Đà Lạt is situated in the central highlands of south Vietnam. It is centered around a lake and golf course and surrounded by hills, pine forests, lakes and waterfalls. It has a temperate climate and so is known as the City of Eternal Springs. Đà Lạt was developed by the French in the early 1900s, and many architecture reminders remain.

Our Trip

We stayed in Đà Lạt for three days and four nights and between seeing the sites and a chance meeting with a couple we’d met in Hội An, the time flew by.

Walking around Đà Lạt

Our first day we decided we’d take a walk around and get our bearings so after a late breakfast at the hotel we started off on what ended up being a 15km hike. We walked up to the cathedral and around the big central lake where we stopped for a tea/smoothie refreshments, through a large shopping centre where we stopped at a bakery for a raisin swirl snack, up past the golf course and the flower park, then into the central markets – It was quite a walk! We walked around the markets and bought some fruit and I bought some sunnies to replace the ones that got smashed the day before.

Our 15km hike took us up to the late afternoon so we found a quaint laneway and stopped for a beer and snacks for a couple of hours, watching the world pass by. We then walked back to the hotel and washed up for dinner. We walked back to that same laneway for dinner, deciding on a quaint rooftop restaurant where we were given a feast – the Thai curry and fried rice was delicious.

Central lake

Cathedral

Biking around Đà Lạt

The next day we decided to tour around on our bikes. We wanted to check out the sky rail, waterfalls and the railway building but it was all a bit too far to walk.

Thein Vien Truc Lam

We rode our bikes to the sky rail where we paid a small fee for parking. We walked up to buy tickets and there was no queue so we were able to walk up and straight onto the carriage – before we knew it we were in the air! I’m not the best with heights, so having little time to think about it was probably a good thing. It was about a 20 minute ride and it was a clear day so the view over Đà Lạt was fantastic. At the other end of the sky rail is a monastery and lake that you can walk around. When we arrived it was rammed with tourists, so we found a park bench and ate some lychees. While sitting down Eddie noticed an Eagle and its handler offering holdings to tourists, so we went over and held the magnificent bird – it was so heavy! We then headed back on the sky rail to our next stop, waterfalls.

Datanla Falls

It was a quick ride from the skyrail to the waterfalls, we parked up went straight to the ticket desk. There was no information in English so it was a little confusing, but we managed to figure it out –  a few rude locals decided to push infront of us but other than that it was a very fun afternoon.

We bought return tickets to get to the waterfalls by bobsled (how random!) There were two of us in the sled and Eddie had control of the brakes, so we went very fast!! It was about a 300m track but we had to stop on certain parts and wait for a while as the sled in front was going pretty slow. At the bottom of the track we hopped off and were offered to win free wine if we hit an archery target – needless to say we took a shot with the bow and arrow but sadly no free wine for us!

We then walked over to the falls – not the most impressive we’ve seen – but it was fun with all the other activities. After taking a few photos at the falls we got on the bobsled back and a pulley system lifted us back up to the top of the hill – some very steep angles!

We then rode up to the railway station which is a pretty impressive building and saw an old steam train sat in the platform. There isn’t too much to see here but it’s worth a quick look.

It was later in the afternoon by this point and we were getting hungry so we rode into a central tourist spot and had delicious pizza for late lunch, so good!

Night Markets

By the time we got back to the hotel we were a little wrecked from the day. We had a quick shower and then headed out to the markets to see if they would be any different at night – it turns out it’s quite different as by night it’s mainly clothing and food for sale. We had a walk around and saw ‘Da Lat Pizza’ for sale – so we had to try it. The base is hard rice paper and it’s topped with spring onions, chilly, meat, sauce (I think that’s all) and it’s then barbecued over a hot flame… Very interesting and tasted much better than we thought!

Dalat Market by night

Crazy Bar

We were walking away from the market when we hear a voice approaching us and it’s Danni and Phil, who we had met during the home stay meal in Hoi An – how random! Full credit to Danni for recognising us and saying hello! We end up chatting away and decide to go for a drink – we stumble across a bar that is based on the local infamous “crazy house” – as we step inside the bar we can see why it gets its name, the entire bar is filled with nooks and crannies, paths and steps that will take you in circles! Some of the coves are pitch black and others are lit up as seating areas. As we walk around its a little unnerving not knowing how to get out! We have fun wandering around for a while and eventually find a seat and have a few drinks to calm our nerves! Haha.

Hungover in Da Lat

Street Park

The next morning we’re a little worse for wear and after a very late brekkie kick ourselves out of the hotel and go for a ride to get some fresh air. We go back to the lake and park in the big shopping area and then get a raisin swirl and eat it in the park area – we’ve noticed these park areas all over Vietnam, they are large paved areas that families go and the young children scoot around on electronic cars and segways, or fly kites.

We sit and people-watch for a while and again Danni and Phil spot us and walk over – this time we arrange to meet up for a drink after dinner, a great way to end our time here!

Beer Hall

We went back for dinner at the delicious Berlin 85 restaurant and again, we really loved our dinner. We then hopped into a cab (our first Vietnam taxi) to a dark ale beer hall that Danni had heard about – we knew where it was after Eddie found it on our ride back from the street park. I stuck with the light beer and Eddie tried both light and dark. It was a really nice evening spent with friends – the atmosphere was pretty cool, we were sat in a busy working mans pub, no music just the sound of mates chatting away.

Towards the end of the night we were the last in the bar and two Russian men walk in hoping for a take-away beer for their walk home… The bar staff have a no problem attitude and proceed to empty a pint into a plastic bag and give them a straw – the Russians each walk out with a small beer-filled bag and straw, well, we thought it was pretty hilarious!

Beer to go!