Let Vietnam Trails Travel walk you through All Things You Need To Know Before Traveling To Dalat if you’re organising a trip and want to make the most of your time there. We have all the advice and insights to help you manage the ideal vacation, from popular tourist attractions to getting all the tips for travel in Dalat.
I. Dalat overview
1. Geographic Location
- Location: Lam Dong Province, Vietnam.
- Area: 394,64 km²
- Population: 240.092 (2023)
- Elevation: 1,500 m
- Region: Central Highlands, Vietnam
- Website: https://dalat.lamdong.gov.vn/
- Map: Dalat
Located in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Dalat is the provincial capital of Lam Dong province and the largest city on Lam Vien plateau. The indigenous Lach, Chil, and Sre people of the Co Ho people formerly lived in this region. At the close of the nineteenth century, Governor-General Paul Doumer chose the Lam Vien plateau to construct French resorts in Indochina on the advice of Dr. Alexandre Yersin, who had visited Dalat in 1983 to investigate the area.
The French planned and built a lovely metropolis filled with houses, offices, hotels, and schools in the first half of the twentieth century. Dalat went from being a little-visited town to a significant Indochina tourism and education hub. After surviving two wars and the tough 70s and 80s, Dalat is today a bustling metropolis vital to Lam Dong province’s economy and culture.
Dalat enjoys a pleasant and warm temperature thanks to its elevation of around 1500 metres above sea level and its proximity to mountains and forest vegetation. The city’s rich history and exquisite architectural legacy have earned it the title of a 20th-century European architectural masterpiece.
There are hundreds of temples, churches, and monasteries in Dalat, a city of many religions, and the surrounding agricultural area is rich in vegetable and floral products. So, Dalat is one of Vietnam’s most well-known tourist spots, drawing in millions of visitors annually thanks to its abundance of natural resources.
Dalat has various epithets due to its pleasant weather, picturesque scenery, and abundance of historic buildings; these include “The City of Mist,” “The City of Thousand Pines,” “Cherry Blossom Country,” and “Little Paris.”
2. How to get to Dalat from Ho Chi Minh City?
Bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat
Taking a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat is the quickest and least expensive way. Depending on your chosen service, the trip can take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours. Buses to Dalat leave from Ho Chi Minh City frequently, both during the day and at night. Another affordable luxury service option is using a luxury van or limousine.
It costs between 375,000 and 540,000 VND ($15 to $22). Several reputable companies like Techbus, The Sinh Tourist, and Phuong Trang (Futa) operate this route, providing day and night services.
Dalat from Ho Chi Minh by air
Travelling by plane from Saigon to Da Lat is the quickest alternative. A flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat only takes around 30 minutes and costs about $20. Vietjet Air and Vietnam Airlines offer daily flights from which you can choose. When arriving at Dalat Airport, a 45-minute bus ride can take you to the city center.
Ho Chi Minh to Dalat by train
Even though the Dalat Train station is closed, you can still take a train. You can take a train from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang, which takes 7 to 9.5 hours and costs between 200,000 VND and 600,000 VND.
Stations:
- Saigon Railway station is located in 01 Nguyen Thong, ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh city.
- Nha Trang Railway station is located at 17 Thai Nguyen, Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa.
Then, from Nha Trang, catch a bus to Dalat. It takes 3 hours and costs from 120,000 to 160,000 VND. Several reputable companies like Phuong Trang, Techbus, Hanh Cafe, Duc Duong,..
However, this is a method that very few travelers opt for because it is time-consuming and costly. Taking the Nha Trang City Tour Full Day and then travelling to Dalat would be more convenient.
Taxi from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat
A taxi from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat offers a private and direct mode of transportation. With a travel time of approximately five hours, this option is ideal for larger groups or those willing to splurge for a more luxurious experience. However, the higher cost is around $130. Because of high price tag, this is best reserved for large groups travelling together.
Ho Chi Minh to Dalat by motorbike
You must plan far in advance if you want to take a motorbike from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat. We only advise taking this trip if you are confident in both the route and your driving abilities, given the 300km distance and occasionally treacherous driving conditions.
Read more: How Can Get From Ho Chi Minh to Dalat?
II. Weather in Dalat
1. Climate
With a dry season from December to March and a rainy season from May to October, with April and November serving as transition months, Dalat has a subtropical climate influenced by altitude. At the highest altitude in Vietnam, Da Lat is a significant city known for its consistently warmer climate than other Vietnamese cities, earning it the moniker “city of eternal spring.”
All year round, fog can form; in the winter, it can occur at night and early morning. During the rainy season, especially in September and October, fog might persist.
