VIETNAM'S ENCHANTING HIGHLAND RETREAT: DA LAT

What do you do when you arrive in a small town in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night? Book a sunrise tour, of course.

What does a vacation mean to you? You won't find me lounging by a pool or at the beach all day long, as I love to be out and about exploring. Sure, there are days where I like to take it easy and relax, but that still means somewhere out, like at a spa.

I purposely booked a sleeper bus at 7:30 pm leaving from Ho Chi Minh City, even though I knew that would get me to Da Lat in the middle of the night, at 2:30 am. Now you are probably wondering, why would I voluntarily do that? Maybe that's just something I would do. However, since I knew I would be in Da Lat for a very short time (only about 24 hours), I wanted to make the most of it, even if that meant starting my day as early as 4:00 am. I could have stayed longer, but my ultimate goal was to make it to Da Nang for Saturday to catch the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival. I got to Da Lat early morning on Friday.

Nestled in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Da Lat, often referred to as the "City of Eternal Spring," is a picturesque mountain town known for its breathtaking landscapes, natural beauty, and cool climate. 

I arrived in Da Lat at around 2:30 am by bus, from Ho Chi Minh City. Getting in that early meant I could not even check in to my hotel. Arriving in the middle of the night, in a small town surrounded by mountains, is that even safe? Thankfully the VIP sleeper bus I booked included free transportation when I got to Da Lat so I wasn't too worried. The hotel? I wasn't sure about it, since I booked Peach Valley Hotel according to a YouTube recommendation, and purely out of convenience, since it was located next to a halal Malaysian restaurant, Halal Restaurant Kampung Melayu.

Da Lat is like a breath of fresh air, a charming mountain resort town that’s all about rural vibes and stunning natural beauty. Known as the "City of Eternal Spring," this place is a paradise for those who love mild weather and lush landscapes. As a nature lover, there was no way I could miss it. I had to visit, even if my stay was going to be short, and sweet. The place is filled with natural wonders, from picturesque waterfalls, to gorgeous flower gardens, to scenic lakes and unique architecture. I especially loved that the climate is mild year-round. This gave me the opportunity to temporarily escape the heat.

By 3:00 am I was at the hotel, and had woken up the night worker, who was resting on the sofa. Too early to check in? No problem. I have one hour before I'm set to go on a morning tour, departing at 4:00 am. I quickly freshened up and chilled in the lobby while I waited for the guide. I booked a tour for a magical experience: cloud hunting! You can experience Da Lat amidst a sea of clouds, witnessing dense mist cascading over hills and valleys, crafting a dreamlike scene just before sunrise. Although the ideal period for this is from late October to April, I chose to give it a shot nonetheless, since the tour included other stops.

Once I got picked up, we made our way to the first stop, Cau Dat Green Tea Hill. In Da Lat, you can catch the sunrise with a view to remember: a blanket of clouds glimmering in the morning sun, where you feel like you're on top of the clouds! I still got to enjoy a stunning landscape surrounded by the lush valleys despite not being able to experience the clouds. My tour included breakfast, and upon arrival, I got a voucher for a free meal. I opted in for the eggs and bread. There was more people than I expected, and the place got crowded quickly, so after breakfast I made my way to the site to scout the area before sunrise. Unfortunately, there was no clouds the day I visited, but apparently a day earlier, guests had experienced it. Nothing I can do about it, since this is beyond my control. The views were stunning. I found a quiet spot to enjoy a moment of peace and gratitude and to soak in the landscapes. Being surrounded by nature makes me so happy and leaves me in awe.

We left about an hour later. Similar to Bali, I felt that this location had primarily been turned into a "tourist trap" where they tried to set photo ops everywhere, and even a swing. To me, it takes away from the charm of the place. I feel like places with beautiful landscapes should be left to be appreciated the way it was created, instead of trying to add our own "filters."

Our next stop was a shop, with a makeshift persimmon farm, only a short drive away. To no surprise, it was filled with people, the same ones who were at the first stop. Persimmons have long been grown in Da Lat, creating a distinctive specialty of the mountainous area. Persimmons can be enjoyed fresh or transformed into one of the specialties that have brought fame to this resort town. There were some dried fruits up for sampling, as well as tea. I made my way to the second level of the shop to see the dried persimmon on display.

Ripe persimmons are available fresh, sugar-coated, or dried. In Da Lat, the fruit is harvested when they become bright yellow, then wrapped in paper, and kept in a sealed bag for seven to ten days to reduce acidity and enhance their crunchiness and sweetness. Seven kilograms of fresh persimmons are needed to produce one kilogram of dried fruit.

 As it got close to 8:00 am, we made our way to a strawberry garden. We got the option to pick our own strawberries and to sample some fresh organic strawberries. They were served with salt and they were delicious - some of the best and sweetest I have tried.

