Key Takeaways:
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Da Lat is located 1,500 metres above sea level in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, about 300 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City.
The French established Da Lat as a hill retreat in the early 1900s, and you can see the history in the European-style villas.
Any time you visit Da Lat, the temperatures stay between 15°C and 25°C. Even during the summer season in Vietnam, plan a short trip here for cooler weather. If you are confused about where to go and what to do, read this blog to know about the top things to do in Da Lat.
The Best 15 Things to Do in Da Lat
From mountains and lakes to night markets, the city has activities for people seeking a calm experience and those wanting adventure. This list covers the 15 best things to do in Da Lat that will help you plan your vacation.
1. Valley of Love
- Entrance: Approx 850 INR
- Time: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
The Valley of Love park is a 13-hectare park built around a scenic lake that is located within the park, located about 5 km from the city centre. The park is surrounded by pine trees and has a 3-km walking loop, flower gardens, and a lake.
Activities
- Hire a rowboat or pedal swan boat on the Da Thien Lake.
- Try the green love maze.
- Go horse riding on the track inside the park.
- Buy fresh strawberries and jam near the park entrance.
- Hike the forest hills nearby.
2. Datanla Waterfalls & Alpine Coaster
- Entrance: Approx 300 INR
- Time: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
Datanla is one of the most popular waterfalls in Vietnam, especially for the alpine coaster ride. It is 2,400 metres long and is one of the longest alpine coasters in Vietnam. You can set your own speed with a hand brake.
The water here cascades through layered granite into a pool, but most people visit for the alpine coaster that runs through the pine forest above it.
Activities
- Ride the long 2,400-metre alpine coaster.
- Try the zipline through the tree canopy.
- Book a canyoning session.
- Walk to the base of the main waterfall.
3. Pongour Waterfall
- Entrance: Approx 140 INR
- Time: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Pongour is 50 km south of Da Lat city centre. The falls have seven tiers and are about 40 metres high. During the rainy season, it becomes a powerful stream that flows into a small lake at its base.
Activities
- Take a scenic drive to the falls; the path offers lush coffee and avocado plantations along the way.
- Walk to the base of the seven-tiered falls.
- Photograph the full width of the cascade from the stone viewing platform.
- Go for a barbecue picnic and camp here.
4. Da Lat Night Market
- Entrance: Free
- Time: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Da Lat Night Market is the best place to buy Vietnamese souvenirs with no heavy crowds, unlike the markets in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
The region has little nightlife, so shopping in this market is one of the few things to do in Da Lat at night. There are three zones: a street food section, a clothing and crochet section, and a fresh produce section with strawberries, persimmons, dragon fruit, and artichokes, all grown in Da Lat.
Activities
- Try some of the famous Vietnamese food, such as banh mi, grilled corn, pork, and skewers, at street stalls.
- Buy strawberry and mulberry wine to take home.
- Scan the crochet clothing stalls, watch how the vendors make it and buy winter clothing, knit hats and unique souvenirs.
5. Da Lat Cable Car Ride & Truc Lam Zen Monastery
- Cost: Approx 529 INR for a round-trip cable car ride
- Time: 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
The cable car at Robin Hill runs 2.3 km over pine forest and connects to the Truc Lam Zen Monastery. It sits at 1,600 metres above sea level and offers views of the surrounding highlands, pine forests, and misty valleys.
The Truc Lam is one of the largest active Zen monasteries in Vietnam. It was built in 1994 at the top of Phuong Hoang Mountain with views overlooking the Tuyen Lam Lake.
Activities
- Enjoy the 2.3-kilometre journey from Robin Hill to Truc Lam Zen Monastery.
- Walk through the monastery gardens and courtyards filled with cherry blossoms and ancient bonsai trees.
- Admire the Sakyamuni Buddha statue and wooden carvings inside the 192-square-metre main hall.
- To experience a hike in Vietnam, skip the cable car and take a 30-minute walk along the trail.
