| Altitude | about 1,500 m above sea level, with a mild, cool climate through the year |
|---|---|
| Founding | the French chose the Lam Vien plateau for a hill resort on Alexandre Yersin’s advice; Yersin explored it in 1893 |
| Governor-general | Paul Doumer made the decision |
| Earlier inhabitants | Lach, Chil and Sre peoples of the K’Ho group |
| French-era city | villas, offices, hotels and schools, built as a tourism and education center for Indochina |
Da Lat: Vietnam’s Misty Mountain Retreat
Da Lat sits at 1,500 meters in the Central Highlands and is cooler than the lowlands. Once the French colonial summers’ resort, Da Lat is scattered with European-style villas and garden properties, and an art-deco railway station that is reminiscent of that age of ‘old world’ allure. So cool, the locals call it the “City of Eternal Spring,” as the weather is mild throughout the year.
Sightsee & Walks
Xuan Huong Lake is the centerpiece of the town surrounded by flowered-markets and lakeside hiker’s promenade. A short walk from the lake is a small number of charming cafés, that serve coffee beans sourced locally, just make sure you explore a highland plantation for the farm-to-cup experience.
Outdoor Activities
Da Lat is ringed with rolling plateaus and wooded pine hills that welcome adventure. You can hike or mountain bike through Lang Biang, canyon through waterfalls in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, or swing out on the historical Dalat Palace Golf Club an original 18-hole course from 1933.
Arts, Heritage & Culture
Take a short rail line north to Trai Mat, through eucalyptus groves to the mosaic-covered Linh Phuoc Pagoda. Back in Da Lat, don’t forget to check out the old French villas dotted amongst tropical flowers, the standout villas are the boutique hotels or tea rooms that welcome guests to celebrate afternoon tea on the lush lawns of the Dalat Palace Hotel.
How to get there & Go in
Getting there is easy, there is an airport north and south, and 2 star-class overnight buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat that roll in by dawn. Motorbike routes radiate out, including Elephant Water Falls to Tuyen Lam Lake and views of remote hill-tribe villages. The driest, sunniest months are February to April; you’ll need a light jacket weather for November to January and an umbrella for April to November.
Whether you’re honeymooning in pine forests gathering orchids for your wedding bouquet or simply enjoying a freshly brewed coffee by a misty lakeside, Da Lat is a fresh and uniquely different side of Vietnam.
Why Da Lat exists
Vietnamese Wikipedia says Da Lat sits at about 1,500 meters, ringed by mountains and forest, which gives it a mild, cool climate all year. The plateau was home to the Lach, Chil and Sre peoples of the K’Ho. In the late 19th century Governor-General Paul Doumer chose the Lam Vien plateau for a hill resort for the French in Indochina, on the advice of Alexandre Yersin, who had explored it in 1893. In the first half of the 20th century the French planned and built a city of villas, offices, hotels and schools there, a center of tourism and education for Indochina. We have not verified the railway station, lake or market details in the older text below, so check them before you go.
Sources (read in Vietnamese, Vietnamese Wikipedia): Đà Lạt. Last checked November 2026.
Da Lat: FAQ
How high is Da Lat?
About 1,500 meters above sea level.
Why was Da Lat founded?
The French chose the Lam Vien plateau for a hill resort for Indochina, after Yersin explored it in 1893.
Who lived around Da Lat before the French?
The Lach, Chil and Sre peoples of the K’Ho group.
What is the climate in Da Lat?
Mild and cool through the year because of its altitude.
How many days do you need in Da Lat?
Two nights is common.