Da Lat
A French Hill Station Founded In 1893 As A Cool Retreat From The Lowland Heat, Known As The City Of Eternal Spring. Pine Forests, Flower Gardens, Colonial Villas, The Crazy House, Xuan Huong Lake And Nearby Waterfalls, Coffee Plantations And Canyoning. · Da Lat, Lam Dong
Da Lat is a highland city at about 1,500 m in the Central Highlands, founded by the French in 1893 as a cool retreat from the lowland heat. Days are mild at roughly 15-25 C and nights are cold, which is why Vietnamese visitors come for pine forests, flower farms, strawberries and artichoke tea. The centre is Xuan Huong Lake, with swan-shaped pedal boats, French villas on the hills, the Art Deco railway station of 1938 and the Bao Dai Summer Palace. Nearby are waterfalls, the Truc Lam Zen Monastery, coffee plantations and canyoning. Be honest with yourself: several attractions are kitsch, crowded on weekends and built for photographs, and the city has grown fast, with heavy motorbike traffic and many hotels. Lien Khuong airport is about 30 km away, with flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang, or take a 6-8 hour bus from Ho Chi Minh City. Come for the cool air, the lake walks and the food, and treat the famous sights as short stops, not the whole reason to go. Allow two or three days and plan around the weather.
Highland city at about 1,500 m in the Central Highlands, about 300 km north-east of Ho Chi Minh City, with Xuan Huong Lake at its centre, Da Lat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
The city never closes, and the lake and streets are open all day. Most sights open in the morning and shut in the late afternoon, and the Crazy House, palaces and gardens charge a modest ticket. The night market runs from dusk until late and is free to walk. Pagodas close for a midday rest. Confirm hours locally.