What to See and Do in Dalat

Dalat Night Market

Dalat’s night market is one of the most popular places to hang out. Located right in the heart of the city near the Central Market, it becomes a buzzing hub in the evenings. 

You’ll see local families enjoying the atmosphere, tourists sampling local delicacies, and local teens posing for a million photos. It’s also the perfect place to pick up a few bargains. Countless clothing stalls here sell everything from shirts and trousers, to chunky scarves and hats shaped like capybaras.

Stroll around Xuan Huong Lake

I’m a big fan of cities with large central lakes, so I was happy to learn about Xuan Huong Lake before my visit to Dalat. Located in the city centre, it’s the perfect place for a relaxing early morning or late afternoon stroll. It’s roughly five kilometres in total, so it will take about one hour to walk around. There are little parks to wander through along the way, as well as restaurants and cafes at the banks, benches to rest on, and swan pedalos that you can rent and take out on the water.

Visit Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery

Pretty temples are a dime a dozen in Vietnam, but one I can wholeheartedly recommend visiting in Dalat is the Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery.

Located around six kilometres outside the city centre, this tranquil Zen Buddhist temple complex is a real delight. Set atop a mountain surrounded by pine forests, the grounds here are beautifully maintained, with perfectly manicured gardens, ponds, and rosewood Zen structures to stroll past.

Despite its popularity, the monastery is peaceful and quiet, perfect for wandering slowly and soaking up the serene and spiritual atmosphere. The entire complex is free to enter and is open from 5am to 9pm daily. As it is a religious site, you should dress modestly with your chest, shoulders, and knees covered, and remove your shoes before entering any temples.

From the monastery, you can also walk through a wonderfully calm pine forest to Tuyen Lam Lake, a large turquoise lake surrounded by green hills. You can hire a boat to go around the lake, or rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. If you want a break, head over to An Tuyền Lâm cafe for a tea or coffee with a fantastic view of the lake.

Take a Ride on the Dalat Cable Car

While you can get to the Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery by motorbike or taxi, the best way to reach it is to take a relaxing ride on the Dalat Cable Car. Spanning roughly two kilometres, you will glide over pine forests and be treated to majestic panoramic views of the surrounding valleys during the 12-minute journey. 

The entrance to the cable car can be found at Robin Hill, which can be reached in about 10 minutes from the city centre by Grab.

• Admission: 150,000 Vietnamese dong (VND) per person for a return journey.

Discover Dalat’s Coffee Culture

Vietnam is world famous for its coffee culture and Dalat (and its surrounding area) is one of the country’s primary coffee growing regions, owing to its cooler climate and rich soil.

There are countless cafes in the city to pop into for some locally grown beans, but an interesting way to discover more about this important part of Vietnamese culture is to visit a local coffee farm. Many small growers open their doors to curious visitors, but I can recommend the following:

Destiny Coffee Farm

We spontaneously did a private tour at Destiny Coffee Farm and timed it perfectly to visit during harvest season. The enthusiastic owner showed us the different types of coffee trees and let us try the coffee “cherries” straight from the branches. He was incredibly passionate and walked us through every step of the process – from picking to drying to roasting. His farm was really gorgeous, with views over the hills and rows of coffee plants. The owner sells his own coffee, tea made from the husks of coffee cherries (surprisingly tasty!) and homemade cookies, baked by his girlfriend.

HuyEco Coffee & Culture

I enjoyed an intimate and hands-on tour at HuyEco Coffee & Culture, where we got to roast our own beans in a small roasting machine, and taste five types of coffee from the more acidic varieties to the really bold, bitter ones. The guide explained the whole process really clearly and made it very interactive for us.

If you want to understand Vietnamese coffee rather than just drink it, this tour is a great option. HuyEco Coffee & Culture sells different types of coffee beans to take home with you, which would make a great gift or souvenir. 

Interested in learning more about Vietnamese coffee? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Vietnamese Coffee (with the 6 types you must try!)