The winter months of December through February are bright and warm. The nights are generally calm, though occasionally they can get a little chilly—the temperature might dip as low as 5/6 °C (41/43 °F). However, the temperature starts to climb by mid-February, and the warmest months of the year are March through May. The temperature can get as high as 29/30 °C (84/86 °F) in April and May. Rainfall increases in April, even if the monsoon hasn’t yet reached its destination.
The monsoon season, which lasts from May to October, is characterised by heavy, regular rainfall, slightly chilly daytime temperatures, and high humidity. Floods can occasionally be caused by rain. Although the monsoon rains become less frequent in November, typhoons can still make landfall.
Typhoons, or Southeast Asian tropical cyclones, can affect Dalat, though it is important to note that the coast is the most vulnerable region. Typhoons usually come through this area in late April or early May (less frequently and usually not very severe), and in early September or early December, usually ending on December 10.
2. Best Time to Visit
During the dry season, December to March is the best time to visit Dalat. It can feel chilly at night, particularly from mid-December to late February. From January to December, you can check our climate chart for Dalat weather by the month below.
[chart_climate id=11262]
III. Best Dalat Dishes
1. Banh mi xiu mai
Vietnamese banh mi is commonly known as a sandwich, but trying banh mi xiu mai will introduce you to a new way to eat banh mi baguettes. It’s only a loaf of banh mi and a steaming hot bowl of meatballs, but the flavour combination will wow you.
Once consumed, break up the banh mi into small pieces and dip them into the sauce bowl. Taste the meatball for flavour and texture; you’ll have the ideal breakfast treat. A speciality and a must-try in Dalat’s chilly, foggy weather is banh mi xiu mai.
2. Banh trang nuong
Banh trang nuong is referred to as Vietnamese pizza. This delicacy merits a spot on the culinary map due to its tasty and inventive pairing. A sheet of rice paper is chargrilled till it crisps up. A cracked quail egg or chicken egg is then placed on top, followed by additional toppings such dried shrimp, a cube of laughing cow cheese, green onions, and fried shallots.
After that, it is rolled up and covered in paper so your hands won’t burn as you handle and eat it on the go. You will experience an explosion of flavours in your mouth from the first bite. We can’t stress enough how good this street cuisine is.
3. Banh can
A popular breakfast option, banh can is incredibly light and straightforward, but elegant enough to leave a positive impression on anyone who eats it. A spoon of water and rice flour is poured into a spherical clay pot with small bowl-sized holes, and the rice is cooked only until it’s tender.
Your selected toppings will then be added. Traditionally, the centre of the cake is cracked open to reveal a quail egg, resembling a small sun beaming down from a white cloud. For your banh can, in addition to quail eggs, you can get chicken eggs, meat, prawns or a combination of them.
A tiny bowl of mixed fish sauce is provided beside the banh can. Fish sauce, ground peanuts, and chilies are added after it has been cooked to remove any remaining fishy aroma. Mam nem, a stronger sauce made from fermented fish sauce combined with pineapples, pan-grilled rice powder, and other seasonings to produce a well-balanced flavour, is preferred by some residents. When eating, you take a bite out of a newly cooked rice cake and dip it into the sauce.
4. Banh Uot Long Ga
We cannot discuss Dalat native cuisine without mentioning Banh Uot Long Ga. The dish consists of bite-sized portions of steamed rice sheets seasoned with dried shallots, sliced onions, and chopped green herbs. These are consumed with young chicken eggs, shredded chicken flesh, and cooked chicken organs.
The chicken organs are carefully prepared and cooked, but you can request their removal if you’d rather not. The vinegar dressing, which is subtly tangy and sweet and genuinely awakens the palate, is the highlight of this dish.
5. Lau Ga La E
Nothing beats a boiling hotpot in Dalat’s chilly nighttime weather. The Lau ga la e (hotpots with chicken and lemon basil leaves) of Dalat are quite well-known among the locals. Native to the area, lemon basil has a distinct lemon, mint, and basil scent. They are frequently used in cooking, which makes sense given their complex floral sense. The chicken will be marinated in lemon basil leaf paste and then cooked gently in a clay pot with broth of lemon basil and lemongrass.
The chef directly cooks the soup on a tiny stove at the table and adds rice noodles and mushrooms as we go. It’s an interesting gathering food to try in the foggy city of Dalat, with the excellent chicken, hot soup, and herbal warmth generated from the ingredients blending wonderfully with the local temperature.
6. Kem Bo
We finished our Dalat cuisine tour with a delightful dessert called kem bo, or avocado ice cream. The main agricultural product of Dalat, avocados, is finely pureed into a mushy texture. After that, a scoop of vanilla or coconut ice cream is added. When paired with sweet ice cream, the avocado smoothie’s creamy foundation would make for the most delicious dessert you have ever had.
