The city of Dalat Vietnam is proud of as the best mountain resort in the country. The main advantages of a small town with a population of just over 400 thousand people are the unique mountain climate, a large number of natural attractions. Dalat is not without reason called “Vietnam’s Switzerland” and the city of “Eternal Spring”, “A Thousand flowers”.
History and development of Dalat
The capital of Lamdong Province is one of the youngest cities in Vietnam. The unique location of the valley among the mountains at an altitude of 1500 meters attracted French travelers. One of them, the doctor Alexander Yersen, in 1887 drew attention to the similarity of the healing air and cool climate with the French Alps.
The first hotel for French people to relax from the hot climate of the sea coast was built in 1907. After its official foundation (1912), the city of Dalat in Vietnam was formed in its current shape by 1917. The advantages of the resort were also appreciated by the Vietnamese nobility. After the construction of the summer residence of the Vietnamese Emperor Bao Dai, mansions of Vietnamese aristocrats were built in the city. A railway was built to Tapcham (1928). The city center is characterized by provincial Alpine architecture. The “French Quarter”is still completely preserved.
The Vietnam War spared Dalat. There were no bombings, shelling, or mining operations in the city, and not a single city building was damaged. Dalat is just 137 kilometers away from the popular Nha Trang city. Easy access to Dalat from Mui Ne (160 km), Ho Chi Minh City (300 km). There is practically no industry in the city, the population is busy serving tourists and farming. When you first look at Dalat from the mountain pass, the number of greenhouses is amazing.
An attractive feature of the city of Dalat has become a huge number of flowers that can be found on all city streets, flower beds, house walls and fences. The tourist focus of the resort is best seen in the abundance of hotels. They can be found in Dalat for every taste — in European and Vietnamese style. You can stay in a Vietnamese hotel for $15 – $20, a night in a comfortable European hotel costs $30 – $50. Difficulties with the settlement occur only during the New Year holidays.
Historical and natural attractions
When visiting the city of Dalat in Vietnam, photos of natural attractions will remain the best memory. There are Pongur and Prenn waterfalls, Prenn Nature Park, the Valley of Love (written in Vietnamese on signs as Thung Lung Tinh Yeu),”Golden Valley”.
For more information, Longbyan Mountain and Datanla Waterfall are worth a stop. The waterfall closest to the city (5 km) consists of a cascade of spillways. A cable car runs along them. The entire area near the waterfall has been turned into a cultural park. From the observation deck of Mount Longbya, you can enjoy the best views of Dalat and the picturesque surroundings of the city. The mountain can be reached in a 20-minute motorcycle taxi ride.
In the Dalat advertisement, photos of the Crazy House Hotel and the original Cathedral take center stage. In the city itself, the mandatory program for travelers includes visits to the most beautiful railway station in Vietnam (there is a tourist train). Also of interest are the Lin Phuoc Pagodas, Lam Ty Ni, Su Nu, the Emperor’s residence, the Lam Dong Museum of Local Lore, and the Virgin Mary Monastery.
Learn more about the sights of Dalat.
Public transport links
From Dalat, you can take a bus to any major city in the country. In the city itself, commuter buses run on unattractive routes for foreigners to Vietnamese residential areas. It is better to get to natural and historical sights by city taxi or motorcycle taxi. Compared to passenger cars, motorcycle taxis are twice as cheap ($ 1-1.5 to nearby attractions).
With an air-conditioned taxi driver, you can arrange a day tour service for $25-30. Bike rental is not recommended for tourists, the hilly city is full of descents and ascents, driving on which is physically exhausting, and the Vietnamese traffic without rules also adds extreme dubious pleasure.
For young travelers with a driver’s license, it is popular to rent scooters, the daily cost of which is standard for the whole of Vietnam ($7-10). But on twisty roads, you need to be careful, drive slowly. Most of the nearby attractions can be reached in 15 – 30 minutes on foot. The” Hill of Dreams”, from which you can see the city, is lifted by a cable car.
Climate, seasonal weather in Dalat
The climate of Dalat, although considered sub-equatorial, is characterized by a small fluctuation in average monthly temperatures (from +23 °C to +27 °C).
The period from April to October is considered rainy. Round-the-clock rains are extremely rare, showers end in 2-3 hours. The healing air is not polluted by smog or industrial gases, but there are no sanatorium-type boarding houses for lung patients in the city.
In any season, vacationers should be prepared for cold nights for Vietnam (from +11 °C to +16 °C), heating and air conditioning are rare in hotels. Therefore, tourists from the sea coast need to take warmer things with them.