6. Crazy House (Hang Nga Guesthouse)
- Cost: Approx 300 INR
- Time: 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM
The Crazy House is a working guesthouse designed by architect Dang Viet Nga, and the construction began in 1990. This is a 1,900-square-metre structure, and you will find no right angles or flat corridors.
The house resembles a giant banyan tree. Inside the rooms are cave-like, with 11 animal-themed guest rooms such as Tiger, Bear, Kangaroo, Ant, Eagle.
Activities
- Go through the 11 themed rooms, which are open during the day for visitors
- Walk through the Garden of Heaven and Garden of Earth sections in the outer compound.
- Spend the night by booking a room to sleep inside the giant tree structure.
- Have coffee at the Craze Coffee shop inside.
7. Da Lat Railway Station and the Train to Trai Mat
- Entrance: Approx. 30 INR for a station visit & the train ticket is approx. 750 for a round trip.
- Time: 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Da Lat Railway Station is located on Quang Trung Street, built between 1932 and 1938. It features an Art Deco design blended with Central Highlands communal house elements, and is highlighted by three roofs representing Langbiang Mountain.
Today, the station operates exclusively for tourism, offering a scenic 7-kilometre vintage train journey through the countryside to the town of Trai Mat.
Activities
- Walk through the station and photograph the Art Deco facade and three-peaked roof.
- Have coffee inside the vintage train carriage cafe on the platform, decorated with vintage lanterns.
- Visit the small museum in the main foyer to learn about the history of the region’s rail services and view original artefacts.
- Take the 7-kilometre train ride in restored carriages from Da Lat to Trai Mat town.
8. Linh Phuoc Pagoda (Ve Chai Pagoda)
- Entrance: Free
- Time: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Linh Phuoc Pagoda is located in the Trai Mat village, 7 km from Da Lat city. It is also known as “Ve Chai” by locals, meaning broken porcelain.
Many temples in Vietnam have unique features, and this pagoda is famous for its mosaic design. This pagoda’s exterior and interior use pieces of broken glass, ceramic tiles, bottles, and porcelain assembled into mosaic murals.
Activities
- Marvel at the 49-metre-long dragon sculpture, creatively crafted from empty glass beer bottles.
- View the 17-metre-tall statue of the Goddess of Mercy (Quan Am), made entirely from 500,000 dried everlasting flowers.
- Write your personal wishes on yellow paper and stick them to the massive 8,500-kilogram bronze bell on the second floor.
- You can take the 30-minute ride on the vintage tourist train from Da Lat Railway Station directly to Trai Mat to visit the pagoda.
9. Da Lat Flower Garden
- Entrance: Approx 360 INR.
- Time: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The Flower Garden is filled with roses, orchids, hydrangeas, sunflowers, cacti, and bonsai. Not just there, you can see over 200 to 300 species of flowers that bloom year-round.
Activities
- Walk through each section of a variety of flowers.
- Take photos with flowers shaped into decorative staircases and water fountains.
- Visit during the Da Lat Flower Festival in December of even-numbered years.
- Buy seeds of your favourite flowers.
- Rent and ride a swan boat on the small, peaceful lake located in the centre of the park.
10. Xuan Huong Lake
- Entrance: Free
- Time: 24 hours
Xuan Huong Lake is an artificial crescent lake situated in the centre of Da Lat. It was built in 1919 by the French colonial administration, which redirected water from the Cam Ly waterfall to fill it.
Activities
- Rent and pedal a swan boat or kayak across the calm waters.
- Take a horse-drawn carriage ride or rent a bicycle to explore the pathways
- Stop at Lam Vien Square on the northern edge, where the glass building is shaped like an artichoke bud.
- Have dinner at waterfront restaurants with lakeside views.
11. Langbiang Mountain
- Entrance: Approx 200 INR & shared jeep ride is approx 750 INR per person
- Time: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM (hiking is strictly allowed only from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM)
Langbiang stands 2,169 metres above sea level, 12 km north of Da Lat city. It is the highest point in the area and gives a 360-degree view of the central highlands on a clear day. The K’Ho ethnic people have lived in the foothills for generations.
