18 Best Places To Visit In Da Lat Vietnam
Da Lat is one of those places I never really get tired of. I lived here for a while, and even then I still find another little mountain road, cafe, waterfall, or countryside spot that made me want to go out exploring again.
And that’s probably why I have such a soft spot for it. One day you can be riding an old train through the hills, the next you’re wandering around a very strange house, chasing waterfalls, or sitting somewhere with a hot coffee wondering where the afternoon went.
If this is your first trip, these are the places to visit in Da Lat to put on your list.
Planning your Da Lat trip
A lot of Da Lat attractions are easy to visit on your own, but the farther-out waterfalls and countryside spots are much nicer when you’re not spending half the day arranging transport.
If you only have a few days, this is how to narrow things down.
| If you want… | Choose… | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Da Lat sights | Datanla + Crazy House + Tuyen Lam | Book city tour |
| A waterfall day | Datanla + Pongour | Book Da Lat waterfall tour |
| Something adventurous | Canyoning at Datanla | Book a canyoning trip |
| A relaxed outing | Railway + Linh Phuoc + Trai Mat | Explore independently |
| A few peaceful nights | City center or Tuyen Lam Lake | Compare Da Lat hotels |
1. Have fun at Datanla Waterfall
Datanla is one of the best places to visit in Da Lat for the first time. The waterfall is nice, but there’s much more to do here than just stop for a photo.
The alpine coaster is the fun part for me. You control your own speed as you ride through the pine forest, so you can slow down for the views or go a little faster on the way down.
If you want something more adventurous, Datanla is also one of the main places for canyoning in Da Lat. You’ll be abseiling, climbing, swimming, and getting right into the waterfall area.
Give yourself a few hours here rather than rushing through. It’s also easy to combine Datanla with Tuyen Lam Lake afterward.
Book a Da Lat canyoning adventure →
2. Get wonderfully lost inside Crazy House
Crazy House is one of the strangest places I’ve visited in Da Lat, and that’s exactly why I like it.
There are twisting staircases, narrow walkways, unusual rooms, and little paths going in every direction. I always end up taking longer here than expected because there’s usually another corner I want to see.
Some of the walkways go quite high, so you’ll also get nice views over Da Lat as you move around. It feels more like exploring a giant art project than visiting a normal building.
It’s popular, but I still think it’s worth seeing on your first trip. There really isn’t anywhere else in Da Lat quite like it.
3. Go cloud hunting in Da Lat
Cloud hunting is one of those Da Lat experiences that makes the early alarm feel worth it.
I loved seeing the city and surrounding hills when everything was still quiet, and the clouds were sitting low between the mountains.
You’ll usually leave before sunrise and head towards places around Hon Bo or Cau Dat. Watching the light slowly change over the hills is such a lovely start to the day, especially when the clouds cooperate.
Combine it with Cau Dat if you’re already planning to visit the tea hills. After sunrise, you can continue into the countryside and stop for coffee, which feels especially good after standing outside in the cold morning air.
And definitely bring a warm layer. Da Lat mornings can be chilly, but I actually love that cooler weather because it’s such a big part of the city for me.
Book a Da Lat cloud-hunting tour →
4. Visit Mongo Land
Mongo Land is a fun stop if you want something different from waterfalls, pagodas, and city sightseeing.
There are alpacas and other animals, grassy areas, colourful photo spots, and activities like the rainbow slide. I liked how open the place felt, especially after spending a lot of time around central Da Lat.
It works well for families, but you don’t need kids to enjoy it. I love coming here for a relaxed couple of hours rather than trying to turn it into a full-day attraction.
Book a Mongo Land Da Lat tour →
5. Wander around Da Lat Flower Highland
Da Lat Flower Highland is a nice place to add if you enjoy flower gardens and mountain scenery.
There are colorful gardens spread across the hillside, with pine trees and views around you. I liked that it still felt connected to the Da Lat countryside rather than being just one small photo garden.
You can easily spend a couple of hours walking around and stopping wherever something catches your eye. There’s no need to rush through it.
Pair it with Mongo Land if you’re already heading in that direction. It makes the countryside trip much more worthwhile.
Get Da Lat Flower Highland tickets →
6. Make the trip to Pongour Waterfall
Pongour Waterfall is one of my favorite waterfalls around Da Lat because it looks so different from Datanla.
