Buzz
For me and my companion, Dalat holds unforgettable memories, as we both are entangled in our own sad past stories, some of which are closely tied to this city. Deciding to 'detox', we chose Dalat for our first trip together, exploring Dalat together, from the last cherry blossom branches of the season to the clouds at Dalat's Wooden Bridge, it's different.
Enjoying peaceful Dalat.
After this trip, we will close all the chapters and start anew. The 2-day journey may be short, but for us, it's truly priceless!
Oh, there's also good news for you all, the mountain passes are now illuminated, no more dark and twisty turns like before.
Late-season cherry blossom branches
Throughout my 4 years of university, I missed countless plans to admire the cherry blossoms in Dalat. So cherry blossoms still stir my heart and I long to see them once. Luckily, this year at the last minute, a friend kindly gave me a ride on his motorbike up here, just in time to catch a few lingering blossoms.
The late-season blossoms.
The first days of March mark the time when cherry blossoms are no longer in full bloom but begin to gradually change their leaves. To admire the blossoms during this time, there is only one place, around Tuyen Lam Lake, because the blossoms here usually bloom later than those in the city center like around Xuan Huong Lake, Tran Hung Dao Street, or Le Dai Hanh Street.
Trees around Tuyen Lam Lake bloom later than those in the city.
Along Tuyen Lam Lake, you'll easily come across cherry blossom gardens, I call them gardens because there are really a lot of trees. But these gardens are often located close to the lake, so you have to park on the road and walk down.
I was lucky to come across flourishing cherry blossom trees.
One of the cherry blossom trees in the garden along Tuyen Lam Lake.
Thien Phuc Duc Hill at dusk
I've been to Da Lat twice, but it's only on this trip (the third time) that I had the chance to come here, simply because this time I had a friend who didn't mind the difficulties, willing to park the bike and hike up a fairly long steep path with me. Oh, I also have a small note about choosing the route to climb. When you arrive at the hill, you'll see a very crowded parking lot, you should skip this place and run a bit further, you'll see another way up, you can park the bike anywhere along the road, the path up here is easier because it's more gentle, and the scenery is even more beautiful.
Scenery while climbing the hill.
A solitary tree.
Many opt for Thien Phuc Duc Hill to catch the sunrise and chase clouds in the early morning, but I prefer a late afternoon, to witness both the sunset and the city lights, truly beautiful.
A breathtaking sunset.
The hill area has long been known for its solitary leaning pine tree, but instead of queuing up to take a picture here, you can seize a few moments at other equally solitary trees.If you choose to go in the evening, don't forget to wear warm clothes, folks!
And here's the famous solitary leaning pine tree.
Chasing the clouds at Dalat's Wooden Bridge
The next morning, we promised each other to wake up early to catch the Dalat sunrise, setting multiple alarms from 4:00 AM to 4:30 AM, but we still couldn't get up. By 5:30 AM, the sun was already up, but we hurriedly ran towards the tea hills at Cau Dat. Initially, we didn't expect much on the way since it was quite late, but suddenly, the entire valley was covered in clouds, and we couldn't contain our excitement. I've chased clouds and watched the sunrise in the Northwest mountains, but the clouds in Dalat truly mesmerized me, so gentle, romantic, beyond words. We continued chasing the clouds to our planned spot, by now the sun was high up, but it was still freezing cold, with fog covering the road, chilling us to the bone.
A stunning cloud formation on the way to Cau Dat.
Below are the clouds, folks.
Still about the clouds here.
That day, I finished everything and arrived at the Wooden Bridge around 7:30 AM, so the sun was already high up, and the clouds weren't as plentiful and beautiful anymore. You should come earlier, around 6:00 AM is ideal.The challenging 'cloud chasing' path
Our cloud chasing spot this time is the Wooden Bridge, located in the Cau Dat Farm area. Currently, it's quite challenging to access, so I'll briefly explain the approach. As for the directions, you can find them on Google.Due to ongoing land disputes in this area, direct access is not possible. When you reach this point, there are ladies standing on the roadside who will stop you and say that if you go straight to the gate, the security guards will chase you away. They'll ask if you've contacted Ms. A or Mr. B, and if you answer that you haven't contacted anyone, they'll instruct you to turn right and tell you that the cloud hunting spot has now been relocated there, and you can't enter the Wooden Bridge area.That day, I also thought it was real, so I ran into the right path for quite a distance, which was difficult to navigate. When I reached the entrance gate, they asked for a fee of 50,000 VND. I was considering entering, but some guests ran out from inside and advised against it, saying there was nothing there, just a grass field. So, I ran back to where those ladies were earlier.I took the risk and ran into the main gate of the Wooden Bridge, and indeed, I was stopped, but then I saw two girls coming out from inside, so I asked how to get in. They led me to a nearby house to park, with someone guiding me in. Actually, there's a detour to enter the Wooden Bridge from behind, but only locals know about it.
