It’s true—Vietnam is only 20 degrees. Just spend some time in Dalat, and you’ll be so cool you won’t want to leave.
With temperatures constantly hitting new highs, the mere thought of going outside can be daunting. But Dalat, a mountain city about 300 kilometers from Vietnam’s capital Ho Chi Minh City, is currently a refreshing 20 degrees, completely shattering the common perception of sweltering Southeast Asian summers. It’s so cool here that hotels don’t even need air conditioning, you can walk around without breaking a sweat, and ever since the French colonial period, it has been a beloved summer retreat for locals, exuding the elegant charm of a French mountain town.
■ Fun in the Cool French Mountain Town
It only takes 40 minutes to fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat on a domestic flight. As soon as you step out of the airport, the cool mountain breeze greets you, instantly banishing the summer heat. Tour guide A-Ping says: “Dalat sits at an altitude of about 1,500 meters, with an average annual temperature of around 20 degrees. Vietnamese people love coming here to enjoy nature’s air conditioning—it’s both economical and comfortable.”
The coolness of Dalat also captivated French colonists last century. Between 1912 and 1920, the French actively developed Dalat, building villas and hotels. At the time, it was a popular holiday destination—even Vietnam’s last emperor, Bao Dai, built a summer palace here.
Vietnamese girl Alian says: “Because it’s so cool and there are so many fir trees, the vibe in Dalat is completely different from most other places in Vietnam. Coming here feels like going abroad.” Not only do Vietnamese people feel like they’re in France or Switzerland here, but even in the novel *The Quiet American*, Graham Greene keenly observed that Dalat has the essence of England’s Lake District. Although Dalat’s famous lake, Xuan Huong Lake, is currently undergoing dredging work and appears as a dry pond, once its water storage function is restored in six months, its romantic charm within the mountain town will be undeniable.
■ Tranquil Red-Tiled Villas
The French may have left Vietnam, but the resort atmosphere and villa charm of Dalat haven’t disappeared. Smart operators have purchased these uniquely styled villas one by one and renovated them into hotels, allowing modern travelers to experience the vacation vibes of the last century. The most representative of these is the Ana Mandara Resort.
The group bought over twenty villas with 80 years of history. Each features red-tiled roofs, yellow walls, expansive views, and spacious interiors. In addition to bedrooms, they also have large living rooms and private dining areas—offering contemporary travelers the same relaxing vacation spaces once enjoyed by the French.
This villa area, located about a 10-minute drive from the city center, has its own mountain forests and spa. Many travelers find themselves not wanting to leave. The vacation scene from the French novel *A Year in Provence* comes to life here—and it’s far more affordable than going to Europe. A two-hour spa session costs just a little over NT$2,000, a luxurious experience you won’t find in Europe.
Additionally, each villa has about four rooms and can accommodate 8 to 10 people, making it perfect for families to rent an entire villa for a group holiday. On the day of our visit, we even met a small Japanese company that had booked a villa for a conference retreat. Japanese girl Neko said: “We get the feeling of a French vacation without flying all the way to Europe—it’s super worth it.”