Vietnam Travel Guides: DA LAT – LAM DONG
Capital: Da Lat City
Districts: Bao Loc town, Lac Duong, Don Duong, Duc Trong, Lam Ha, Bao Lam, Di Linh, Da Huoai, Ta Tech, Cat Tien.
Ethnic groups: Viet, Co Ho, Ma, Lat,…
dalat travel guides_vietnam destinations
Lam Dong province is located on the highest West Highlands of Central Vietnam, 70% of its area is covered by mountains and forests.
Climatologists call Da lat” the city of enternal spring” thanks to its average temperature that never falls under 10oC in winter and never 20oC in summer. Because of this favourable climate, Da Lat it like a flower garden all year.
Da Lat is well known for its lakes, water falls and pine forests.Xuan Huong (Spring Lake), Sighing Lake, Da Thien Lake (Numerous Kindness Lake), Van Kiep lake and Me Linh Lake are situated right in the city. The lakes and the other natural sites were poetically named as they are closely related to memories.
One can visit its landscapes and enjoy its original products including fruits such as persimmons, plums, apples and peaches.The beauty of Da Lat is highly praised. A wide array of flowers are grown in this area: exceptional orchids, roses, rhododendrons, mimosas, cherry plums…
Culture in dalat vietnam
Da Lat embodies the West Highland cultural identity. Tourists are allowed to visit ethnic groups villages such as M’nong, Ma, Co Ho. These groups grow coffee and tea and raise domestic animas. During village festivals or during joyful occasions, visitors can see the villagers dancing, singing, and playing music.
In Da lat, there are mumerous culture sites and valuable historical relics. There are restaurants, hotels, museums, markets and temples. Da Lat souvenirs are varied and original, especially those made of pine wood. The skillful hands of craftsmen have created miniature houses, boxes, albums, and calendar frames. Each article has its own beauty printed by colorful designs, as well as polished pine wood background.
Dalat _Vietam
Festivals in Da Lat
Ma Festival, K’ho New Rice Ceremony
The new rice ceremony is one of the Ma people’s and K’ho people’s festival in B’Lao, Bao Loc Town, and nearly coincides with the Viet people’s lunar New Year. The Ma and K’ho hold this festival to pray for good weather and to prevent wild animals from destroying their crops. They worship the new rice in order to make their off-spring aware of the important precious rice. The offerings for the ceremony include new sweet-smelling rice, a big-bellied jar of wine which is drunk out of the jar through bamboo straws, a cock, a castrated hog, and other wild animals.The festival begins with the ceramony to pray to the Gods, which is led by a holy man, and is followed by a wine- throwing ceremony to pray for good luck for everyone. Finally, the participants drink wine, sing love songs, recite long poems and sing “tam pot” (Ma and K’ho) folk songs accompanied by the boisterous sound of gongs. The festival lasts all night long until the next morning.
Ho Xuan Huong Lake_ Vietnam Guides
Buffalo Festival
The buffalo festival of the Co Ho ethnic group is usually held after one harvest to prepare for the next. During the festival, Co Ho people use mumerou kinds of traditional musical instruments. Sitting around the kitchen fire with a wine urn, the village patriarchs tell the younger generations various historical events, peoms, and popular songs explaining their origins.
Worshipping the Source Spirit
The Ma ethnic group people believe in the spirit of the Sun , the River, the Mountain, and the Fire. The ceremony for worshipping the Sour Spirit of the Ma ethnic group incorporates folk beliefs.
Worshipping the Water Spirit
The biggest ceremony of the Chu Ru ethnic group usually takes place in the 2nd lunar month. This ceremony is closely connectec to agricultural rituals such as worshipping the Water Spirit, rice paddies and new rice.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN Da Lat
Prenn Falls
Prenn Waterfall_vietnam Travel guides
Prenn Falls are located at the foot of Prenn Mountain Pass. The famous waterfalls are located approximately 100m from the road. As appoaching the falls, one can notice the subtle change in temperature brought by the mist from the water falling down from a height of 10m. The foot of the fall is a small valley covered with flowers and pine trees. The cascading water falls down over a small bridge across the small lake
Waterfall in Dalat_Vietnam Guides
Cam Ly Waterfall
Even before arriving at the site of the falls, one is likely to hear the noise produced by the water running through the city in a zigzag. The city’s lake is supplied with water from a small stream running north of the lake. On the other side of the lake is another small stream that brings water from the lake down to the western part of the city. This stream runs beneath a bridge and near a bus station. Beneath the bridge is a small weir. Both streams to and from the lake are named Cam Ly. Two kilometers from the lake, the water in the stream runs through a rough bed of large boulders called Cam Ly waterfall
Xuan Huong Lake
Xuan Huong Lake at night_ vietnam Travel informations
Xuan Huong is a beautiful lake located in the center of Da lat. It is a poetic site, attracting visitors and lovers.The lake’s surface is as smooth as glass reflecting the shadows of pine trees. The road around the lake is also surrounded by pine trees. Visitors can sit under ancient conifers to fish and rest. One can also go on the lake in pedal boats or admire Thuy Ta’s exceptional architecture while enjoying a glass of fresh sweet water.