Read more: Top 15 Dalat best dishes must try
IV. Airport and Train Station
1. Lien Khuong Airport
- Address: Highway 20, Lien Nghia, Duc Trong, Lam Dong
- Code: (IATA: DLI, ICAO: VVDL)
- Phone: 0263 3843 373
- Hub for: Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airlines
Situated around 30 kilometres south of Dalat City, Lien Khuong Airport (Dalat Airport) occupies an area of 14,000 square metres. The airport features a single runway that is 3,048 metres long and 45 metres wide. It can handle a variety of aircraft, such as the Boeing 767 and Airbus A321. Dalat Airport has the potential to accommodate two million people annually.
When arriving at Dalat Airport, you can choose from various transportation options such as taxis, buses, and car rentals to reach city. The travel time from the airport to the city center typically takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
2. Dalat Railway Station
- Address: 1 Quang Trung, Ward 10, Dalat City, Lam Dong province
- Opening hours: 7 AM – 5 PM
- Ticket prices: 170,000 VND/ round trip
In addition to being a stunning example of Dalat City’s architectural masterwork, Dalat Train Station is significant in the annals of Vietnam’s railway history.
Designed by French architects Moncet and Revéron, the station was constructed between 1932 and 1938. The Dalat Train Station was a link between Dalat and Phan Rang on the Thap Cham – Dalat railway route. The station is still a popular tourist destination even though it is no longer a part of Vietnam’s national railway network. This location showcases a vintage steam locomotive and a carriage-based café.
The Dalat Railway Station is currently employed as a popular tourist destination, and the only transfer it offers is the 7-kilometer trip from Dalat to Trai Mat, where visitors can visit the Linh Phuoc Pagoda.
The Dalat Railway Station itinerary includes five trains that run daily between Dalat and Trai Mat, with the following time slots: 7:15 am – 9:15 am; 9:20 am – 11:20 am; 11:55 am – 1:25 pm; 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm and 4:50 pm – 5:35 pm.
V. Dalat City Tour Itinerary
8:00 AM: Start at Datanla Waterfall
- Address: Highway 20 Prenn Pass, Ward 3, Da Lat City, Lam Dong
- Ticket Price: 100,000 – 220,000 VND
You will be picked up from hotel by guide & private car for Dalat city tour a day. Our destination is the Datanla Waterfall. This site is well-known for its lovely natural surroundings and ease of accessibility. Amidst verdant foliage, Datanla presents a sequence of little, tumbling waterfalls that foster a serene atmosphere.
Walking along the paths is one option, but you may also choose more daring pursuits like riding a roller coaster through the forest or taking a cable car ride that gives you a bird’s-eye perspective of the surrounding landscape and waterfalls.
10:00 AM: Visit Truc Lam Pagoda
- Address: Phung Hoang Mountain, Ward 3, Da Lat City, Lam Dong, Vietnam
- Ticket Price: Free (donations accepted)
Situated on a hilltop next to Tuyen Lam Lake, Truc Lam Pagoda is among the biggest Buddhist temples in Vietnam. The grounds of the temple are open for exploration; they include well-kept gardens and authentic Vietnamese Buddhist buildings.
It’s a well-liked location for introspection and meditation because of the serene surroundings. In addition, the hilltop site provides sweeping views of Dalat and verdant surroundings.
11:00 AM: Visit Tuyen Lam Lake
- Address: Ward 4, Da Lat City, Lam Dong, Vietnam
- Ticket Price: Free
Tuyen Lam Lake, a calm body of water that perfectly embodies Dalat’s tranquillity, is our next stop. The hills and pine forests that encircle the lake provide a lovely backdrop ideal for unwinding.
Take a boat trip on the lake for a tranquil way to take in the beautiful scenery and serene ambience. Many routes wind through the surrounding forest and by the lake, making the region around Tuyen Lam Lake an excellent place to go hiking.
12:30 PM: Lunch at a local seafood restaurant
Savour a typical Vietnamese lunch at a nearby eatery, eating dishes from Dalat, renowned for its fresh produce and distinctive flavours. Here are a few eateries you may consider:
1. Goc Ha Thanh Restaurant
Address: 51 Truong Cong Dinh Street, Ward 1, Dalat City, Lam Dong
Price Range: $5 – $15 per person
2. V Cafe (Vegetarian Restaurant)
Address: 17 Bui Thi Xuan, Ward 2, Dalat, Vietnam
Price Range: $5 – $20 per person
3. Banh Canh Xuan An
Address: 15b Nha Chung, Ward 3, Dalat, Vietnam
Price Range: $1 – $5 per person
1:30 PM: Visit Summer Palace of Bao Dai
- Address: 1 Trieu Viet Vuong Street, Ward 4, Da Lat City, Lam Dong, Vietnam
- Ticket Price: Adults: 30,000 VND/ticket; Children (under 1m2): 15,000 VND/ticket
After lunch, you will go to the Summer Palace of Vietnam’s last emperor, Bao Dai. This historical landmark depicts the opulent 20th-century Vietnamese royal lifestyle.