Activities
- Trek the 7-kilometre forest trail to the summit, plus you can enjoy pine forests, spot wild orchids, and even see a secret waterfall along the way.
- Visit the K’Ho minority cultural village at the base of the mountain.
- Watch the Gong Show at Langbiang Land, a traditional performance.
- Try go-karting and the rainbow slide at Langbiang Land.
12. Local Coffee Culture and Weasel Coffee
Da Lat is recognised as Vietnam’s premium Arabica coffee capital for the high-altitude conditions and volcanic soil that support varieties such as Moka, Typica, and Bourbon.
Especially, the Weasel coffee is the most famous, as the coffee beans are taken from civets. Asian palm civets eat ripe coffee cherries; the beans ferment during digestion, and the beans are then collected and roasted. This process gives you a lower-acid coffee with an earthy and chocolatey flavour.
Activities
- Witness the entire production process of weasel coffee, from the civets’ feeding to the careful washing, sun-drying, and manual roasting of the beans
- Observe the civets as they selectively eat the highest-quality coffee cherries.
- Taste a freshly brewed cup of weasel coffee.
- Go to Me Linh Coffee Garden for a view over the coffee plantation and the lake.
13. The Sculpture Tunnel
- Entrance: Approx 430 INR.
- Time: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Sculpture Tunnel, also called the Clay Tunnel. Each section covers a different period of Vietnamese history: the Trung Sisters’ revolt against Chinese rule in 40 CE, the Cham Empire period, the French colonial era, K’Ho village life, and traditional highland festivals.
Activities
- See the sculptures of wild animals, monkeys, elephants, and mythical creatures.
- Explore the Infinity Lake, which gives beautiful reflections of pine trees and mountains.
- Dress up like an ethnic group and take pictures.
- Find the Trung Sisters panels near the entrance, displaying Vietnam’s first female military commander.
14. Domaine De Marie Church
- Entrance: Free
- Time: 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM & 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Domaine De Marie Church, built in the 1940s, is a vibrant pink Catholic church that is a popular architectural landmark in Da Lat. The structure blends classic 17th-century European style with the traditional communal-house shapes of the Central Highlands.
Activities
- Look at the unique stained-glass windows and high-pointed roof architecture.
- Walk through the beautifully maintained courtyard filled with colourful flowers.
- Attend a peaceful evening mass with the local Catholic community
- Visit the orphanage and learn about the children, people with disabilities, and you can engage with them.
15. Bao Dai Palace
- Entrance: Approx 180 INR
- Time: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
The Bao Dai Palace served as the summer residence and main workplace for King Bao Dai and his family from 1938 to 1954. It is the estate where the final emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty spent most of his time. Among the three royal palaces in Da Lat, this is the most popular and visited palace among tourists.
Activities
- Walk through the historic interior rooms where King Bao Dai’s family lived and worked.
- See original furniture, telephones, maps, hunting gear, and family photographs from the 20th century.
- Look at the French Art Deco design and the Vietnamese details.
- Rent royal costumes for themed photographs inside the palace grounds.
Conclusion
Da Lat is one of the most refreshing and nature-filled destinations, offering cool, lush plantations and adventure activities in Vietnam. From waterfalls and mountain views to coffee farms and night markets, the city has something for every traveller. It is ideal for visitors looking for a relaxing break from Vietnam’s crowded cities.
To visit Da Lat or include unique places like this on your trip, Contact Dimaak Tours. We help you create your customised itinerary, book flights and accommodation, and guide you throughout your vacation.
FAQs on The Best Things to Do in Da Lat
1. How many days are enough for Da Lat?
A 2- to 4-day trip is ideal for visiting major attractions, doing adventurous activities, and planning day trips.
2. What are the adventure activities in Da Lat?
Top adventure activities include Alpine Coaster, canyoning, ziplining, trekking on Langbiang Mountain, and hiking waterfalls.
3. Is Da Lat cold for Indian travellers?
Yes, compared to most Indian cities or even the Vietnamese cities, Da Lat feels cool. Evenings and mornings can be cold, so carry jackets when stepping out.
