The rich outdoors and unique city centre captures the heart of tourists to this Vietnamese city with marvellous things to do in Dalat.

This stunning Vietnamese City of Dalat is waiting for exploration with a range of peaceful, quirky and fascinating things to do in Dalat that will get any tourist travelling into the region mesmerised by its absolute beauty.

The captivating Dalat city in the Central Highlands of Southern Vietnam is perfect for any traveller seeking a versatile amount of activities for your getaway in the famous Southeast Asian Country.

Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a family travelling with young kids, or even on a romantic escape into the highlands.

You’ll find the perfect activity for any occasion, and you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll be returning to the vibrant city upon your return trip to Vietnam.

With a range of activities on hand for the tourists to the area, it’s only fair to run over a few things to do in Dalat. Even when you’re done jotting down the details on Fair Dinkum traveller’s list of activities, you’ll still find many more things to do in this famous inland city of Vietnam.

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Dive deep into this list of things to do in Dalat in Vietnam.

A-List of Magnificent Things to do in Dalat – Vietnam

The rich outdoors and unique city centre captures the heart of tourists to this Vietnamese city with marvellous things to do n Dalat. It’s a picturesque region you won’t forget long after your vacation in Vietnam has ended.

Visit Dazzling Waterfalls such as Elephant and Prenn Waterfalls.

There are many dazzling waterfalls to view when checking out what to do in Dalat. On your visit to the region, you’ll see a couple of thunderous falls while travelling in a gorgeous area. A day trip with a hired driver is usually the best way to get to the falls and other Dalat attractions.

The Elephant Waterfall is one of the most spectacular, and it got its name from a rock that resembles an elephant.

This beautiful waterfall, situated about 45-minutes from the City-centre, will melt your heart at first sight as you view the flowing water from various vantage points.

Another significant fall is the Prenn Waterfall, an attraction amongst other attractions. Inside Prenn Waterfall, plenty of kid-friendly games and activities await with beautiful forest walks, and canoe rides along the flowing water.

A visit to Prenn Waterfall makes for a family-friendly outing while you cherish the sounds of the thunderous falls and beautiful sights that will further captivate your vacation in Vietnam.

There are many other waterfalls spread out far and wide, and it can be challenging to get to them all during your stay, but heck, you’ll see some beautiful scenery along the way.

Famous falls to note in the region include the Pongour and Dantanla Waterfalls. You can find a list of other falls by clicking on the link.

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Prenn Waterfall.[/caption]

Weasel Coffee Plantation is a must for coffee lovers

During your Dalat tour, a coffee experience at the Weasel Coffee Plantation needs to be on the list of things to do in Dalat. It’s a must-see attraction for any coffee lover, where you can sip freshly brewed coffee and view the beautiful Dalat Highlands in the background, which indeed looks gorgeous in its rich green colour.

The story of how the Weasel coffee beans are made is fascinating, and you’ve quite possibly heard it before. The odd-looking animal, the Weasel, eats the coffee bean, it goes through their system undigested, and the acid from the stomach gives the coffee its distinct flavour.

So yes, the coffee beans come from the droppings of a weasel and the rest is processed from there. It may sound disgusting, but it’s a must-try for coffee lovers when in Dalat.

Coffee time!!! Weasel Style.

Visiting a Cricket farm is one of the unique activities in Da Lat

Unless you are visiting a cricket farm as part of your Dalat tour, there isn’t much to see unless you love seeing crickets bounce around in a dark room, and no, it’s not that exciting, and the time spent at this location will be short.

Perhaps your lure to the farm will be to taste a cricket, and if it is, good luck to you for being spontaneous.

I suggest that you stick to a delicious bowl of pho on the streets of Dalat; it’s much better on the tastebuds.

Linh Phuoc Pagoda

Linh Phuoc Pagoda is a uniquely designed Buddhist temple made from broken glass and smashed up pottery, a fascinating Dalat attraction.

The visually stunning and popular attraction of Dalat is a treat for all tourists, not only because it requires no entry fee to stumble into the grounds of the heritage building.