A large portion of the palace’s original furnishings and royal relics remain. You are welcome to explore the palace’s different rooms, each of which narrates a different aspect of Bao Dai’s rule and way of life. Beautiful grounds encircle the palace, offering a tranquil place to stroll and enjoy Dalat’s views.
2:45 PM: Visit Dalat Flower Garden
- Address: 02 Tran Nhan Tong, Ward 8, Da Lat City, Lam Dong, Vietnam
- Ticket Price: Adults: 80,000 VND/ticket; Children (from 1m2 to 1m4): 30,000 VND/ticket and Children (under 1m2): free
Then proceed to the Dalat Flower Garden, which has a wide variety of flowers and plants and occupies an area of more than 7,000 square metres. With colourful blooms that are present for almost the entire year, this garden is a highlight for anybody who enjoys nature and photography.
The garden’s well-kept paths make it simple to stroll around and take in the different areas, which feature exotic flora like roses and orchids. The garden is a great place to take pictures since it provides stunning views of Xuan Huong Lake.
4:00 PM: Visit Crazy House
- Address: 03 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Ward 4, Da Lat City, Lam Dong, Vietnam
- Ticket Price: 150,000 VND
The Crazy House, a distinctive and well-known example of Vietnamese inventive building, is the destination for the day’s last trip. This bizarre home, created by architect Dang Viet Nga, has intricate sculptures, twisted patterns, and organic forms.
Discovering its unique chambers and stairs will amaze you as the design takes cues from fairy tales and the natural world. One of the themed rooms is also available for overnight stays, making for an incredibly unique experience in this colourful structure.
5:30 PM Return to hotel
In addition, many tours also travel to Muine, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh,… These tours are typically full-day or 2 – 3 days and can be booked through local travel agents or hotels.
Below are some tours we recommend to you:
- Dalat To Muine tour 1 day
- Dalat To Nha Trang tour 1 day
- Dalat – Muine – Nha Trang tour 3days 2 nights
- Dalat tour 3 days from Ho Chi Minh
VI. Getting around in Dalat
Bicycle Rental
Dalat is best explored on a bicycle. Bicycles for hire are located outside Lotteria and just down from the town’s main markets. Cycle around the lake, where you’ll find eateries, coffee shops, and plenty of photo chances, is a simple ride. Next, ascend the hills and stroll through the historic streets, you’ll come across numerous undiscovered treasures.
Motorbike Rental
The sole means of transportation available to the daring is via motorbike. There are plenty of places to rent motorbikes; however, note that the rental firm will not forbid you from renting one if you have a valid Vietnamese driver’s licence. There’s a significant chance your travel insurance provider won’t cover you in an accident if you don’t have a licence.
Make sure a helmet is included if you hire a bike because they are required and can save lives. And remember that even in the best circumstances, the roads can be dangerous, chaotic, and full of potholes. Travel slowly, ride cautiously, and dress in long sleeves, long pants, and shoes—not flip flops.
You may experience a different aspect of the city and explore the mountains just ten minutes from the town centre. Bicycles and motorbikes can be rented at the exact location, close to Lotteria and Dalat markets.
Bus
Dalat has an excellent local transit system and is a well-planned city. Bus set out for different settlements in different directions. The buses are reasonably priced, air-conditioned, and pleasant. Besides, check the schedule and don’t get caught up on your return trip because services start early and end early. You can see all you require on the route map that is included.
Taxi
Like the rest of Vietnam, Dalat has an abundance of inexpensive, dependable taxis. They usually roam the streets, so give them a wave and they will take you to your next location. Every cab has a metre, and the drivers are well-groomed with their names displayed on the dashboard. A price for transportation to and from the airport should be negotiated, or your hotel can handle it. The green taxis you see are Mai Linh taxis, which provide excellent service.
- Mai Linh Taxi: 063 38383838
- Vina Gold Taxi: 063 3866866
- Lado Taxi: 063 3666777
Motorbike taxi
Using a motorbike taxi, or XE ÔM as they are called, is one of the most convenient ways to go around Dalat. These guys can be found on most corners around the city. Remember that they are not affiliated with a taxi company and operate independently, so make sure to bargain ahead of time and bring the appropriate cash, as they rarely seem to have spares.
VII. Conclusion
Dalat is a lovely place with enough to offer everyone, including mouthwatering food, a lively nightlife, and breathtaking natural scenery and historical landmarks.
In order to enjoy the ideal weather for your activities, don’t forget to schedule your visit according to the season. Last but not least, to make the most of your trip to this stunning Vietnamese city, remember to sample the local cuisine and mingle with the amiable locals.
Discovering Dalat may be an amazing journey that leaves guests with priceless memories and a profound respect for this distinctive seaside city.
