1000 Places to See Before You Die 4 - Dalat, Vietnam

I went to Dalat on my big Asia backpacking trip in 2009. We had been backpacking through Thailand and Cambodia for about 1½ months, and I am not really one for the hot, moist climate in those parts of the world. So when we arrived in Dalat after a harrowing bus trip from Saigon, it was like heaven! Dalat is situated in the mountains in about 1500 m altitude, which makes for a nice cool climate.

The book recommends that if you have time you take the bus through some of the beautiful landscapes of Vietnam. That should take about 4 hours. But as mentioned above my friend and I had a horrific bus trip. We were also told it would take about 4-5 hours, but instead it took 9½, and the bus was less than amazing. It died several times going up the mountains, and the seats and airconditioning panels were falling apart. So if you decide to take the bus at least make sure of the standard. Otherwise there are flights available.

There are quite a lot of things to see in and around Dalat. It is known as the City of Love as it is a popular destination for newlyweds. Bao Dai's Summer Palace No 3 was constructed in 1933 and it is a wonderful villa, showing rooms as they were at the time of use. Obligatory shoe covers!

Hang Nga Guesthouse and Art Gallery is more commonly known as Crazy House because of the style of architecture. The Valley of Love is also a thing. There are a few activities such as paddle boats and archery, but mostly it's a place with a lot of cheesy photo-ops for the lovers. But definitely still worth a visit, even if you are single! Around the area of Dalat there is also a lot of beautiful scenery with waterfalls, mountains and forests.

Crazy House

The Valley of Love paddle boats

The Valley of Love scenery

My friend and I stayed in the city for a couple of days and booked day trips for sightseeing. This is an easy way to ensure you get the most out of a short stay, but you can feel a little like a herd of animals being carted around. Decide for yourself if you are more comfortable with a guide on a booked trip or if you want to arrange things for yourself. On the guided trips there were breaks for snacks and coffee (and the local moonshine if you were brave enough).

If you are in Vietnam for any sort of longer trip, Dalat is definitely a nice break from the heat and the hustle and bustle of other big cities.

All facts are from "1000 Places to See Before You Die" by Patricia Schultz and Lonely Planets "Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong".