20 Things To Do In Dalat

If you’ve decided to explore the beautiful nation of Vietnam and you feel that you’ve seen the major areas, you may want to consider smaller areas and towns that have amazing things to do. One of those places you want to definitely visit would be Da Lat. It’s in the south of Vietnam and you may have noticed how many food items are mentioned to come from there. Some of the best food comes from there, from long-neck avocados to robust coffee to macadamia nuts. Beyond that, there are plenty of other things to do in Da Lat.

Da Lat, Vietnam

20 Things To Do In Da Lat

1- Check Out The Crazy House

Book this accommodation if you like staying in eccentric places.  

This is a beautifully designed unique set of villas that looks as if they came straight out of a fairy tale.

The architecture looks as if it is entwined with the surrounding nature, and it is definitely a site to see with your own two eyes.

It almost feels as if it alive, where the rooms are named of animals and designed in their own respective ways.

You can simply explore the villas for a small fee without the need to spend the night.

Recommended tours:

• Dalat Winery Tour
• Da Lat: Sunrise Tour, Cau Dat Green Tea Hill, & Chika Farm

2- Grab A Cable Car To Linh Phuoc Pagoda

This is one of the most famous pagodas and temples throughout Vietnam.

One of the reasons for its fame is that it actually has a bell tower that is extremely tall at almost 155 feet high (47 meters).

When you arrive to the pagoda, you will see the grounds outside that is a beautiful garden of curated foliage as well as small lakes that you can walk around and enjoy the day with.

It also is home to thousands of bottles, more specifically their glass shards that make one of the sides of the temple itself.

When you enter the actual temple inside you’ll be greeted with ancient murals related to Buddha.

You can head upstairs for those that are looking to take some amazing pictures.

3- Be A Romantic At The Valley Of Love

Grab your loved one, rent a scooter for a couple hundred VND per day, and head out to this place of tranquility and beauty.

This valley has its roots during the French colonial occupation and is known to be a hot spot for the romantic that’s deep down inside all of us.

There’s a lake you can go to and rent out private boats to take your special someone out on, or simply head to the Venus Flower Garden.

This garden has winding pathways adorned with flowers that are in bloom, creating those perfect moments not thought possible.

Recommended tour: Dalat: Guided Countryside Loop Motorcycle Day Tour

4- Spend The Afternoon At Xuan Huong Lake Area

First, it’s important to make sure ahead of time if the area is open, as it can be temporarily closed from time to time.

If you find yourself able to access this serene lake, then it’s an excellent place to spend the day with friends, family and loved ones.

Here you can enjoy a nice peaceful picnic having the backdrop of the lake exude feelings of tranquil calm.

You can also rent one of the swan paddle boats to get out there into the middle of the lake, or go for a tour that circles the lake with one of the horse drawn carriages that are on site.

It’s the best place to slow down a bit from the chaos life brings.

Recommended tour: From Dalat: Private Countryside and Waterfalls Tour

5- Stop By The Da Lat Flower Park

Right next to the Xuan Huong Lake is this breathtaking flower park that spans several thousand square meters.

It is home to a variety of different species of flowers, and due to the climate, can be a great option all year round.

You can see everything from lavender to tulips in vibrant various colors that will literally put a smile on your face with how pretty it can be.

There’s also horse drawn carriages here to take you around the park, as well as a slew of food options that are a blend of local and international delicious.

Of course when you’re eating you’ll still be able to see and enjoy the perfectly curated and managed colorful flowerbeds.

The Da Lat Flower Park is at No. 2, Tran Nhan Tong Street, Ward 8, Dalat City.

6- Feel Like A Local At The Da Lat Market

Specifically the Da Lat Night Market, this is a must see for anyone visiting here.

As the sun starts to set, the market begins to open at around 5 pm.

It’s opened late as it would be too hot during the daytime.

There are plenty of stalls selling food clothing, and other items that may be just what you’re looking for as a gift for yourself on your travels.

It’s also an excellent place to haggle and bargain with the local sellers, and you’ll always feel as if you’re coming out getting a deal.

DO keep in mind that the street food is a must try but the prices are already fixed.

There’s also street performances that occur throughout the market itself making it a lively option for everyone.

The Da Lat Night Market is at 6b Đường Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường 1, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng 690000.

7- Find Spirituality At The Truc Lam Zen Monastery

A true ancient Zen monastery, the Truc Lam Monastery is a spiritual place to find your inner peace as well as get a calming sensation as you walk through the compound.

There are multiple ways to get there, as well as a low cost cable car options.

