1. Introduction to Da Lat
Da Lat is known as a paradise for tourism. It is a land of flowers where different species of flowers compete to show their vibrant colors. In Da Lat, there are many rare flower species imported from other countries, creating a mysterious and dreamy beauty that no other city in Vietnam can compare to.
Da Lat is not only an ideal tourist destination but also a very reasonable place for vacation. In addition, during the summer, Da Lat shows its irresistible attraction that no other city can match. Almost everyone in Vietnam comes to Da Lat during the summer for two main purposes: firstly, to avoid the scorching heat, and secondly, to visit famous tourist attractions in Da Lat.
(Nguồn ảnh: Internet)
2. Means of transportation when traveling to Da Lat
* Means of transportation to Da Lat
When it comes to traveling to Da Lat, taking a flight is still the top priority for most people from northern provinces or Hanoi.
Airline services are now relatively cheap (except for holidays and peak season), with airfares from Hanoi, Saigon to Da Lat ranging from 370,000 – 2,000,000 VND depending on the type and time. I advise you to book your ticket a month in advance, or even 2 to 3 months in advance to get the best deals. Domestic airlines such as Vietnam Airlines or VietJet Air have direct flights to Da Lat every day.
The significant competition among these airlines often leads to promotional fares to Da Lat. You should contact the airline company directly to find the cheapest fare of the day.
To be honest, road transportation services are still the most developed. There are many sleeper bus companies that operate from North to South in the day. The significant competition among these companies ensures reasonable fares and many choices.
Long-standing and well-developed bus companies such as Hoang Long, Mai Linh, Queen Cafe, Phuong Trang… invest more and compete in price as well as providing enthusiastic and attentive customer service.
Da Lat is about 300km from the center of Saigon, so you can take a car. The fare is 200,000 VND per regular seat per trip and 240,000 VND per sleeper seat per trip. You should travel to Da Lat by Phuong Trang (08.8375570) or Thanh Buoi ((08) 38308090 – 38397747 – 38353123) car. These are two prominent and modern bus companies that provide good service.
(Nguồn ảnh: Internet)
* Means of transportation in Da Lat
Getting around by motorbike
The rental price for a motorbike in Da Lat can range from 90,000 to 150,000 VND per day, depending on the type of bike you choose such as automatic, semi-automatic or manual. If you want to rent a motorbike, you can contact AGO Tourist at 0965 968 151, they will deliver the bike to your location and you don’t need to make a deposit.
One travel tip in Da Lat that you should keep in mind when renting a motorbike for transportation is to choose a semi-automatic or manual bike instead of an automatic bike. The roads in Da Lat are often hilly and curvy, so it’s better to prioritize bikes with strong engines for ease of movement.
Getting around by Taxi
There are many quality taxi companies to choose from in Da Lat, such as Mai Linh taxi, Lado taxi, Thang Loi taxi, etc. The fare for taxi companies in Da Lat is around 10,000 – 12,000 VND per km, depending on the company.
A crucial travel tip for independent travel in Da Lat to avoid being overcharged is to be aware of the taxi fare in Da Lat or ask the driver for the fare before getting on the taxi.
Getting around by Grab service
Grab service is also available in Da Lat, so you can quickly book a ride through the app to go anywhere. You can know the fare in advance for the route you’re taking, making it very convenient.
Traveling by Bus
Traveling by bus is a great option for a budget-friendly self-guided tour of Da Lat. There are quite a few bus routes that run through the city, to and from Lien Khuong Airport, as well as to popular tourist destinations.
Traveling by Full-Service Tourist Car
If you are visiting Da Lat for tourism purposes, this is an excellent option. The drivers are locals who are familiar with the roads and have many years of driving experience. Based on my experience traveling to Da Lat, this is the best option for transportation around the city because the prices are clearly stated and you have control over your transportation.