It is mesmerising to gaze at the temple from many vantage points.

The most common thing to do inside the Linh Phuoc Pagoda is to go inside the main temple halls to partake in their prayer rituals and admire the pagoda’s interior design.

You may spend a few moments wondering if the portrait monks inside the halls are real or not. I can assure you; they’re not real.

The stunning Linh Phuoc Pagoda.

Indulge in Delicious Pastries at Lien Hoa Bakery

This little bakery in Dalat City is a real treat for everyone with a large selection of bread, savouries, pastries, sweets and magnificently designed cakes.

At all-day hours, the Lien Hoa Bakery is crammed with tourists and locals keen to grab a large selection of baked goods at a low price for a delicious treat. You will put this bakery on your Dalat city tour.

The crazy house is one of the most Quirky things to do in Dalat

The architecture around the Crazy House is fascinating, and it is easily the most bizarre attraction you’ll visit in the city.

The Crazy House Dalat was designed by one lady who, in all her creativeness and wisdom, took 14-years to create what can only be called a masterpiece.

Once inside, you can climb up a variety of steps to reach great heights and capture magnificent views of the quirky hotel and the city of Dalat.

It’s an attraction suitable for families, and kids will love the maze-like pathways throughout and go on a full-on exploration trip in the Crazy House.

The Crazy House Dalat.

Take a Stroll around the Xuan Huong Lake

For romantic and fun things to do in Da Lat, check out the breathtaking scenic lakes that make up a lot of Dalat, and there is none better than the five-kilometre path of Xuan Huong Lake.

The lake is continuously busy with pedestrians taking a long stroll around the lake to view the delightful gardens on display, and if walking is not your style, you can take a horse carriage ride instead.

For a little on-water activity, you can enjoy a ride on the pedal boats available for hire, and once your thighs get a solid workout, you can stop by the cafe for coffee with gorgeous views.

The Xuan Huong Lake is not the only lake in Dalat, there are many others in the area waiting to be discovered, and just as beautiful tucked away in the scenic highlands, which can be seen on your drive-by on a Dalat day tour.

The Popular lakes in Dalat include the Valley of Love and the Tuyen Lam Lake. You can find a list of other lakes by clicking on the link.

Xuan Huong Lake.

Relax inside the Bich Cau Garden

The Bich Cau Garden deserves a separate mention, even though it’s attached to the previously Xuan Huong Lake.

Bich Cau Garden is a picturesque garden island on the eastern end of the Lake, and it’s a delight to gaze your eyes upon the delightful gardens and stay for a coffee or bite to eat at the garden cafe.

Enjoy the Colour at the Dalat Flower Park

The Dalat Flower Park is full of fantastic colours that get many tourists through the fancy gate to catch a glimpse of the blooming flowers, picturesque lake, decorative bonsai, and the picturesque views above.

It’s a walk-in nature at its very finest as you take in the colour and serenity of the Dalat Flower Park.

See the best gardens in Dalat with Klook!

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Dalat Flower Park.

Dalat Cable Cars

Get the best views in the Highlands by reaching great heights in a Cable car which is approximately15-minutes from the city.

The journey in the cars covers the expansive region, with further opportunity to view the beauty of Dalat from a different vantage point.

Dalat Cathedral

You’ll be hard-pressed in Vietnam to find a Cathedral that isn’t beautiful or anywhere in the world.

The Cathedral in Dalat is no exception, and a short distance from the City Centre, it makes for a pleasant stroll through the streets of Dalat.

The light-coloured Cathedral stands out clearly in a city of less spectacular infrastructure, and excellent photos are promised to be taken. It also has splendid views over the surrounding area.

The Dalat Cathedral.

Big C Supermarket

A little modern-day shopping is not forgotten in Dalat, with an underground boutique shopping mall known as the Big C Supermarket.

If you want to escape the outdoors, go onside the boutique mall for affordable groceries, retail shopping and local cuisine in the food court of the mall. There are a few fun and games options inside the mall for the kids.

Take your pick with Dining Options.