To enter the temple itself is free of charge, but there may be a place to make a donation.

There are certain days of the month that you can come and see the Buddhist monks praying and chanting in their ritualistic ceremonies.

At the same time, when you’re walking around you will be able to capture some of the best views of the surrounding lake and valleys that truly make you feel alone and one with yourself in the best way possible.

It’s both an attraction and a place for reflection.

Thein Vien Truc Lam is at Tran Thanh Tong Street, Ward 3, Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province

8- Explore And Learn About The Datanla Falls

As if there wasn’t enough natural beauty in Da Lat, there’s also these seven majestic waterfalls to see.

Make sure that you wear comfortable clothes and be ready for some moderate to heavy activity when you head out here.

There’s plenty of things to do such as kayaking or canyoning, and even a roller coaster to be able to take in the sights.

At the same time if you’re looking for a bit less adventure, there is a cable car that can take you through the most scenic parts of the area.

When it comes to food, there’s food available near the entrance to the waterfalls to get your energy before you embark on this adventure.

Do consider going with a guided tour as they can help explain some of the local legends surrounding the waterfalls themselves.

Recommended tour: 7-hour Datanla waterfall, Clay Tunnel and Holy See temple

9- Explore The Forests Of Da Lat And Go Hiking

There are many forests throughout the Da Lat area for you to explore.

What’s really surprising for some is that there are coniferous forests in the area, meaning there are pine trees!

You can wander around in the forests and even go camping, but make sure to pick the right type of campsites that are appropriate and approved locally.

You can go with a group that will help provide you with certain amenities or brave the forests on your own, escaping the hustle and bustle of city life, in this truly serene experience.

There’s even some campsites that are farm stays where you can get as rural as possible, and enjoy the country life.

Recommended tours:

• 3-Hours Trekking Tour to Hidden Waterfall and Sturgeon Farm
• Extreme Dalat Canyoning
• Dalat Nature Tour

10- Check Out The Elephant Waterfall

One of the largest waterfalls in the region can be found here for your exploring pleasure.

This is a lesser known option so be prepared to hike it out a bit to get here.

It’s also still working on becoming a touristic site, meaning there’s not so many amenities or food options compared to other locations.

Yet that can be a good thing as it can be quite a peaceful place to go, especially during high tourism season.

You can find this waterfall is about 15.5 miles (25 Km) south of Da Lat, so expect to spend the day here and the relative peace and privacy.

Recommended tours:

• Dalat: Countryside Tour with Silk Village & Elephant Falls
• 9-hour Dalat Outskirt Tour with 3 Stunning – Majestic Falls
• Cao Bang & Ban Gioc Waterfall Day Tour by Motorbike

11- Spend A Few Days At Tuyen Lam Lake

There are so many things to do by this area, and it’s an excellent place for those that are looking to be one with nature for a couple of days.

It’s an excellent spot for camping as well, so bring your tent and other equipment, and enjoy the fresh and sometimes cooler air here.

Beyond camping there are boats available for rent that will take you around the lake, as well as kayaks if you’re looking to get a bit of exercise in.

It’s also an excellent place to bring your hiking gear or rent out a scooter and explore the surrounding area, using the lake as your basecamp.

12- Make A Stop At Bao Dai’s Palace

The last king of Vietnam, Bao Dai, made this beautiful palace.

His reign was all the way up until 1945.

The Palace was typically used as the private estate of the last king, and was actually the summer palace.

It is quite a lavish and luxurious place, with two dozen rooms and numerous well preserved priceless objects.

It’s a great place to check outside of Da Lat that is the end of a thousand year long regime and period.

It’s a great peace of history for those history buffs out there.

Bao Dai’s Place is at 1 Đường Triệu Việt Vương, Phường 4, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng.

Recommended tour: Da Lat: Da Lat Area Highlights Day Tour

13- Enhance Your Zen With A Visit To The Thien Vuong Co Sat Pagoda

This is also known as the Chinese pagoda and is inside of the Zhulin Temple.

This is a perfectly picturesque Buddhist area that has some fantastic sandalwood carved Buddha statues to check out.

Then you can walk around the grounds and enjoy yet another peace of mind and calm, having the positive spiritual energy.

Do keep in mind since this is considered a holy place that you make sure you’re dressed appropriately and follow any rules they may post about where you can and cannot go.

14- Take A Day Trip To Lang Biang Mountain

As you continue to fall in love with everything that Da Lat has to offer you can also head out a bit to the mountainside and get the best view of the whole city from there.