Instead of one narrow drop, the water spreads across wide rocky steps. I loved standing there and seeing how broad the whole waterfall was, especially with all the greenery around it.
It’s farther from Da Lat, but I never minded the drive. Once you’re out of the city, you pass farms, small towns, and lots of countryside, so the trip feels like part of the day.
Book a Da Lat waterfall tour →
7. Ride the cable car to Truc Lam and Tuyen Lam Lake
The Da Lat cable car is one of my favorite easy things to do in Da Lat when the weather is clear.
Once you leave Robin Hill, you get lovely views over the pine forest and hills below. I always enjoy this ride because it gives you a completely different view of Da Lat without needing to go far.
The cable car takes you towards Truc Lam Zen Monastery, where you can spend some time walking around the gardens.
Book Da Lat cable car tickets →
From there, head down towards Tuyen Lam Lake. I used to like coming here for a quieter afternoon, walking near the water and finding somewhere for coffee rather than trying to fit in another big attraction.
If you want to spend more time on the lake, kayaking or SUP is a fun way to explore it from the water. Otherwise, I’m perfectly happy simply enjoying the pine-covered hills and a slow afternoon nearby.
8. Take the old train to Trai Mat
Da Lat Railway Station is one of my favorite buildings in the city.
I like the yellow-and-red station, the old trains, and the little garden outside. But taking the train to Trai Mat makes the visit much more interesting than just coming for photos.
The journey is slow, which is part of the charm. You can sit by the window and watch the city turn into farms and countryside along the way.
And once you arrive, Linh Phuoc Pagoda is nearby. I always do the railway and pagoda together as an easy half-day trip.
9. Explore Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Linh Phuoc Pagoda is still one of the most impressive pagodas I’ve seen in Vietnam.
What caught my attention most was the amount of detail. So much of the decoration is made from small pieces of glass, pottery, and ceramics, and you keep noticing more the longer you look.
The giant dragon outside is hard to miss, but don’t stop there. Spend time inside the temple halls and climb the tower too.
Coming here by train from Da Lat makes the whole trip even nicer. It’s one of my favorite half-day outings from the city centre.
10. See Da Lat from Langbiang Mountain
Langbiang Mountain is where I go for views.
The area sits outside central Da Lat, and once you get higher up, you can look across forests, valleys, farms, and the surrounding highlands. It’s a very different view from wandering around the city center.
You can make this a more active outing with a hike, or take one of the local vehicles higher up if you’d rather save your energy. I’ll choose based on how outdoorsy the rest of your Da Lat trip already is.
Either way, give Langbiang a few hours rather than squeezing it between city attractions. This is one of those places where the scenery is the whole point.
11. Walk around Xuan Huong Lake and Lam Vien Square
Xuan Huong Lake is one of the places I miss most from living in Da Lat. I used to walk around here quite often, and I loved how easy it was to just head down to the lake whenever I wanted some fresh air.
Late afternoon was always my favorite time. The weather cools down, people come out to walk and cycle, and the whole area starts feeling really lively without being hectic.
Lam Vien Square is right beside the lake, so the two naturally go together. I like to wander past the giant glass flower buildings, stop somewhere if I fancy a coffee, then slowly make my way towards Da Lat Market.
12. Eat your way around Da Lat Market
Da Lat Market is one of those places where I always find something to look at, even when I’m not actually shopping for anything.
During the day, the stalls are full of strawberries, vegetables, flowers, dried fruit, and all kinds of produce from around Da Lat. I love wandering through and seeing what’s in season.
But evenings are my favorite. The streets around the market fill up with food stalls, people sit along the steps, and suddenly the whole area feels much busier and more fun.
Definitely get bánh tráng nướng while you’re here. I love eating it hot straight from the grill, and a cup of warm soy milk afterward is perfect when the Da Lat evening starts getting chilly.
You’ll find more of my favorites in my Da Lat food guide.
13. Escape to Cau Dat Tea Hill
I’ve always loved the drive out to Cau Dat Tea Hill. Once you leave central Da Lat, the roads get quieter, the scenery gets greener, and it starts feeling like a little countryside trip rather than just another attraction.