Linh Son Pagoda
Situated on a hill 700m from the center of Da Lat, Linh Son pagoda was built in 1938. It has been managed by many succeeding monks. In the middle altar, there is a 1,250kg Sakyamuni Buddha bronze statue moulded in 1952. Besides, in the pagoda, there is a room where Buddhist books and souvenirs are sold.
Pagoda_Dalat Travel Guides
Linh Phong Pagoda
Linh Phong pagoda is located on Hoang Hoa Tham road on large and beautiful grounds. The pagoda was built in 1944. In the main altar are the bronze statues of Amitabha; Aualoketecvara, and Dai The Chi.
Truc Lam Buddhist Pagoda
This pagoda is located by the Tuyen Lam Lake, amidst beautiful natural scenery. It was built on the 28th of May, 1993 on a 25 hectare-large area, consists of a Buddhist institute and a 23 hectare garden.It was inaugurated on March 19th, 1994 .The Bonze Superior Thich Thanh Tu, who built and manages this pagoda, is also the Buddha dignity of Thuong Chieu Buddhism Pagoda in Dong Nai
Da Lat Flower Park
Da Lat Flower Park is regionally famous for its diversified species of flowers. It is considered as a natural meseum housing a fine collection of native and exotic flowers. The park comprises at least 300 different kinds of flowers, hundreds being in blossom all year round. It is located at 2 Phu Dong Thien Vuong road
Golf Course
Dalat golf course_ Vietnam Travel
The 18 holes golf course, located in the center of the city, meets international technical standards. It bacame operational in early 1994. The golf course runs past several low hills which are close to the famous Ho Xuan Huong Lake . The unique design of the course combined with picturesquelandscapes attract a lot of golf players.
Old Palaces in Dalat
Da Lat has three magnificent, large palaces which are always referred to as Palace 1, Palace 2, Palace 3. They were built on top of hills which are located in beautiful natural surroundings according to French designs. They are accessible by long flights brick steps, the path being completely covered by a broad canopy of pine trees.Palaces 1 and 2 were owned by high ranking officials during the French domination, more than 40 years ago. It is a dignified building of modernist designed built in 1933 and now used as a guest house and for official reception. It consists of 25 rooms. It is located up the hill from the intersection of Tan Hung Dao and Khoi Nghia Bac Son roads, 2km east of the center of Da Lat.
Palace 3 was owned by the last king of the Nguyen dynasty, Bao Dai. It is located on le Hong Phong road, 500m southeast of the Pasteur Institute, 2km southwest of the center of Da Lat. The palace is extremely interesting. Upstairs are the Royal living quarters. Room of Bao Long (Bao Dai’s eldest son) is decorated in yellow. In his family meeting room, three daughter were seated in the yellow chairs and his two sons in the pink chairs.
Da Lat Cathedral
DaLat Church
The cathedral, which is loacated on Tran Phu road, near Da Lat hotel, was built between 1931 and 1942. This cathedral was used the French who live here, and the Europeans who visited and vacationed in Da Lat. It is 47 meters high and it has many stained glass windows, which makes it look somewhat like a European cathedral from the Middle Ages.
Valley of Love
Approximately 5km north of the center of Da Lat, on Phu Dong Thien road, the Valley of Love is circled by hills covered with pine trees. The place has taken on a carnival atmosphere. During Bao Dai King’s reign, the valley was called Hoa Binh (Peace) and was later called Valley of Love.
Datanla Waterfall – Tuyen Lam Lake
The waterfall is situated in the middle of the Prenn Mountain Pass, approximately 5km from Da Lat. Unlike Prenn Falls, this waterfall is not located in a magnificent mountainous background. The cascading water falls down to the ground before disappearing through layer after layer of marble lying scattered in a small stream. Legend has it that this was where fairies from heaven gathered together for bathing. Thus this flat stream portion has been named Suoi Tien ( Stream of Fairies). Nearby is Tuyen Lam Lake, a large attractive landscape. The site is suitable for activities such as hiking, boating, hunting, fishing,…
Langbian Mountains – Lat Village
Located 12 km north of Da Lat, Langbian Mountains are an ideal place for mountain climbing, paragliding, trekking, and studying the rare bird species and flora. At the foot of the mountains is Lat village where the Chut minority group lives. The site is suitable for studying the culture of Southwestern Highlands ethnic minorities.
DanKia Lake and Suoi Vang
Located 20km north of Da Lat are Dankia Lake and Suoi Vang, also called the Golden source, two famous spots of Lam Dong province. Dankia Lake extends along the foot of the imposing Lang Biang Mountains. This large area promises to be a crowded and animated tourist area in the near future. Lat village, with its ethnic minorities of the West Highlands, kept its traditional customs. It s an ideal site for ethnological tourism.
Gougah Waterfall
From Da Lat, follow National Highway 20 for bout 38km in the southern direction. Gougah Waterfall is approximately 17m high. The water falling is divided into two cascades. The one on right gently runs down while the other on the left is more powerful, falling down with such a velocity it makes water bounce from the marble at the bed of the fall.
I’ve been to Lam Dong many times.
The view is worth your time