It’s quite a fun hike to get to the top of the peak to get those views, so make sure you’re ready for the adventure.

Of course for those who aren’t able to, there are cars and jeeps available that will take you comfortably to the top of Lang Biang Mountain as well.

There’s also other activities such as paragliding or even camping that can be done in different parts of the mountain, allowing it to be a multi-day trip.

It’s also home to many local villages that are home to the K’ho ethnic people.

Feel free to explore them and get involved with their culture.

It’ll be well worth it!

15- A Must See Is The Da Lat Railway Station

Keep in mind that this is the railway station that is no longer in service.

It was sadly destroyed during the war, yet at the same time has been properly restored to capture the historical value of its time.

The station itself is nearly 100 years old and was designed by two French architects that created a beautiful building and surrounding landscape.

You can check out the antique trains that are still preserved around, as well as grab some refreshments in the local café that’s actually in an old train carriage.

The Da Lat Railway Station is at 1 Quang Trung, Ward 10, Dalat City.

16- Get The Perfect Cup Of Coffee At A Da Lat Coffee Plantation

Take farm to cup literally and enjoy this agrotourism.

You’ll be able learn how coffee beans are made, from their cherries, through the drying process and of course being able to try some central Vietnamese coffee.

In fact this area is home to some of the original coffee growers in the area, and you will be able to have a cup that’s not like anything else you’ve ever tried before.

Besides just how rich and aromatic it is, being able to enjoy just how fresh and strong the coffee is will help uplift your mood for the day.

Recommended tour: Coffee – Wine – Tea Da Lat’s Agricultural Treasures Tour

17- Sync Your Travels Around The Da Lat Flower Festival

This happens once a year and you’ll want to check in advance.

It usually happens sometime in December and lasts around a week or so.

Each year there’s a specific theme and while it draws a huge tourism crowd, it really is meant to promote the floral industry.

Either way, you’re in for a unique experience as you see the local experts in the floral business showcase their wares, and have the main streets in Da Lat be overwhelmed by a plethora of beautiful and colorful flowers to enjoy.

Expect to see over a hundred different types of flowers.

18- Go Golfing In Da Lat

That’s right, there’s a huge golfing crowd not only in Da Lat but in Vietnam in general.

You have three options when you’re in Da Lat, and each one of them are an excellent 18 holes, but also are in lush areas within Da Lat, where you are able to enjoy the Golf Courses and the scenery as well.

Da Lat Palace Golf Club sits 5000 feet (1524 meters) above sea level, or you can be surrounded by pine cone forests at the Sam Tuyen Lam Golf Course.

Maybe you’re looking for the ultimate luxury and want to enjoy additional amenities on top of golfing, which can be had at the 1200 Country Club.

19- Experience The Clay Tunnel Installation

Originally this was only two clay houses, but has since expanded to included a mini village of clay structures, ranging from additional houses, the famous clay tunnel to walk through and other clay sculptures that both adults and children can enjoy.

A helpful hint is to enjoy this first thing when it opens in the morning or as the sun is setting as this area can be extremely hot.

The Clay Tunnel is at Phường 4, Dalat, Lam Dong 66000.

20- Enjoy The Food And Ambiance At The Da Lat Palace Hotel

Whether you decide to stay here or simply enjoy the amenities and the massive grounds, there’s nothing quite like spending time with your loved one at a palace.

You will both feel like royalty the minute you enter and there are three fantastic restaurants and bars to enjoy a lovely evening that comes complete with nightly live music.

Or maybe you’re looking for a quick pit stop and can enjoy high tea here as well which is really pure decadence with all the sweets on offer. 

The Da Lat Palace Hotel can be found at 02 Tran Phu, Ward 03, Dalat City. 

For more things to do in Vietnam, read:

• 20 Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh City
• 15 Things To Do In Hanoi
• 15 Things To Do In Hoi An
• Things To Do In Hue
• Vung Tau Travel Guide
• Vietnam River Cruise
• Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City
• 20 Beaches In Vietnam
• 20 Vietnam Cities
• Where To Stay In Hanoi
• Where To Stay In Ho Chi Minh City
• Where To Stay In Hoi An
• 20 Things To Do In Phu Quoc
• 20 Things To Do In Nha Trang
• 20 Islands In Vietnam
• 20 Things To Do In Danang
• 20 Things To Do In Dalat
• 20 Things To Do In Sapa
• Everything You Need To Know About Living In Vietnam
• 15 Things Vietnam Is Famous For
• 20 Beachfront Villas and Overwater Bungalows in Vietnam