Choices are plenty where you can either wander around the City Centre and help yourself to a meal on the run by purchasing a feed on the cheap at many located food stalls that are readily available.

It’s a great chance to save some coin, stop by for an extremely cheap meal, and sit down on a stool no higher than your shins.

For those who want a traditional sit-down meal in a comfortable restaurant, Dalat has many choices at a reasonable price.

Don’t hesitate by worrying about the standard of the food in Dalat; it’s all good; dine in style and enjoy a delicious Vietnamese meal with a refreshing ice-cold beer.

Grab a snack on the streets.

Dalat Night Market

Did anyone say shopping in Dalat Vietnam? Why not with a bargain bound to be found in the Dalat markets.

The Night markets are not too different from those in Saigon; they’re crowded with people looking for a bargain with heaps of cheap stuff to be found during your adventure in the jungle of the markets.

The Dalat Night Market comes with all the basics items associated with Southeast Asian markets with a large fruit and veg section, butchers section, food court and clothing apparel.

The atmosphere is always buzzing, and it is a great way to enjoy the nightlife.

The Dalat Night Market.

Take a walk through the City Centre.

As with any destination worldwide you visit during your travels, strolling through the city at a slow and leisurely pace is compulsory.

You never know what hidden secrets you will discover when you explore on your own two feet with dark alleys and side streets always full of exciting surprises.

A Dalat City tour is compulsory for viewing during your stay.

The city is unique with crowded streets, thousands of motorbikes are manic on the roads, but not as bad as Saigon, and bunched-up buildings, seemingly built too close for comfort, are fascinating to see as you walk the streets of Dalat city centre.

Enjoy a Dalat City Tour with Klook!

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Book a day tour away from Dalat

There’s much to see away from Dalat, and an adventurous day tour to fascinating places is expected on your Dalat trip.

During a one day tour, you’ll have covered a sizeable expansive area as you go far and wide to explore the fascinating region.

Dalat star

The Dalat Star s a stunning attraction that warrants a couple of hours of your time. It’s a magical place where you can wander through a maze of sculptures and villages made entirely of clay.

The making of Dalat Star is made of locally used red soil mixed with stone powder and cement, with the result being a delightful attraction that the whole family will enjoy.

There you have a list of marvellous things to do in Dalat.

On top of this crazy list, you’ll find many more amazing things to do, such as adventures through the forest or a round of golf at the picturesque Dalat golf course.

The choices are many, and now all you need to do is head to Vietnam and go inland to Dalat.

Enjoy a Dalat City Tour with Klook!

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Book a hotel in Dalat with Booking.com

Dalat Star

I loved my travel to Vietnam and in particular Ho Chi Minh City where I spent most of my time, I really did, the people, the food, the old heritage buildings and to a lesser extent, the craziness on the streets.

There was so much to love about travelling to Vietnam, yet in another way, it was some kind of love hate relationship and I don’t mean that in a negative way by any stretch. Yet, as I leave your special land for now, let’s stay friends, because I will be back again and I’ll be eager to eat your pho and drink your Saigon Special beer once again.

Visiting Vietnam, especially Ho Chi Minh City was interesting to say the least, crazy road conditions, where traffic lights were rare and even when they were around, it seemed to be a choice by the locals if the rules were followed. It then made attempting to cross a road, near on impossible and with kids around even harder, but we did manage.

Ready Set Go. The traffic get ready to converge.

The locals were great, sure some of them were pushy, even rude, and at first it seemed a little disturbing when in the hustle and bustle of the streets.

Yet at the end of the day, most of the locals were polite and eventually you got used to the hectic streets, because it is a chaotic city and people do what they have got to do to get around.

Life in downtown Saigon is a rat race and if you are too nice you get left behind. If you’re not aggressive, you get left stranded. Quite simply, if you don’t like a mad rush, then don’t visit Ho Chi Minh City. Personally I wasn’t overawed by the occasion but I certainly respected it.

What about the Vietnamese Food? Well there is lots and lots of that famous Vietnamese pho, you know, that rice noodle soup that is sold in just about every second house in the city.

