Unpopular opinion: Da Lat is easily our favorite city in Vietnam so far! High up in the Central Highlands, Da Lat swaps the humid, motorbike-packed streets of coastal cities for fresh pine-scented air, rolling green hills, and colorful French-colonial villas.
The funniest thing about visiting Da Lat is its reputation as one of the ‘coldest’ places in Vietnam. While locals gear up in thick winter sweaters, heavy jackets, and warm scarves the moment the temperature drops slightly, coming from Europe meant it was perfectly comfortable for us in just a short-sleeve t-shirt! Beyond the crisp mountain breeze, Da Lat is packed with high-energy nature activities, incredible local coffee spots, unique architecture, and an unbelievable plant-based food scene.
Day 1 – Cable Cars, Truc Lam Zen Monastery & Xuan Huong Lake
Morning: Robin Hill Cable Car & Truc Lam Complex (Zen Temple & Glass Garden)
Kick off your time in Da Lat by taking the Robin Hill Cable Car (~120,000 VND / ~4.50 EUR round-trip). The scenic 2.3-kilometer ride glides right over sprawling pine forests, terraced vegetable patches, and colorful flower fields, offering sweeping panoramic views of the highland valleys below.
- Cable Car Location: Robin Hill Cable Car on Google Maps
The cable car drops you directly at Truc Lam Zen Monastery, one of the largest active Zen Buddhist institutes in Vietnam. It is an incredibly peaceful sanctuary situated on Phoenix Mountain overlooking the calm waters of Tuyen Lam Lake. Located right on the same grounds is a serene glass garden and greenhouse complex filled with carefully cultivated orchids, bonsai trees, and quiet stone pathways.
- Monastery Location: Truc Lam Zen Monastery on Google Maps
Afternoon: Pedalo Boats on Xuan Huong Lake
Head back toward the city center to Xuan Huong Lake—the iconic, crescent-shaped lake that forms the heart of Da Lat. Rent an artificial swan pedalo boat (~100,000 VND / ~3.80 EUR per hour) to pedal across the quiet waters. It is a wonderfully slow-paced way to take in the surrounding lakeside gardens, pine trees, and crisp mountain atmosphere.
Evening: Da Lat Night Market & Local Street Snacks
End your day wandering through the vibrant and lively Da Lat Night Market. As dusk falls, the central plaza transforms into a bustling hub of food stalls, warm outdoor seating, and street vendors. Be sure to try Banh Trang Nuong (famously dubbed ‘Vietnamese Pizza’ made with rice paper, egg, green onions, and chili paste), Charcoal-Grilled Cheese drizzled with condensed milk, and spicy BBQ cuttlefish.
- Night Market Location: Da Lat Night Market on Google Maps
Day 2 – Datanla Waterfalls & High-Speed Alpine Coasters
Spend your second day getting your full adrenaline fix at Datanla Waterfall, located just 10 minutes south of the city center. Rather than a standard hike down, Datanla is famous for its exhilarating self-controlled alpine coasters that weave straight through the dense forest canopy.
- Datanla Waterfall Location: Datanla Waterfall on Google Maps
Activity & Pricing Breakdown:
- Main Entrance Fee (Alpine Coaster 1 area): ~50,000 VND (~1.90 EUR)
- Alpine Coaster 3 (New/Long Track – 2,400m): ~250,000 VND (~9.50 EUR) round-trip. This is Asia’s longest coaster track. It is longer, faster, and snakes deep down into the lush ravine directly to the lower, more powerful cascades.
- Alpine Coaster 1 (Short Track – 1,200m): ~130,000 VND (~4.80 EUR) round-trip. Leads to the upper falls and features unique themed photo spots along the way, including a giant King Kong statue embedded in the jungle!
Pro Tip: We strongly recommend doing both coasters! Each track offers a completely different landscape perspective and thrill level.
Rope Course & Zipline Combos: For extreme adventure seekers, high-rope obstacle courses and canopy ziplines are available on-site ranging from ~25 EUR to ~45 EUR depending on the package chosen.
Day 3 – The Crazy House, Pink Cathedral & Historic Railway Station
Morning: Hang Nga Guesthouse (The Crazy House)
Start at the world-famous Crazy House (entry ~60,000 VND / ~2.30 EUR). Designed by visionary architect Dang Viet Nga, this surreal architectural landmark looks like something straight out of a Salvador Dalí painting or Alice in Wonderland. You can explore twisted organic shapes, tree-trunk staircases, cavernous guest rooms, and high rooftop bridges offering incredible 360-degree views over Da Lat.