The high season in Dalat is considered to be December – April and New Year (“Thet”) according to the Vietnamese calendar (end of January-beginning of February), when hotel prices double. People from the CIS countries are comfortable in Dalat at any time of the year, if you prepare for cool nights.
Cuisine of the city — where to eat delicious food
The Dalat is very popular throughout Southeast Asia. The mountain resort, famous for its flower park and excellent golf courses, is well-liked by wealthy Vietnamese and people from Europe. The cool climate and fame of the city of artists and musicians have made Dalat one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in Vietnam. Therefore, the city’s cafes and restaurants offer Asian, European, and Vietnamese cuisines.
Despite the generally accepted cheapness of food in Vietnam, the best cafes and restaurants in Dalat do not have low prices. The cost of lunch or dinner increases due to excellent service, cozy interiors, European dishes. The waiters of the city are not familiar with the Russian language, but it is quite possible to communicate with them in English. Names and short descriptions of local dishes in English are common in good restaurants.
Duong Len Trang
The most interesting restaurant in Dalat, many visitors consider the institution Duong Len Trang. A separate building of the institution consists of several halls with different design, connected by stairs, passages, narrow passages that imitate cave holes.
For many visitors, a tour of the restaurant is already interesting, which is distinguished by the originality of the interiors. Separate rooms are decorated in the form of rock or forest grottoes, underwater caves, view balconies, and a garden on the roof. A small assortment of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), a small set of snacks does not spoil the romantic mood of the guests.
Address: 57 Phan Boi Chau St, Dalat.
One More Cafe
Of the small cafes in the first place among Russian-speaking foreigners is “One More Cafe”, which is located in the city center. From dense European dishes, you can eat several types of spaghetti, scrambled eggs with bacon, Caesar salad (served in large portions). All visitors praise the desserts, among which carrot cake, cakes, pastries, and fresh mango smoothies stand out. Lunch for two at a comfortable table with flowers will cost 220,000-260,000 VND ($9 – $11).
Address: 77 Hai Ba Trung Street, Dalat, Vietnam.
Artist Alley Restaurant
Lovers of originality are happy to visit this restaurant. It’s not easy to find him in the French Quarter alley, but taxi drivers know him well. The design interior of the two floors of the restaurant is designed in a French retro style, combining dining rooms with an art gallery.
The menu offers French (garlic bread, fish dishes, pumpkin soup) and Vietnamese cuisine. In the evenings, a guitarist or a small orchestra plays in the cafe, but many visitors consider the service to be unhurried. Among Vietnamese dishes, guests put “fish in a pot”in the first place.
Address: 124/1 Phan Dinh Phung, Dalat 670000 Vietnam.
An cafe
From the cafe for breakfast and lunch can be noted “En Cafe”. A separate mansion with a Russian owner is strewn with flowers, children’s swings, designer decorations. Noting a good chef, a large range of drinks, visitors consider the choice of dishes, which are usually 4 — 6 on the menu, insufficient.Desserts and excellent coffee received high marks.
Address: 63 Bis, Ba Thang Hai Street, Dalat.
Ganesh Indian Restaurant
When visiting Dalat, lovers of Asian cuisine can not pass by the Indian restaurant. In the halls, the Indian atmosphere is supported by illuminated openwork arches, paintings and mosaics on the walls. The menu is dominated by Indian cuisine, but features dishes from other Asian countries and Vietnam.
Travelers especially enjoy a variety of lamb dishes, grilled cheeses, chicken tikka masala. Experts in India compare ” Ganesh “with good Indian restaurants in Bombay and Calcutta. The menu can be viewed on the official website of the restaurant — www.ganesh.vn.
Address: 1F Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Dalat 670000 Vietnam.
How to get from Nha Trang to Dalat on your own and with a guided tour
The most convenient way to get from Nha Trang to Dalat is by rented bike or bus. How to get there by bike is probably not worth describing – the Google map will lead the right way.
Daily rental of light transport ($6-9), which is approximately equal to the cost of a bus ticket from Nha Trang, but mobility allows you to see much more interesting things. The road is quite difficult, although beginners can also take it. You need to prepare for the path, there is a high risk of falling on mountain serpentines, so you need to rent a helmet, protective shields and gloves.
In windy or rainy weather, the risk increases, so it is better to postpone the trip from Nha Trang (or another city) to Dalat for another day. Without breaking the rules, the police can not be afraid, it is extremely rare to stop white-skinned foreigners. The main restrictions are driving without a helmet and speeding in cities.
