Vietnam Travel Tips: A Dalat Itinerary
Welcome to the countryside city of Dalat, a place known for its scenic lakes, waterfalls, and flower gardens, attracting outdoor enthusiasts around the world looking for a peaceful, yet adventurous retreat. This city is known for its cool, spring-like temperatures and lush green landscapes, thanks to its altitude of just under 5,000 feet above sea level, which is higher than most of Vietnam. It is the perfect place to cozy up in an oversized sweatshirt while exploring a different side of Vietnam’s natural beauty. From canyoning at Datanla Falls to exploring your artistic side at Crazy House, this itinerary gives you a taste of everything Dalat has to offer travelers!
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Dalat Travel Itinerary
Stop #1: Canyoning
Abseiling
Natural Water Slide
Repelling
One of the top things to do in Dalat is to join in on the adventurous sport of canyoning. This sport is not for the faint of heart, and I learned this the hard way by repeatedly failing to fully understand what I was getting myself into (oops haha). Think repelling down waterfall ledges while being restrained via a rope tied at the top of the waterfall, ziplining across falls, and natural waterslides, and repelling in and out of a waterfall…. It was an adventurous day, to say the least, mostly filled with me trying to literally talk myself off the ledge. But - I do recommend giving this experience a chance since Dalat is renowned for it and the experience really is unlike anything else. They do give you a quick lesson on how to properly and safely repel with the use of ropes, footing, etc. down a dry wall. They will not take you to the waterfall until they and you feel confident in your abilities.
The best way to experience this adventure is with a guided tour that handles everything including pick up and drop off back in Dalat. I went with this experience and I highly recommend it! They were informative, friendly, and reassuring. It includes all of the gear you need for the day as well.
Pickup Time: 8:00 AM in Dalat
Duration: 6-ish Hours
Group Size: Max 6 people
Bonus: There are Alpine Coasters you can ride in the park as well!
Stop #2: Grab Some LuNch
Although the tour above does include a lunch stop, I recommend heading to Chay Dalat for some delicious vegan dishes. This restaurant is a cozy, laid-back spot with a nature-inspired atmosphere and a beautiful view to match. The food was some of the best vegan food I had in Vietnam.
Stop #3: Explore the French Quarter & Enjoy A Coffee
Aside from Dalat’s ideal place in nature, the city is also known for its coffee and French architecture. Get a glimpse of this in Dalat’s French Quarter by wandering its’ streets and stopping in Dreamers Home and Coffee for a tasty coffee or smoothie or one of the many other cafes in the area.
Stop #4: Visit Crazy House
Dalat Crazy House is a whimsical and funky place, featuring imaginative architecture reminiscent of a children’s storybook. It is a unique and fun place to explore, even as an adult, venturing through rooms, stairs, tunnels, and more! The photos speak louder than words on this one! There is also a small cafe downstairs to have juice, coconut, etc. You only need an hour or so to fully explore the house.
Hours: 8:30 AM - 6:00 P.M.
Entry Fee: 80,000 VND for adults | 30,000 VND for children
Stop #5: Catch the Sunset!
To complete your Dalat itinerary, head to either Tuyen Lam Lake or Trai Mat for a beautiful sunset over Dalat.
Tuyen Lam Lake is located further out from Dalat Center but offers a more scenic sunset view over a beautiful lake surrounded by trees. You will need to either rent a motorbike or hire a Grab/Gojek for the trip. The drive is 15 minutes or so.
Bonus: You can paddleboard here for sunset as well! Funny enough, I found out about this sunset gem via Vietjet’s website!
For Trai Mat choose a spot near Xóm Lèo Đà Lạt to enjoy a surreal sunset from higher up and a view of Dalat lit up, once the sunsets. This spot is located a 10-minute drive from Dalat Center. You can find more information on this spot here!
Bonus: If you choose Trai Mat, you can also see a pretty colorful temple nearby: Cao Dai Temple of Da Lat!
Stop #6: Head to the Night Market
The Dalat night market is massive, offering an intriguing array of street food, souvenirs, clothing, fresh produce, and more. Located on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, it operates from 5:00 PM until late. The market features four main areas: clothing, street food, fresh produce, and dried foods and wine.
More Items for your dalat Itinerary!
Dalat Railway Station: This is a historical landmark and is the oldest railway in Vietnam. Aside from taking exploring older trains, a coffee shop, and riding the train for a fee, there is not much else to do here. This could be a unique spot for those interested in trains and transportation, and especially those with younger children!
Hours: 7 am - 5 pm
Entrance Fee: 60,000 VND for adults | 30,000 VND for children under 1.3 meters tall
Flower Villages: There are so many flower villages located in Dalat for you to explore. Unfortunately, when I was there, it did not seem like many were “in season.” But, you can click here for more information on the many different options you have!