Then you reach the tea hills, and there are rows of green stretching across the slopes. I especially like coming earlier in the day when the air is cool, and everything looks really fresh.
What makes this area even nicer is that Cau Dat doesn’t have to be the only stop. There are tea and coffee farms around here, so stop somewhere for a drink before heading back.
This is one of those Da Lat outings where I enjoy the journey just as much as the place itself.
14. Spend a few hours at Valley of Love
Valley of Love is colorful, romantic, and very Da Lat. There are flowers everywhere, lake views, walking paths, and plenty of fun little places to stop for photos.
I actually enjoyed just wandering around here and seeing what came next. The park is bigger than it looks at first, so you can easily spend a few hours without feeling rushed.
It’s not where I’ll go for wild mountain scenery, but I don’t think it needs to be. Sometimes it’s nice to have an easy afternoon where you can walk around, take photos, and enjoy the gardens.
15. Have fun at the Clay Tunnel
The Clay Tunnel is another one of those slightly unusual Da Lat attractions that’s fun to walk around.
There are huge clay sculptures everywhere, including animals, houses, landmarks, and scenes inspired by Da Lat. I kept spotting something new as I followed the paths through the attraction.
The two giant faces beside the water are the famous photo spot, but there’s much more to see than that. Give yourself time to wander rather than heading straight there and leaving again.
17. Visit Samten Hills Dalat
Samten Hills feels completely different from central Da Lat, and I really liked having something so different on the trip.
The complex is inspired by Himalayan Vajrayana Buddhism, with huge statues, colorful details, open spaces, and beautiful countryside around you. The whole place feels much more spacious than many religious attractions I’ve visited.
The giant prayer wheel is one of the first things that catches your eye, but take your time exploring the rest too. I enjoyed walking around slowly and taking in the setting rather than rushing between the main sights.
It’s farther from Da Lat, so save Samten Hills for a longer stay. But if you have the time, it’s a lovely change from waterfalls, flower gardens, and city sightseeing.
Book Samten Hills Dalat tickets →
18. Wander through Bao Dai Palace III
Bao Dai Palace III is great to visit if you’re interested in history.
You can walk through the rooms used by Bao Dai and his family, with bedrooms, offices, furniture, and personal belongings still inside. Seeing those everyday spaces made it much easier for me to picture what life here might have been like.
I also liked walking around the gardens afterward. Da Lat’s cool weather makes places like this especially nice because you can take your time without wanting to rush back indoors.
More places to visit in Da Lat
There are still a few more Da Lat places I’ve enjoyed that are easy to fit into a longer trip.
Da Lat Cathedral is a simple stop when you’re already around the center. I like the pink exterior and tall bell tower there.
Thien Phuc Duc Hill is much more about the views. I liked coming out here when I wanted a quieter bit of Da Lat, with hills and mountains around instead of busy streets.
Puppy Farm is a fun one if you love animals. There are dogs, other animals, flower areas, and plenty to wander around, so it’s especially easy to enjoy if you’re traveling with kids.
And then there are all the flower gardens around Da Lat. I’ve been to quite a few over the years, and they’re all lovely.
Where to stay in Da Lat
Stay near the city center if you want cafes, Xuan Huong Lake, and Da Lat Market within easy reach. For somewhere quieter, Tuyen Lam Lake feels much more peaceful and suits a slower trip.
Dalat Palace Heritage Hotel is my pick if you love old-world character and want to stay right beside Xuan Huong Lake. Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa is another lovely choice, with beautiful old villas and a greener, more relaxed setting close to town.
And for a proper switch-off, Dalat Edensee Lake Resort near Tuyen Lam Lake is an excellent choice. It’s farther from the city center, but that quiet lake-and-pine setting is exactly why you’ll love staying there.
Compare hotels and resorts in Da Lat →
My favorite places to visit in Da Lat
If I were back in Da Lat tomorrow, I’d probably start with the railway to Trai Mat, have lunch somewhere warm and cozy, then spend the afternoon around Tuyen Lam Lake.
Another day would definitely involve a waterfall and far too many coffee stops.
That’s what I miss most about living here. Da Lat has plenty of famous attractions, but some of the nicest moments happen between them, when you find another little road, cafe, or viewpoint and decide there’s really no need to hurry anywhere else.
The waterfall😍