By Bus
The Nha Trang-Dalat bus runs from the bus station located at VĩNh Trung, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Transportation is provided by Futa Bus Lines. The fare is 135 thousand VND. The ticket can be purchased on the official website of the company — https://futabus.vn. It is better to buy travel documents in advance-at least a day in advance. In this case, there will be free seats, and you will be able to check the schedule, because it may change.
The first bus from Nha Trang departs from 7:00 to 16:30 6 times a day. The journey takes about an hour. In the window all the way you can create beautiful landscapes-rice fields and mountains. The road surface leaves much to be desired, so it’s best to take a pill for motion sickness.
To get to Dalat, you can also use the services of another company — Sinhtourist. Fare 119.000 VND (website www.thesinhtourist.vn).
With a guided tour
There are few Russian tourists in Dalat, and their visits to the city are often limited to sightseeing trips from beach hotels in Nha Trang and the popular Mui Ne. When booking a tour, the question of how to get from Nha Trang to Dalat is secondary.
Tourists can be taken in a small, comfortable, air-conditioned minibus or in a large bus. The difference in travel time is an hour and a half, but the minibus is more mobile, can change the route, and stop more often. It is easier to carry mountain streamers.
It doesn’t make much sense to go on a one-day tour, the round trip from Nha Trang takes 7-8 hours, and in the remaining time you will only have time to catch a glimpse of the city. In two or three days, you can see most of the natural wonders and city attractions.
By taxi
The trip to Dalat from Nha Trang will take about 3.5 hours. The price depends on the class of car and the company and varies between $ 90-130. Services are provided by Mui Ne Sky Travel, DichungTaxi and others. You can book a car on the website https://12go.asia.
Souvenirs and gifts from Dalat
Before buying gifts and souvenirs, tourists from the CIS carefully study the exchange rate and prices. The latter often depend on your ability to bargain. In markets for people with a European appearance, sellers double the initial price.
There is no particular point in buying clothes or shoes in Dalat. Markets and general stores sell inexpensive Vietnamese and Chinese products. The exception is the products of the Dalat silk factory. In local shops you can buy cheap scarves, blouses, tablecloths made of colorful Vietnamese silk. A traditional silk robe costs $ 10 – $ 15.
Wine
An interesting souvenir will be a bottle of local wine. Dalat is the wine center of Vietnam, and wines with the “Vang Dalat” label are considered the best in the country. A bottle of wine costs 65,000-120,000 VND ($3 – $6).
Paintings
You will find an expensive gift in the “Village of Embroiderers”, located next to the “Valley of Love”. In numerous shops, local craftsmen sell silk-embroidered paintings from which you can choose subjects of traditional Vietnamese mythology, stylized landscapes of picturesque places in Dalat, portraits.
Coffee and tea
Another good souvenir will be Dalat artichoke tea with an original sweet taste. In the city’s tea shops, you can taste several varieties of black or green tea before buying.
Many tourists bring local coffee from Dalat (the best in Vietnam), which is sold at the cheapest prices in the country. Coffee is also better to buy after a tour of the coffee plantation and tasting several varieties. Vietnamese coffee, which costs 4 – 5 dollars per kilogram here, does not reach the CIS countries, and the main crop is purchased by European countries.
Fruit
Delicious and cheap Dalat fruit is not very convenient to take home. But all the fruit variety of the region is also represented by candied candied fruits, which tolerate transportation well. On the contrary, experienced tourists in Vietnam do not recommend buying ginseng, as there is a high probability of forgery.
Souvenir products
Most travelers buy compact and inexpensive frames, boxes, and figurines made of mahogany or bamboo as small souvenirs for employees and friends in Dalat. Other inexpensive gifts can include wooden dolls in national costumes, snake venom ointments, bronze Buddha figurines, incense sticks, bamboo lanterns, and funny patchwork toys.
It is risky to buy jewelry made of ivory, inexpensive silver, pearls on the market. Often-these are plastic fakes. Try to buy such things in specialized stores, where the product is accompanied by a certificate. They also buy crocodile leather products (belts, purses, purses), which are relatively inexpensive in Vietnam ($50 – $100).
A sightseeing trip to Dalat (Vietnam) will be a pleasant entertainment during a hot beach holiday. Many tourists who have visited the city on an excursion return to the mountain resort to spend a month or two vacation weeks here.
