Ho Chi Minh City - Dalat

Ho Chi Minh City - Dalat

Address: 3 D Huynh Thuc Khang

Phone: 84-63-822070

Price: Single rooms start at around $10.

Transportation: Dalat is located on the Lam Dong Plateau, about 300 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Taking an Open Tour Bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat takes about 7–8 hours, with tickets costing around $5.

Accommodation: Dalat attracts not only international tourists but also serves as a summer retreat for Vietnamese people. Though there are many hotels, rooms can still be in short supply, so it's best to book in advance.

Accommodation Recommendation: Crazy House, officially named Hang Nga Guesthouse and Gallery, but locals call it the “Crazy House.” Its shapes and colors are extremely exaggerated and bizarre, resembling a giant tree overall—like a wizard’s cottage in the forest—full of magical charm. The rooms are like tree hollows, each unique depending on their location, but none have flat walls or standard-shaped doors and windows. Hang Nga is the name of the owner and designer; reportedly, one of her earlier works was demolished because locals couldn’t accept it.

Valley of Love

Located in the mountains on the outskirts of Dalat, it got its name because the cliffs on both sides stand as if lovers are embracing. The small lake between the cliffs is crystal clear, making it a favorite outing spot for couples.

Xuan Huong Lake

Located in the city center of Dalat, sitting under a sun umbrella by the lake with a cup of rich coffee or pedaling a pedal boat across the water are unforgettable experiences. The Catholic church by Xuan Huong Lake is dignified and elegant, complementing the lake and mountain scenery beautifully.

Bao Dai's Summer Palace

The summer retreat of Vietnam’s last emperor, Bao Dai. Though the exterior is unassuming, the interior is extremely luxurious. Located in the northern part of Dalat, the entrance fee is 5,000 VND.

Dalat is a young city. In 1893, a French doctor discovered this treasure trove surrounded by pine forests, dotted with lakes, and filled with waterfalls, and established the first sanatorium here. Since then, Dalat has become a famous summer resort in Vietnam. The French in Vietnam and upper-class Vietnamese flocked here for the cool weather, building tens of thousands of charming French-style villas, making it feel like a little slice of France had been transplanted to Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 – September 2, 1969), the founding father of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and a great proletarian revolutionary. Born on May 19, 1890, in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, he worked as a teacher, sailor, and handyman in his early years. He joined the Communist Party in France in 1920, went to the Soviet Union for studies in 1923, attended the Fifth Comintern Congress in 1924, and carried out revolutionary activities in China from the end of 1924 to 1927. In February 1930, he led the establishment of the Indochinese Communist Party. In 1941, he initiated the founding of... More details about Ho Chi Minh++