The wooden houses here are perfect spots for you to enjoy cloud watching.
I followed a local guide into the area, and the path was a bit challenging, walking on hilly and red dirt roads, but the scenery on both sides was incredibly romantic with flowers lining the road and clouds spilling over the valley. The fee per person for the guide was 50,000 VND, but if you want to take photos at the wooden house, it's an additional 50,000 VND.
A bridge above the clouds.
It's past 8 o'clock now, and the clouds are still lingering.
This place is still relatively unknown, so you can freely wander around, admire the clouds and sky, take photos without having to wait. So, take advantage of it and go explore!Charming Cafes You Must Visit
Dalat is sunnier this season, though not hot, but if you're out on the streets during noon, you'll feel uncomfortable and sweaty, so the best choice between 1 PM to 3 PM is to relax and do some Instagram-worthy 'living your best life' moments at some adorable cafes.Because my friend wanted to go to Still Cafe just to 'be seen', I decided to tag along. I arrived around 2 PM, and it was bustling with people, seriously crowded, like you have to twist and turn to get through. But it's true, the place is so cute with a tiny wooden house, a few vintage-style tables and chairs, or the bakeries with lovely names like 'Totto chan', the eatery 'Wait for the Cat'...
A charming corner right from the entrance.
The Divine Photo Corner at Still Cafe.
No matter which corner you snap a pic, Still Cafe always looks charming.
However, because the place is quite crowded, if you're looking for somewhere quiet enough to enjoy a coffee and some soft music, then I don't think Still Cafe is quite suitable. Instead, I choose to buy a cake at Totto chan, sit for a while, then head to the cafe next door called Rice House to relax.
The adorable dog at Rice House.
Because the flower was so beautiful, I pretended to be profound so the youngsters could take pictures.
The next spot I chose on this trip is the Túi Mơ To Coffee Shop, and I absolutely love the style and atmosphere here. As soon as you step through the gate, you'll feel the tranquility with a garden of pure white daisies covering the pathway, underneath are the glass houses, and you can even catch a glimpse of Lang Biang and Hon Bo peaks, despite it being midday, it's still pleasantly cool. The special feature of Túi Mơ To is the transparent glass house, allowing you to freely gaze at the sky and clouds.
From Túi Mơ To, you can overlook the entire greenhouse area below.
A corner with a simple wooden house style reminiscent of Japan.
And other lovely places
1. Attica Homestay
This homestay is located in Trại Mát area, so it's quite far from the city. If you plan to explore Da Lat night market, Lam Vien square, or places in the city center in the evening, then this homestay might not be the best choice. The road from the city center to here is over 10 km long, and it gets quite cold at night. However, if you want to sit on the balcony, chill out, breathe in the fresh air, and admire the stars or the lit-up greenhouses, then Attica is an excellent option.
A lovely balcony corner.
There are two chairs here where you can enjoy a cup of coffee and immerse yourself in the peaceful scenery.
Attica Homestay shines brightly at night.
I booked a dorm bed for only 110,000 VND per bed, and the room was cute and clean. The entrance to the house is a bit hard to find, so you can search for Attica Homestay on Mytour to locate it precisely. If you've located the place on Google Maps but still can't find the homestay, give them a call, and the owner will come to pick you up.2. Cow Hill
This hill is located on Dao Duy Tu Street, famous from the movie 'Yellow Flowers on Green Grass'. The hill is extremely steep, so you need to be very careful when going down, and it's better to forget about trying to climb up because it's really dangerous. Also, since this place is quite popular for check-ins, it can disturb the local residents. Please be quiet, avoid crowding in front of people's houses, and be mindful when taking photos to avoid traffic issues.
To capture a photo here, you have to wait in line, it's so crowded!
However, as far as I know, this hill has recently been banned for photography, so you can explore other 'instagrammable' spots instead. Don't try to bend the rules.
3. Faraway Fire Tunnel
From the city center, head towards the tea hills of Cau Dat in Xuan Truong commune. On the way, pay attention to the sign indicating 'Faraway Fire Tunnel Tour - Tea Garden Cafe' on the right. Park your vehicle here and walk down, also don't forget to buy a soft drink or a coffee to support the local farmers here.
Check-in at the tunnel with your friends.
Finally, our journey concludes with 9 hours spent together discussing new adventures while driving from Da Lat back to Saigon. We no longer dwell on past sad tales, as Da Lat has perhaps inadvertently relieved us of some burdens, allowing us to worry less. Thank you, Da Lat, see you on a cheerful day!Author: Hoang Nguyen Linh Ha
*Article participated in the Mytour Golocal program
Mytour Golocal is a blog writing program that introduces beautiful destinations across Vietnam. It's a fantastic opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualifying article, you'll receive 800,000 VND and a chance to become a contributor with Mytour. For detailed information about the program, visit: https://www.Mytour/vi-vn/golocal