To be quite honest, I could have done the same tour for much cheaper than I paid, if I had gone around by myself, but I didn't want to risk it in the early hours of the day, since it meant having to constantly book a Grab to move around. Da Lat is not very walkable and I found myself booking Grab all day long, since I didn't have another tour booked for the day.

The last stop of the tour was Loi Cua Gio, a Northwest-style cafe. A free drink was included and I chose a coffee to get me energized for the rest of the busy day ahead. It was only close to 9:00 am but I had already done so much for the day, and had a lot more in store.

Once I got dropped off at the hotel, I only got to freshen up before I was making my way back out. It was too early to check in still, and I didn't want to wait around all day and waste the day. My next stop? I debated where to go, since there is so much to do in Da Lat, from the train station that you can explore, to the French Quarter, to the Valley of Love theme park, to the Central Market and so much more. I chose what interested me most. I decided to go for some light lunch before my next stop. The hotel was just OK. The restaurant was alright, I found the food to be a little too oily and I did not like the chicken, as it was mainly bones. This made me change my diet for the remainder of the trip to vegetarian restaurants. This was the second time in South East Asia that I was disappointed with the halal options, since I found them to be below average (the first time was in Cambodia). I personally don't like the quality of the meat but in a way, it made me so thankful to have so many amazing halal options here in Canada.

I booked a Grab to Datanla, one of the most popular spots in the area. Renowned for its stunning waterfalls and lush environment, Datanla offers more than just scenic beauty; it serves as an adrenaline-packed playground for adventure lovers, with a high rope course, ziplining, canyoning and the alpine coaster. I was motivated to visit this spot, mainly because I wanted to try the unique alpine coaster, the longest in Asia, spanning 2.4 km through the forest. This ride allows you to appreciate the natural beauty of the area as you glide through the forest in a sled-like car that you control. You can either hike and catch the ride on the way back from the waterfalls or you can opt in for the roundtrip ticket. I did the latter and would recommend it. The roundtrip ticket on the ride cost me 170,000 VND, which is approximately $8. The ride brought me to the falls, which is in the forest. It was the perfect combination of natural splendor and outdoor excitement. You control the brakes. It can go up to 40 km/hour. It was fun and you can enjoy the natural beauty around you.

I spent a few hours at the falls, and I almost took a nap on one of the benches. By this point, I was starting to feel tired as it was close to 12 hours since I've been out. There are many things to do, and having to narrow my options down to one day was tough. Da Lat is home to several serene lakes, such as Xuan Huong Lake. It is also home to many majestic waterfalls and flower gardens. You can also explore the charming streets lined with French colonial-era buildings, which is a reflecting of Da Lat's historical significance.

It drizzled and I waited for the rain to pass before proceeding to my next stop; Khu du lich Lá Phong. A piece of Japan right here in Vietnam. I came across this Japanese garden while playing with Google Maps. There is a small entry fee to the garden. Inside, you can find sculptures, many photo ops, and even buy or rent a kimono for shoots or for the traditional Japanese experience. There are some places to buy authentic Japanese drinks and food, and they even have a place for kids to play. What I loved most was the peace and being away from the crowds. It was a nice change from all the other places I've been to so far on my trip, since I had the place to myself.

I saved the best stop for last before calling it a day. The last stop was the craziest! It is one of the most unique places I have visited. The place in question is Crazy House. What is insanely mind-blowing about this place is the architecture. It is a hotel by night and open to the public for visits by day. It is also known as the Hang Nga Guesthouse. Believe it or not, it's cheap to stay here, less than $50 for a night! The downside is that rooms are quite limited and fill up quickly, so book in advance if you want to experience this unique stay.

You can spend hours getting lost here, as it feels like a maze, though everything is connected. Part of me felt like I was trapped in Dali's artwork. The owner still lives on-site with her family. You can read about her story and see progress pictures of what it took to transform this regular land into a creative masterpiece, a part of the artist's imagination.

Though there is many more things I could have scheduled or visited for the remainder of the day, by the time I finished my visit at Crazy House, it was getting close to 7:30 pm. I was up since 1:30 am and I had a flight in less than 12 hours, so I decided to head back and get some rest. It started raining at this point too, and I had no umbrella or poncho. I loved the peace found in this charming mountain town, and loved that there was more things to do that I could have imagined, but I found that it was not a walkable town and everything seemed to be quite far from each other. If you decide to follow my itinerary, you can consider adding visiting the bustling night market for fresh produce or unique handicrafts. Some other spots I had saved in Da Lat include: Mongo Land, Puppy Farm, Que Garden, Lumiere Light Garden, Thien Phuc Duc Hill, Mien Du Muc, Flower Garden and so much more! As you can see, this spot deserves more than a one day visit, and it is very family friendly. I would come back for its natural beauty and endless adventures.

Da Lat is the perfect spot for a peaceful retreat or an action-packed getaway. It's your call what you choose to make out of it. I loved that it has something to offer for everyone.

Have you heard of Da Lat? Let me know!