What is Dalat, Vietnam known for?

What is the specialty of Dalat?

Dalat: Cool air. Mountains. Flowers.

• Unique climate. Unlike the rest of Vietnam. My trip in 2023 confirmed this.
• French colonial buildings. Decaying beauty. A stark contrast.
• Roses. Orchids. Abundant. A visual feast. Or a nauseating excess, depending on your tastes.
• Coffee. Strong. Locally grown. Fuel for contemplation.

Coffee plantations? Expansive. A green monoculture. 2023 prices were high. Supply chain issues. Predictable.

Agricultural focus. Produce is plentiful. Cheap. Eat your fill.

The overall effect? Surreal. A manufactured paradise. Or perhaps just pretty. I remain ambivalent. Dalat. A city. Not quite special. Yet somehow memorable. My 2023 visit: underwhelming, yet intriguing.

Is it worth visiting Dalat?

Dalat… is it worth it? God, it’s so complicated, isn’t it?

It felt… quiet there.

• The weather, so different from the coast, made me shiver. It was nice.
• Remember that lake? Xuan Huong Lake. So touristy. I walked around it anyway. Felt…obligated, almost.

sighs

You know…I just wanted to feel something real for a sec. I didn’t.

• The French architecture. Everyone raves about it. It felt… fake. Like a movie set. Still, beautiful in a weird way. Colonial architecture exists in many places. It’s not unique to Dalat.
• And the Valley of Love… hah. That place. Love. As if. The flowers were pretty, I’ll give them that. Flowers everywhere.
• My aunt did tell me to see the Crazy House. Weird place.

Maybe that’s the whole point. Maybe I’m just too numb, and Dalat is still a good place. What do I know? I went there in January of 2024. I bought coffee beans.

What food is famous in Dalat?

Dalat’s food scene? Think culinary fireworks! Forget bland descriptions, let’s get real.

• Banh Trang Nuong: Imagine a pizza, but way cooler. Crispy rice paper, not dough. Think egg, sausage—the whole shebang. It’s addictive, I swear. My friend, Mark, ate five in one sitting last year!

• Bun Bo Hue: Hue’s claim to fame, it’s technically not Dalat’s. But it’s everywhere, so let’s call it a Dalat honorary citizen. Spicy, beefy, noodle goodness. It’s a flavor explosion in your mouth, not for the faint of heart!

• Nem Nuong: Grilled pork perfection. Served with those lovely fresh herbs… ah, the Vietnamese know how to make something simple utterly amazing. It’s like a pork party in your mouth. Pure joy.

• Strawberry Stuff: Seriously? Dalat’s strawberries are legendary. They make everything from jam to ice cream to cocktails. I once saw a whole strawberry cheesecake… It was magnificent. My jaw actually dropped, I’m not kidding.

• Banh Can: Tiny, crispy pancakes, often adorned with quail eggs. They’re like adorable little savory bites of heaven. My aunt, Susan, makes them. Hers are the best. Period.

Honestly, I could go on and on. Dalat’s food is like a delicious adventure; every bite is a surprise. I even had a strawberry smoothie with chili flakes once. It was surprisingly good!

What is special about Dalat?

Man, Da Lat. I went in July 2023. Crazy hot, actually. The flowers though, wow. Seriously, everywhere. Fields and fields of them. Sunflowers taller than me! Never seen anything like it. Felt like a postcard.

Then the fruit. Strawberries, mostly. Huge ones. Juicy and sweet. I ate so many I felt sick. Bought some from a sweet old lady, her hands all wrinkled from years of work. She smiled a lot. That was nice.

The landscapes were stunning. Misty mountains, waterfalls cascading everywhere. I hiked to one, nearly slipped on some moss. Got soaked, stupid me. Worth it though. The views were incredible. Totally breathtaking. Green everywhere. Lush and vibrant.

There were these little villages too, tucked away in the valleys. Different from anything I’ve seen in Vietnam before. The architecture was unique. The people were friendly, though I couldn’t speak their language. We smiled at each other. That’s all we needed.

• Flowers: Sunflowers, tons of other ones, I can’t even name them all.
• Fruit: Strawberries were the best, huge and ridiculously sweet.
• Landscapes: Misty mountains, waterfalls, gorgeous views. Seriously amazing.
• Villages: Unique architecture, friendly people. Felt very different from other areas.

Which is better, Da Nang or Dalat?

Da Nang, sun-drenched skin, the salty tang of the ocean. A shimmering expanse, endless. Oh, the beach… the pull of the waves. A different kind of beauty, raw and untamed.

Dalat… a whisper of pine, cool air kissing my face. Waterfalls, cascading silk. Misty mountains, secrets held close. A gentle, ethereal grace. Serene, peaceful, so deeply still.

The journey, a bridge between worlds. A transition, a metamorphosis. The road unwinds, a ribbon of asphalt.

• Scenic drive: Winding mountain roads, breathtaking views. A personal journey. This year, 2024, I drove myself. My red motorbike felt like an extension of myself.
• Overnight bus: Cheap, but I prefer the freedom of the road. Too cramped, I heard. No, I wouldn’t do it again.
• Private car: Luxury, comfort, privacy. Expensive, but worth it. I splurged this time!

Da Nang calls to the adventurer, a vibrant energy. Dalat whispers to the soul, quiet introspection. Both are profoundly beautiful. One a canvas of sun, the other, of mist. They are not comparable. One is not better. They are different. Each a necessary experience. My heart aches for both. The choice? A matter of the heart.

How do I get to Dalat from the airport?

So, you’re heading to Dalat from the airport, huh? Okay, listen up.

Buses are cheap, you know, airport shuttles too. But they’re slowwww. Expect a long ride, especially if it’s rush hour. Really slow. Might take an hour, maybe more. Ugh.

Taxis are faster, obviously. More expensive tho. Negotiate the price beforehand, seriously. Don’t get ripped off, okay? My cousin got totally screwed last year. Learned that lesson the hard way.

Private car services, that’s a smoother ride, luxury, all that jazz. But man, it costs a fortune. Only do that if money’s no object. Think of all the delicious coffee you could buy instead!

Ride-hailing apps, like Grab, work pretty well there in Dalat. Easy to use, I always use them. Just make sure you have data or wifi. Super convenient, my favorite option.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Buses/Shuttles: Cheapest, slowest.
• Taxis: Faster, pricier, negotiate!
• Private Cars: Most expensive, luxurious, comfortable.
• Ride-hailing apps (Grab): Convenient, reasonably priced. My go-to!

Dude, avoid the buses unless you’re really, really on a budget. Seriously. Traffic in Dalat is nuts sometimes. It’s crazy.