While there is a lot of variety of Vietnamese food available, the popular choices were the soup or the bread rolls filled with meat and salads that was easily accessible on the streets, just like the soup. At least that is the way it is in the South of Vietnam.

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Pho (Soup) is the main choice of food in Vietnam.

Travel to Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City – My Opinion of the Chaotic City

The good and the bad of Ho Chi Minh City? What did I like? Or not like? Let’s jump into it and who knows it may help you prepare for your visit to Vietnam in the future and you may share a similar love hate relationship in your Vietnam Travel experience.

The Not So Good Bits About Visiting Vietnam

1. Chaotic Saigon: Bike, bikes everywhere. Down a small alley way, there will be bikes. On the footpath, you guessed it, more bikes. You can’t escape it, so embrace it because you simply cannot do anything about so you better to just get used to it.
2. Crossing the road: The crazy streets leads to how to cross a road in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s quite dangerous to say the least. Unfortunately, the best answer I can give at this time is to proceed with caution and cross the road, the bikes will go around you. Hopefully. But whatever you do, don’t stop and continue to move forward at a slow walking pace.
3. The air out there: The pollution in the big city is appalling and a lot of the locals do wear a mask. If you find the air is becoming a hassle, I suggest you buy a mask for yourself, even if it feels a little weird. You won’t look out of place, that I can assure you.
4. Not an easy city to walk: Walking the streets of the city is not easy, and I am talking about when you are actually on the footpath. Not only are you avoiding motorbikes that are all over the place, but also food stalls that seem to set up wherever there is space. If you desire a power walk or a jog, there are plenty of riverside paths available or just head to district 7 where the atmosphere is a lot more upmarket and casual.
5. The sad state of some of the Rivers: The rivers need a lot of work, rubbish is everywhere and it simply looks awful. I can only hope that in the future that can all get sorted, because at the moment, it is in a sad state.

Picture says it all. 3rd world housing, dirty rivers and flash modern buildings in the background.

The good bits of when you Visit Vietnam

1. It’s an affordable country to travel: Vietnam is cheap, a good buffet can cost you about $15AUD. A bottle of beer can cost as low as 70c. Uber/Grab is the best way to get around the city and you can’t get ripped off as the price is already determined before you get in the car. Quite simply, Vietnam is an affordable country to travel to and you can visit attractions, buy cheap stuff in markets and go on Vietnam tours at a very reasonable price that is not afforded in a lot of other countries.
2. District 7: Ho Chi Minh City is a city that is fast developing and District 7 is the best proof of that scenario. Everything is modern, from its fantastic shopping malls to modern apartments and fine dining restaurants over the water. If you feel like you need a break from the mad rush, then head to District 7. It’s only a good half hour away from District 1 by Grab, depending on traffic of course.
3. The temples: Temples will pop up all over the place and often when you least expect to run into one. If you do catch up to one on a whim, go inside and have a look at the unique buildings. Make sure you show respect when you enter inside the temples.
4. How the city changes: To have a good walk or a drive in the car. It’s amazing how much a city changes from block to block during your travels in the city. You can go from an area of the city looking like a dump that has seen better days, to finding something new, modern and upmarket. Saigon is a city is full of surprises.
5. The Locals: They won’t change, so just get used to them and if you give it time and after a while you will learn to like them. Remember this country and the older generation have gone through some savage and rough times with the Vietnam War. So never mind their forceful ways, they don’t intend to be rude, it’s just the way it is. The Vietnamese people really are quite an admirable bunch of good, hard working, family orientated and honest folk. Oh, and one for the male readers out there, the local women are simply beautiful.

District 7 is the new district of the City.

The Verdict of Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam was one unique destination that I have ever visited, and there was a lot I did like about the country and a few things I didn’t like, even if it was minimal. If someone were to ask me, would I go back to Vietnam? Well, my answer would be honest as usual. Yes, without hesitation. There is so much more of the country of gotta see, particularly the Northern part of the country.

Thanks Vietnam, you were great and I will be back again real soon.

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Beautiful Vietnamese women in traditional dress are seen throughout the city.