Dalat

Hotels In:

• Dalat
• Do Son
• Halong Bay
• Hanoi
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Hue

At one time, the early builders and residents of this hillside resort town referred to Dalat as “Le Petit Paris”. Dalat is considered a luxury, quaint get away for Vietnamese “big city” types and those trudging along the sultry coastal Vietnam. The town is known for its beautiful temples, its honeymoon atmosphere, and some of the finest golf courses in all of Indochina.

Sitting up in the altitude, around 1,500 meters, Dalat could be thought of as an air-conditioned city. The temperatures stay cool year round, and the crisp mountain air nicely accommodates the mix of pastoral hillside Vietnam with that of a European alpine town. In 1897 a Swiss geologist by the name of Alexander Yersin founded the town for a French commander who disliked living in the Vietnamese tropics. When walking around the town, you can still notice many signs of colonialism amongst the serene pagodas which really lend to a feeling of being far from the motorbike crammed cities so commonly associated with Vietnam. Many foreigners who visit Dalat also choose to visit some of the smaller towns in the surrounding hills, which are home to the Koho and the Lat, two ethnic minorities who populate the hillside surrounding Dalat.

Dalat is a Vietnamese city of romance. Many of the local scenic spots such as the “Valley of Love”, and the “Lake of Sighs” attract new couples. Also being a top destination for Vietnamese couples honeymooning or getting married, it is not uncommon to see has many as a dozen different wedding parties on a given day.

The waterfalls attract more of a open air carnival feeling, as vendors and a rather strange variety of costumed entertainers provide some of the cheesiest entertainment you will ever see. It’s not meant to be taken seriously, and almost lends a feeling where it would be reflected on by couples, laughing in future days remembering the event as being “so bad, it was wonderful”.

Getting Around

Most visitors spend there time walking around, as you can reach most of the city sights, such as the market and the lake, on foot. There are no cyclos, but you can rent a motorbike for a few US dollars a day from the street side places, up to around five US dollars a day from the hotels. Note that on weekends, the bustling central city is closed to auto and motorbike traffic. Dalat is a great place to ride a motorcycle, even if you’re not used to riding one. The winding mountain roads and the crisp air lend a feeling of being alive, and it is a great way to get all of the standard sight seeing out of the way. Be sure to check the brakes and the horn, both of which you will use often, and remember to actually wear the poor example of a helmet that they should supply you with. Luckly, it’s rather easy to remain in control of a motorcycle that has the same amount of power as your average popcorn machine, but accidents do happen.

If renting a motorcycle is just not your thing, or you really can’t be bothered to navigate at the same time you’re trying to pilot the thing, you can always hire someone to fill that responsibility. For a buck or two an hour you can hire a motorcycle driver, and take the back seat. If you have a full day lined up, or just like the convenience you can haggle an all day price as well. If you just have a natural fear of anything on two wheels, you may also hire a car for around twenty-five US dollars per day, which might make sense if you are traveling in a group and want to see many of the sights which are just outside of town.

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Vietnam Travel Guide Want cities? Slurp down steaming pho in a street stall, toff up in a tailored suit, negotiate head-on traffic in a flimsy cyclo. Want nature? Get your fill of green in endless rice paddies, cool down in the mountains, laze on South China beaches. Want the best on Vietnam? Get yourself this guide.