3. When is the best time to visit Da Lat?
Spring – Winter
The best time to visit Da Lat is at the end of autumn, beginning of winter, and throughout the spring season. During this time, the city enters the dry season, allowing visitors to fully enjoy their trip. From late October, the weather in Da Lat begins to turn cold, preparing for winter. This is also the time when the city is covered in a vibrant array of flowers such as white cabbage flowers (October to December), pink grass flowers (November to December), and wild sunflowers (November to January). In particular, at the end of December, the city is at its most crowded when the Da Lat Flower Festival is held every two years. Throughout the festival, the city is filled with countless colorful flowers, attracting thousands of visitors to come and enjoy the festivities.
Summer
Summer in Da Lat lasts from around May to October. At the beginning of summer, around April to May, the sunflowers bloom a bright yellow on the fields of Da Lat. Summer is also the rainy season in Da Lat, especially from July to September, when there are frequent drizzles and downpours. For those who love romance and charm, sitting and sipping a cup of coffee while admiring the city shrouded in mist is an experience that can leave one deeply enchanted.
(Nguồn ảnh : Internet)
4. Beautiful Tourist Destinations in Da Lat
Da Lat Clay Tunnel – Unique Architecture
This is an extremely unique tourist destination in Da Lat. The uniqueness lies in the fact that most of the architecture here is made of dried, hardened clay. You will come across models of famous cultural and historical landmarks throughout the country reconstructed with clay just like the real thing.
Da Lat Train Station – Ancient Train Station
This is the oldest train station in Indochina. Da Lat Train Station is recognized as a national historical architecture relic. Many tourists visit this place to capture beautiful images of an ancient Da Lat. You can take pictures with the trains, rails, and distant train tunnels. Different angles will help you discover the great beauty of this landmark. That’s why this place is often chosen by couples to take wedding photos.
Da Lat Market – Street Food Gathering Place
This is the place that attracts many visitors to come for sightseeing, dining, and shopping. The market starts operating from 5 pm and really gets busy from 6 pm.
Windmill Bakery – Impressive Wall
The yellow wall with the image of a windmill has made this bakery famous. Young people especially love this wall. Almost every young person who comes to Da Lat wants to take a few pictures with the windmill wall on this street. The bakery is located right in the center of Hoa Binh area. Now, it has been demolished and a new windmill bakery wall model is reconstructed in Hoa Binh area to satisfy the passion of tourists.
The Valley of Love – Where love takes flight.
Located next to the Dream Hill is the Valley of Love, a place nestled in the lush green pine forest, serene and incredibly romantic. As soon as you step through the gates, you’ll be greeted with a series of beautiful red heart-shaped arches, a spot where visitors often capture beautiful photos. You can also explore the love maze or admire the fountain in the sky. Couples can even leave their mark on the love lock bridge.
Lam Vien Square – The playground of the young.
Lam Vien Square is situated right in the heart of the city, facing the picturesque Ho Xuan Huong Lake. This is a place where you can take countless photos for your social media feed. The most prominent spots are the wild daisy flower block and the Astiso glass block, both of which are very attractive. You can also visit the art performance hall, which has 1,500 seats overlooking the daisy field, or enjoy coffee and drinks at the beautiful cafes and bars located inside the pyramid-shaped flower.
City Flower Garden – Where flowers bloom in all their glory.
Located in the heart of Dalat, next to the dreamy Ho Xuan Huong Lake, you will find a beautiful flower garden showcasing a wide variety of vibrant blooms. If you are a flower lover, you will be amazed by the stunning scenery of the garden. You can take countless beautiful pictures with the colorful flowers and small flower landscapes created here.
5. What to eat in Dalat?
Breakfast:
- For Mi Quang, it’s best to go to Nhà Chung street where there are 2-3 very popular Mi Quang shops in the morning.
- Bun Bo Hue from “Ba Gia Toc Bac” – 37 Hung Vuong, near Raiiny Cafe, is sold in the morning.
- Pho Trang: 3 Bui Thi Xuan, facing Xuan Huong Lake, 100m up on the left side, is sold all day.
- Bun Bo O Cong (6am – 7pm) – Phu Dong Thien Vuong street. Very delicious with added tuna fish cake. Very crowded.
