Dalat

Many of the buildings built before and during France's rule over Vietnam are still in existence today in Dalat. One of the major attractions here is Bao Dai's Summer Palace. Bao Dai, who had taken the throne at 12 years of age, was the last King of Vietnam and had a reputation for being a bit of a party animal. And so, in 1933, he had a palace built in Dalat, the town where he spent most of his summers. The palace is now open to the public. Since the palace still has most of its original furniture, paintings, and sculptures, it allows a unique insight into the life led by the royal family. The old Dalat rail station offers a 5 kilometer train ride to visitors. The trip follows the historic route to a tiny village named Trai Mat. You can take in the magnificence that is Dalat’s countryside during the course of the trip. About 16 kilometers south of Dalat you will come across a giant chicken statue. This chicken statue signals entry into Lat Village. Lat Village provides those on a holiday in Dalat the opportunity to learn about the traditional Vietnamese way of life. The village maybe poor but the people here, just like people everywhere else in Dalat, are extremely welcoming. Paying a visit to the French Quarter, with its French-styled villas and buildings, in the southeast of the city is your chance to know all about how the rich and the famous lived in Dalat during the French rule. You can visit many of the pagodas in Dalat which have been here as long as the town itself. Linh Phuoc and Thien Vuong Pagoda are the major tourist hotspots. Thien Vuong Pagoda is best known for three Buddhist statues that date back to the 16th century.

You may be wondering why everyone who has been there raves on about Dalat's natural beauty. For the answer, you have to look no further than Dalat's waterfalls and lakes. Perhaps Dalat's most visited waterfall is the Datanla Waterfalls. With its refreshingly fresh water, the surrounding luscious vegetation and even a rollercoaster that takes you from the top of the fall to the bottom, Datanla Waterfalls should be a pit-stop during your holiday to Dalat. While Datanla Waterfalls maybe conveniently located just a few kilometers south of the city, Elephant Falls is a further 30 kilometers south. This waterfall is lovely but its isolated location makes it less appealing to tourists. If you are looking for a peaceful retreat during your holidays in Dalat, this is it. Prenn Waterfalls, a short distance from Dalat's center, is a favorite though. 10 meters high, the exquisite Prenn Waterfalls has a cable-car service for visitors to get to the top. You can also ride on elephants and ostriches here. Dalat is also home to Vietnam's highest waterfall. Pongour Falls are at an astounding height of 20 meters in the mountains and over 100 meters wide during the rainy season. The water here falls with power and thus can be heard from a long way away. Lake Of Sighs is an homage to all those who have been burnt by love. In spite of what the name suggests, the lake is very popular among young couples. There are motorboats and horse-drawn carriages available for couples to go on a romantic trip on. The beautiful willow trees that surround the lake just add to the overall ambiance of love. Valley Of Love though is everything its name suggests. The lakes in the park are set against a backdrop of rolling hills and beautiful gardens. If you want a romantic getaway, this park serves the purpose very well. Xuan Huong Lake, with its gardens, peach trees, and green banks is perfect for family picnics. If you are looking for something a bit more action-packed, you can even go kayaking. Or go hiking at Lang Bian Mountain which is about 12 kilometers north of downtown Dalat.

Dalat does not have a crazy nightlife with only a few up-scale bars like the V Café present in the city center. But, it more than makes up for it with the local food that is on offer. Dalat Market in Dalat central is where you will find all the day's local produce. The climate in Dalat is near perfect for growing all kinds of fruit and vegetables. Among locally grown food found in Dalat are strawberries, asparagus, artichokes, grapes, tea, and coffee. All this extraordinary produce leads to a different dining experience than you might find elsewhere in Vietnam as Dalat cuisine is very reliant on the local produce. Vietnamese cuisine can be found in Dalat as well. You will find a fair share of street-side vendors on the banks of Xuang Huong Lake in the evening. These serve all the local delicacies at cheap prices. A must-have local delicacy is the baguette served with strawberry jam, along with excellent Vietnamese-style coffee. Other local favorites include beef rice noodles, BBQ squid, boiled shellfish, and hot soya drinks. You will also come across upscale restaurants as well. Da Quy restaurant offers a Vietnamese cuisine. A popular item is the shrimp cooked with tamarind sauce and chili. Café de la Poste, also in the city center, has a very French vibe that goes well with its French cuisine. Something for everyone during your holiday in Dalat.

Most local and foreign travellers arrive in by bus, including those travelling on the famous Sinh Cafe Hanoi-HCMC open-tour bus. Mai Linh Express and Phuong Trang run several daily services to Dalat from Nha Trang, Mui Ne and HCMC. From Nha Trang Phuong Trang Bus Station  the bus ride is about 3-4 hours, including a 30-minute breakfast/WC stop about one hour out of Nha Trang. From Ho Chi Minh City, the bus ride is about 7 hours (9 hours if there is bad traffic leaving Saigon).

Dalat is different from the rest of Vietnam in that it receives less rainfall due to its geographical location in a mountainous area.

Its cool climate and steady temperature have seen Dalat being dubbed as the "City Of Eternal Spring". The average temperature in Dalat is 14°C. Dalat has two distinct seasons. The rainy season and the dry season. The average annual precipitation is 1,770mm.

Rainy Season

The months of May through October are part of the rainy season. Each month sees over 200mm of rain with September being the wettest. These months are also the hottest, but the temperature does not exceed the mid20s. The rainy season is best avoided as the rain though infrequent, is enough to ruin your holidays to Dalat.

Dry Season

The dry season in Dalat is remarkably cool. Lasting from November to April, the temperature barely touches 20°C. The months of January and February see minimal rainfall. This is the best time to visit Dalat as there are very few distractions to prevent you from taking in Dalat's infinite beauty. But, as it is the peak season, the town will be crowded and ticket prices high.