city centre of Da Lat

There is no shortage of places to dine in Da Lat. Many cute French style restaurants line the streets, most complete with free pots of tea and soothing European music playing in the background. There are numerous bakeries scattered around Da Lat, and most pastries they sell are surprisingly good. Sarah and I both developed an addiction to the miniature loaves of banana bread sold at several bakeries around town (for remarkably cheap prices!). One budget restaurant that we particularly loved, but unfortunately only discovered during our last couple of days in Da Lat, is Peace Cafe. Peace Cafe, not to be confused with the nearby Peace Restaurant, is located at 64 Truong Cong Dinh and occupies the bottom floor of a family run hotel. There is a book exchange here, and the menu is full of both Vietnamese and Western dishes for cheap prices. I particularly loved the pancakes (which, unlike the crepe-like things misleadingly called pancakes at most eateries in Asia, could legitimately classify as a pancake). Definitely stop in here if you are looking for cheap, tasty, and filling food!

There are also several unique foods produced and sold in Da Lat. One of my favorites was the artichoke tea sold at many tea shops throughout Da Lat. It tastes unusual but good! It’s a fun thing to try and could be a unique thing to bring home to family or friends. Another popular thing produced in Da Lat is fruit preserves. Some of the most popular types include strawberry preserves and raspberry preserves. They look delicious and can be incorporated into many different recipes if you have room in your bag and aren’t traveling for much longer! 

View of Da Lat from "Crazy House"

These are just a few of the highlights of Da Lat and the many possibilities it offers its visitors. The overall feel of the city is very laid back and quaint. With its chilly weather and French architecture, it gives off a very strong European vibe. At one point, I glanced down one of the streets and suddenly felt as if I was looking down a strikingly similar road I had once walked down in Edinburgh, Scotland. Spending just a few days in Da Lat made me feel incredibly nostalgic of my time in Europe and reminded me of how much I love and miss it there (and convinced me that a trip back is needed in the very near future!). Needless to say, if you’d like to see some of the beautiful mountains in Vietnam and get a little break from the hectic and bustling lifestyle of Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat may be the perfect option for you!