Crazy House Location: Crazy House on Google Maps
Midday: Domaine de Marie & St. Nicholas Cathedral
Spend your afternoon exploring Da Lat’s unique colonial religious architecture. Visit St. Nicholas Cathedral (affectionately known as the ‘Chicken Church’ due to the weathercock atop its steeple) or head up to the stunning pink-walled Domaine de Marie Convent, perched peacefully on a pine-covered hill.
- St. Nicholas Cathedral: St. Nicholas Cathedral on Google Maps
- Domaine de Marie Convent: Domaine de Marie Convent on Google Maps
Afternoon: Historic Da Lat Railway Station
Explore the iconic 1930s Art Deco railway station, famous for its triple-pointed roof design intended to mimic the three peaks of Lang Biang Mountain.
- Railway Station Location: Da Lat Railway Station on Google Maps
Ticket Options & Experiences:
- Basic Station Entry: ~5,000 – 10,000 VND for wandering the platform and viewing the vintage steam locomotives.
- Station Entry + Vintage Train Carriage Cafe (Our Top Pick!): Grabs you entry access plus a relaxing hot or cold coffee or tea + some local snacks.
- Tourist Train Excursion to Trai Mat: ~120,000 – 200,000 VND round trip. A slow-paced vintage train ride through valley greenhouses out to Trai Mat village to visit the remarkable glass-and-mosaic Linh Phuoc Pagoda.
- Night Train Experience: Features live acoustic music performances and evening greenhouse light views as you ride.
Where to Stay in Da Lat (Low Impact & Sustainable Options)
Ultra-Budget Stays (~10 EUR / night)
- Lovely House Da Lat (Our Personal Recommendation!): A cozy, authentic local homestay run by wonderful hosts who treat you like family, in the best location ever!. Booking Link
- Da Lat Friendly Fun: A spotless, community-focused hostel ideal for backpackers looking for a low-impact local base. Booking Link
Budget & Cozy Comfort (~20-35 EUR / night)
- Sai Gon Da Lat Hotel: A classic, locally-run establishment located within walking distance of central food alleys. Booking Link
- Tigon Dalat Hostel & Villa: Perched up on a leafy hill, offering relaxed vibes and sweeping views across the valley. Booking Link
Mid-Range Stays (~50-70 EUR / night)
- Du Parc Hotel Dalat: A beautifully restored 1930s heritage hotel steeped in rich regional history. Booking Link
- Colline Hotel Da Lat: Sleek, modern design directly above the Central Market square. Booking Link
Luxury / Low-Impact Upscale (~100 EUR+ / night)
- Ana Mandara Villas Dalat: Stunning eco-friendly luxury nestled inside restored 1920s French colonial heritage villas. Booking Link
- Dalat Edensee Lake Resort: Eco-chic lakeside villas along the quiet, pine-fringed shores of Tuyen Lam Lake. Booking Link
Where to Eat & Drink (Our Top Recommendations)
- Vegan Heaven (Our #1 Absolute Favorite Restaurant): Hands-down our favorite dining spot in Da Lat! Mind-blowing plant-based local dishes full of incredible high-country flavor. Google Maps Link
- Tiem Banh 180C Da Lat – Nguyen Van Cu: A fantastic local bakery located on the exact same street as Vegan Heaven. Perfect for fresh pastries and affordable local treats. Google Maps Link
- Da Lat Night Market Stalls: Don’t miss out on Banh Trang Nuong, grilled cheese with condensed milk, and spicy BBQ cuttlefish cooked fresh right in front of you.
- Street Fruit Smoothies & Coffee Stalls: Be sure to sample Kem Bo (creamy avocado ice cream blended with coconut milk) and rich, dark-roast Ca Phe Sua Da throughout the town.
Practical Tips for Your Da Lat Trip
- Embrace the ‘Cold’: Pack a light sweater or windbreaker jacket for the evenings when temperatures naturally drop to around 15–18°C.
- Getting Around: Rent an automatic scooter for total independence (~120,000 VND / day) or use Green SM electric taxis and motorbikes for convenient, low-emission travel. We personally used Green SM and everything went smoothly since most of the attractions are only a short ride away (10-15′ from the center).
- Highland Coffee Culture: Take time to sit on low plastic stools outside roadside cafes to sip specialty Arabica while watching mountain fog roll over the valley.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book or buy through them — at no extra cost to you. It’s how we keep this site running, and it never changes what we recommend. We only share the places, tours, and products we genuinely love and would tell our friends to book.
Leave a Reply