Hike up Lang Biang Mountain

Dalat’s hilly and green surroundings provide plenty of hiking opportunities for those of you wanting to explore the great outdoors. There are many trails to be found nearby with varying difficulties, but the most well-known and popular are the trails up Lang Biang Mountain.

The Lang Biang mountain range, which sits around 14 kilometres from the city centre, has several peaks, the highest of which is the Lang Biang Peak. Sitting 2,167 meters above sea level, the only way to reach this summit is to hike up through pretty pine forests. But be aware, this hike can be challenging as you will have to pass through dirt tracks, up steep slopes (which can be slippery), and other challenging hurdles along the way.

Depending on your fitness, this hike can take between two to four hours one-way. Once at the top though, you will be rewarded with fabulous views of the city, the surrounding area, and mountain ranges in the distance.

Not up for a long steep hike? Don’t worry. You can also head up an easier paved road to Lang Biang Mountain’s Radar Base (or “Radar Hill”).

If you want to reach this point without aching knees, you can treat yourself to a ride in one of the old Russian jeeps at the entrance. These take you partway up, providing quicker and far easier access to the viewing areas. From the radar base, you can still hike to the Lang Biang peak, but again, this will require a steep ascent.

• Admission: Entry to the park is around 50,000 VND. The ride to the top is around 100,000 VND. You can get to the entrance via Grab or local bus.

Sample Local Specialities

I’m a massive fan of Vietnamese food. It’s one of my favourite cuisines and I find it really interesting how much the food varies across the country. In the north the flavours are typically a bit more mild and subtle, while the south tends to go for sweeter flavour profiles. The central part, where Dalat is located, leans more toward spicier and bolder flavours, which is perfect for me.

Here are the Dalat dishes that we enjoyed the most:

• Bánh Căn – miniature savoury pancakes, crispy outside and soft inside.
• Mì Quảng – turmeric-infused, wide yellow rice noodles in a broth with different toppings like pork, shrimp, boiled eggs, peanuts.
• Bánh Mì Xíu Mại – juicy meatballs in a clear pork bone broth with Thai basil, served with warm, crispy bread.
• Bánh Canh Cá Lóc Chú La – a fried fish noodle soup that’s comforting, filling and very local.
• Kem Bơ – avocado ice cream blended with coconut cream (delicious!).
• Sữa Đậu Nành nóng – hot soy milk that is really cosy and comforting. Beloved by the locals, you can find special variations like soy milk flavoured with sesame, peanut or green bean.

There are some well-rated food tours in Dalat that you can join to try the above dishes. The Dalat Sreet Food Walking Tour includes more than 10 different types of food and drink, whereas Da Lat Night Local Food & Sightseeing Tour by Scooter takes you around the city on a scooter, stopping at different spots popular with locals.

Dalat is also known for being a major fruit-growing region, to the point it is sometimes referred to as Vietnam’s “fruit basket”. You’ll find plenty of delicious produce to enjoy here, including juicy persimmons and strawberries. These can all be found fresh, but they are also incredibly popular in dried form. These weren’t exactly my favourite as they just reminded me of the dried fruit you get in cereal, but they are certainly popular and are typical gifts and souvenirs. They can be found in dried-fruit stores around the city, as well as at the Dalat Night Market.

Additionally, Dalat is the most famous wine hub in Vietnam, so we couldn’t resist picking up some bottles to try. The white wine? Not for us. The red? Surprisingly decent!

Go Cloud Hunting

Another popular activity to do while in Dalat is to go “cloud hunting”. In the morning, Dalat’s beautiful mountains become blanketed with mystical layers of clouds, their peaks popping up above them like islands. As the sun rises, the mist begins to lift, treating early-birds to gorgeous golden-hued views.

You can reach several cloud-hunting spots independently if you have a vehicle, but the easiest way is to join a guided tour. These involve being picked up from your accommodation before being whisked off to scenic spots, where you will be treated to this natural spectacle. The only issue? You will have to leave your hotel at about 4am!