Tunnel Clay: This area is a large clay art installation that you can wander through and explore. I did skip visiting Tunnel Clay because it was 28 minutes away from where I was staying in Dalat and truthfully it just did not jump out at me as something I wanted to do. It could be a great itinerary item for families or those with younger children.
Hours: 7 am - 5 pm
Entrance Fee: 60,000 VND for adults | 30,000 VND for children under 1.3 meters tall
Visit A Waterfall: Dalat has a few waterfalls nearby (around 1 hour away) that you can explore. Elephant Waterfall and Pongour Waterfall are two of the most popular. Because I had canyoneered down a few waterfalls, I did skip visiting these.
Da’Lat Cable Car: A cable car ride with panoramic views of the Dalat and its green landscape. Because I had just gone to Ba Na Hills where I enjoyed a beautiful cable car ride, I did skip riding this one.
Hours: Monday - Friday: 7:30–11:45 AM and 1–4:45 PM | Saturday - Sunday: 7:30 AM–4:45 PM
Entrance Fee: 150,000 VND roundtrip | 120,000 VND one way
Linh Phuoc Pagoda: One of the most famous pagodas in Dalat, known for its unique and colorful design. You only need around 30 minutes to explore the area.
Hours: 8 am - 5 pm
Admission here is free
Pro Tip: Need something tailored or have a hole in your favorite pair of pants? Head to Lien Tailor—the best tailor in town and for unbeatable prices. Although it says temporarily closed on Google, it is open.
General Information: Dalat
Where to Stay:
I recommend staying in Dalat’s city center to be within walking distance/the center of everything. I chose to stay in Ward 1.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler:
Best Backpacker/Hostel Option: Dalat Mr Peace Backpacker's (dorm) or Jerry House Đà Lạt (private room)
Best Low-Budget: Together is Home (I stayed here) or Moc Thach Hostel Dalat
Best Mid-Budget: VX Hotel or Le House DaLat
High-End Budget: Le Macaron City Center - Boutique Hotel Đà Lạt or Ngọc Nguyên Homestay
Best Luxury: Quy Tai Premium Hotel or Hôtel Colline (Colline Suite)
Best Time to Visit:
December to March during the dry season. Make sure to pack long pants and a sweatshirt for chillier days.
How to Get There:
Fly: Depending on where you are coming from, you can fly right into Dalat (DLI). Flights within Vietnam are usually cheap (mine from Da Nang to Dalat was around 30 USD). The airport is only 30 km from the city center and a taxi is usually around 10-15 USD. There is also a public bus available from the airport to Dalat City Center, which is around 40,000 VND (1.61 USD). The bus runs from 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM. You can ask any airport staff for help finding where the bus departs.
Bus / Shared Van: This is always a cheap option throughout Vietnam. 12GoAsia has the best options for booking as always! For longer distances, they do have sleeper buses.
Motorbike: This is always an option if you are already in Vietnam, but with the other options being so cheap and easy— why bother?
How to Get Around:
Walking: Dalat is another walkable city but for those who would prefer not to walk, renting a motorbike is always an option. Motorbike rental prices vary throughout Vietnam usually being in the range of 150,000 VND - 180,000 VND for the cheapest ones. I did not rent in Dalat so I do not know the exact costs. Grab was extremely cheap in Dalat so anytime I got tired of walking, I just hopped in one!
Gojek or Grab: These are great, budget-friendly rideshare taxis with locals who know the way of the road. Think similar to Uber or Lyft. You can choose different types of car taxis or hop on the back of a motorbike for the cheapest option.
Public Transit: I believe there is public transport, but with the back of a motorbike being so inexpensive, I never took the time to figure it out.
How Many Days Do I Need?:
I recommend 1-2 days in Dalat, however, if you plan to do a canyoning day trip or go see the waterfalls, I recommend having 1 day for exploring Dalat and another day for the trip! The city was not really at the top of my favorite spots in Vietnam.
Is it Safe?
Yes, most definitely. Many backpackers and digital nomads pass through here, so you will meet plenty of people. As always, follow common travel safety practices:
Always check vaccination requirements and travel advisories, and practice food and water cleanliness/safety. Do not drink tap water in Southeast Asia.
Be aware of travel scams and know how much things should cost.
Secure valuables.
Emergency Contact Numbers: Fire: 114 | Police: 113 | Ambulance: 115
Never travel without the right insurance in case of any sickness, injuries, or theft. Safety Wing is by far the best travel insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
Vegan Food Options:
Chay Da Lat (Beautiful Views)