- Xuan An crab noodle soup (only in the afternoon, in the morning they sell Bun Bo and Mi Quang) – 15 Nha Chung, Tel: 02633 827690
- Nem Nuong from Ba Nghia – 4 Bui Thi Xuan (near Hoang Anh motorbike rental) is sold all day.
Lunch:
- Huong Tra Claypot Rice, Nguyen Thai Hoc street, is delicious and cheap with a spacious parking area.
- Vinh Loi Rice – 3 Thang 2 street, next to the roundabout, is very crowded, sold all day and night at affordable prices.
- Nam Do claypot rice and broken rice – 6 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai (in front of Dalat market), Tel: 02633 824550.
- Broken rice at the end of Hai Ba Trung street, 300m to the right of the La Son Phu Tu intersection. The shop is delicious and crowded, selling all day.
- Thanh Tan beef hot pot – Nguyen Thi Dinh street, a small hot pot for 2 people costs only 60,000 VND, delicious and affordable with enthusiastic service.
Dinner:
- Thanh Tan beef hot pot – Nguyen Thi Dinh street, a small hot pot for 2 people costs only 60,000 VND, delicious and affordable with enthusiastic service.
- Hanh beef hot pot – Bui Thi Xuan street, affordable price, a small shop that is always crowded from afternoon to evening.
- Salmon hot pot and beef hot pot – Ba Toa area, 2 Thang 2 street, at the beginning of the bridge with the street lamp on the left side, selling in the evening and very crowded.
- Nga chicken glass noodle soup (sold at night) – at the end of Nguyen Chi Thanh street, near Ngoc Lan hotel.
- Fresh seafood at Anh Duc: 3 Thang 2 street, across the bridge with the street lamp on the left side, the shop is crowded in the evening.
6. Where to stay in Da Lat
When traveling to Da Lat on your own, you can choose to stay at some hotels/homestays in the following areas for convenient transportation and exploration of the city:
Bui Thi Xuan Street (Ward 2) is the closest area to the city center, convenient for getting to Da Lat market or Xuan Huong Lake.
Phu Dong Thien Vuong Street (Ward 8) is where many homestays are located and it’s easy to get to strawberry gardens or suburban cafes to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
Phan Boi Chau, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia streets (Ward 1) are the central areas. From here, you can walk to Da Lat market to experience and shop.
Usually, the price of Da Lat hotels ranges from 300,000 VND to 1,500,000 VND per night, depending on the hotel’s level. If you want to save money, you can choose to stay at a homestay which is an ideal option with a price of only about 100,000 VND to 200,000 VND per night.
Here are some recommended Da Lat hotels that many tourists love and choose, such as Pho Nui Da Lat Hotel with prices starting from 627,000 VND/night/room, Da Lat Plaza Hotel with prices starting from 695,000 VND/night/room, Hotel Colline Da Lat with prices starting from 1,335,000 VND/night/room, TTC Hotel Premium Ngoc Lan Da Lat with prices starting from 1,400,000 VND/night/room,…
7. Small tips for traveling to Da Lat
- Bring warm clothes.
- Avoid visiting Da Lat during the rainy season. If you do visit during this time, be sure to pack a raincoat or umbrella.
- When eating at the Night Market, be sure to confirm the prices before ordering.
- One-way streets in Da Lat are not well-marked. If renting a self-drive vehicle, be careful not to attract the attention of the police.
- The roads in Da Lat are steep, so be careful when driving a personal vehicle.
- Hotels with beautiful views in Da Lat can be quite expensive, so consider the cost before booking a room.
- During holidays and Tet, Da Lat often experiences traffic jams for several hours. Plan your schedule accordingly if you plan to visit during these times.
- Avoid relying on motorbike taxis or taxis to find accommodations. Book a room in advance to save money.
- Always ask for prices before eating or buying souvenirs and local specialties.
- Avoid following people who invite you to buy strawberries or visit strawberry farms. Choose your own destination and visit the farm you have selected.
- Buy strawberries and Da Lat jam at reputable farms or brands to ensure product quality.
