Dalat

Dalat was a cool relief from the humid heat of the city! Nestled in the highlands, Dalat is known for its European-style architecture and Vietnamese mountain culture, and definitely deserves a place on your travel itinerary!

If you're a backpacker like us - we highly recommend Tigon Hostel as a place to stay. It's such a lovely atmosphere with amazing views, the nicest hosts (shout out to Kong!) and the BEST mango and passionfruit smoothie ever - and the best pumpkin soup! Trust.

Things to Do:

- The Crazy House (Hang Nga Guesthouse): This place truely deserves the title of 'crazy house.' The entire place feels like you're in one of those dreams where everything is trippy and doesn't make sense, and you can't quite tell what anything is. It's a mishmash of secret passages, crazy designs and... I really can't explain it. Just go and see for yourself. Pro tip: This is the BEST grounds for a game of hide and seek!

- Explore the Waterfalls: Da Lat is surrounded by powerful falls. Visit Datanla Waterfall for a ride on its famous alpine coaster through the forest, or head to Pongour Falls, a massive, seven-tiered cascade that is breathtakingly wide. The alpine coaster was the highlight though.

Da Lat Railway Station: Built by the French in the 1930s, this mustard-yellow station features beautiful stained-glass windows and vintage steam trains. You can take a short, nostalgic train ride to the village of Trai Mat, or simply stop for a coffee in a train carriage.

Linh Phuoc Pagoda: Also known as the "Glass Pagoda," this stunning temple is decorated entirely with intricate mosaics made from broken pottery, glass, and porcelain. It features a giant dragon made from 12,000 beer bottles.

Coffee at a "Cloud" Cafe: Da Lat is famous for its hills. At sunrise, head to a cafe like Tiệm Cà Phê Túi Mơ To or any of the "hunting clouds" spots to watch the thick morning mist roll through the valley while you sip local Arabica coffee.

Flower Gardens and Strawberry Picking: Visit the Da Lat Flower Park to see why the city is the flower capital of Vietnam, or stop by a local farm to pick fresh strawberries—a rare treat in this part of Asia.

Da Lat Night Market: As the temperature drops at night, the center of town becomes a bustling hub. Try and spot the famous white fluffy dogs wearing sunglasses - hopefully they are still there. They were cool dogs.