The best period for cloud hunting is usually from late October to April, when weather conditions are at their most ideal. Here are some well-rated tours with very similar itineraries, for different budgets:

• Dalat: Sunrise Hiking, Breakfast & Pickup Included
• Dalat: Cloud Chasing Sunrise Hike with Pickup and Meals
• Dalat: Cloud Hunting and Nature Morning Tour
• Dalat: Cloud Hunting & Sunrise Trekking to Hon Bo Peak

Get your Adrenaline Fix

If you are an adventure junkie, Dalat has got you covered! There are tons of activities to do here that will get your heart pumping, such as ziplining and riding an alpine rollercoaster through tall pine forests at Khu du lịch Thác Datanla. You can also race around the countryside in an ATV or admire the scenery from the backseat of a motorbike, driven by a local guide.

Dalat is known for its spectacular waterfalls, which you can trek to with a local guide and their dogs (a great choice for dog lovers!), or try canyoning and cliff jumping into the turquoise water. Dalat is also famous for the exhilarating Mario Kart Experience at Cao Nguyen Hoa, where you’ll speed down winding mountain trails in small karts, while trying to avoid other racers!

If you’d like to see the highlights of Dalat in a short time, you can do a full-day tour which includes visits to nearby waterfalls, a silk weaving factory, a coffee plantation, a pagoda, a flower village and one of Dalat’s beautiful temples. If you’d like to create your own itinerary, you can hire a private driver to take you to the sights that interest you most.

Where to Stay in Dalat

For first-time visitors, it’s best to stay near the city centre so you can walk to cafés, restaurants and the night market. There are a wide range of boutique hotels and guesthouses, as well as homestays slightly uphill for views and quieter nights.

Here are some well-rated accommodation options to consider:

• Maxim Hotel ($) – We stayed in this friendly, quiet hotel with helpful staff, comfortable rooms and good Wi-Fi. The hotel is very close to a cluster of Korean restaurants and cafes (if you fancy a change from Vietnamese cuisine) and is just a short walk from supermarkets, restaurants, the night market and Xuan Huong Lake.
• Orchid Hotel ($) – A highly-rated boutique hotel with modern, clean rooms, friendly staff, and a lovely garden and terrace, offering great value just a short ride from Xuan Huong Lake and central attractions.
• Gia Nguyễn Hotel Dalat ($) – With superb guest reviews, Gia Nguyễn Hotel offers modern rooms and a pleasant garden setting, remaining close to Dalat’s central attractions and eateries.
• The Note Dalat ($$) – A charming guesthouse with a garden and terrace, The Note Dalat impresses guests with its excellent service, relaxed vibe, and central location near all the key sights.
• Chubby House Dalat ($$$) – A highly-rated apartment-style stay with free Wi-Fi, a garden and terrace, and well-appointed units with kitchens, ideal for longer stays or families looking for a home-like base near the city centre.

When to Visit Dalat

Dalat has a mild climate year-round, but timing still matters. The best months to visit are December to March when the weather is supposedly dry, cool and pleasant. We were there in early December and at first, it rained for four days straight. Then we had glorious 28°C weather with abundant sunshine and a bright blue sky.

If you’d rather visit during the shoulder season, November could be a good choice – the flowers are in bloom and there are fewer crowds. The rainy season runs from May to October, with heavier rain from July-September. Whatever time of year, you will probably need a warm jacket or coat as the evenings can get chilly. I had to wear a hoodie, scarf and rain jacket every evening as I didn’t bring a coat with me!

How to Get to Dalat

By plane

• Fly into Lien Khuong Airport (DLI)
• There are direct flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang
• The airport is about 30 minutes from the city. Book a Grab taxi on arrival – you can pay through the app and no haggling required! 

By bus

• Sleeper buses from Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Mui Ne
• Scenic but winding mountain roads (not ideal if you get motion sickness!)
• A good choice if you’re travelling on a tight budget

Is Dalat Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! Dalat feels like a pause button in Vietnam – cooler, calmer and greener than most cities. Between coffee farms, misty forests, comforting food and relaxed walking streets, it’s an ideal stop for first-time visitors wanting something different from the usual Vietnam itinerary.

If you’ve been to Dalat, what was your favourite thing that you did or saw? Let me know in the comments!

Ciao for now,

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow