Discover Dalat in 48 hours during Tet

During the first 2 days of spring, indulge your taste buds with delicious dishes, unwind at cozy cafes, or visit charming temples.

Explore 48 hours of travel in Dalat during Tet

Dalat, located in Lam Dong province on the Lam Vien plateau, is more than 300 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The city, situated at an altitude of 1,500 meters, is famous for its romantic natural scenery and cool climate year-round. Here are some tips for those planning to travel to Dalat during the upcoming Tet holiday.

Getting Around

In the South, you have various options to reach Dalat. If time is of the essence, consider taking a one-way flight from HCMC, with prices ranging from 2.5 million VND. For a budget-friendly and leisurely option, take a bus with fares starting from 220,000 VND one way. Many travelers prefer overnight journeys to arrive in the city early in the morning. It's advisable to book tickets in advance, especially during holidays and Tet when bus companies often run out of seats.

Many young adventurers prefer the thrill of a motorbike journey from HCMC, taking an average of 7 hours for the commute.

In the North, travelers often opt for flights, with Tet prices ranging from 5 million VND one way when departing from Hanoi. Buses or motorbikes are not suitable options from Hanoi. Consider planning a flight to HCMC and using other means of transportation to reach Dalat.

In Dalat, renting a motorbike is recommended for convenient travel to various attractions. Daily rental prices range from 100,000 VND to 150,000 VND.

Where to Stay?

Dalat tourism is rapidly growing. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can choose suitable accommodation, from guesthouses, hotels, resorts, or homestays to rental apartments. Similar to bus tickets, room availability tends to be limited, especially during special occasions. Therefore, it's advisable to book in advance to secure your accommodation.

What to Eat?

Beyond the romantic landscapes, the 'City of Love' is also a paradise for street food enthusiasts. Here, you can indulge in a variety of local specialties at affordable prices. Areas like Dalat Market, Hoa Binh district, Anh Sang village, Hoang Dieu – Tran Nhat Duat street are hotspots for food stalls.

Some must-try dishes include xiu mai bread, banh can (small savory pancakes), banh uot long ga (steamed rice rolls with chicken heart), banh trang nuong (grilled rice paper), nem nuong (grilled pork skewers), soya milk, strawberry smoothie, and avocado ice cream.

Suggested Itinerary

The article will propose a two-day itinerary for travelers already in Dalat, excluding travel time.

Day 1

Breakfast

Xiu mai bread is a suitable choice for breakfast. It's a distinctive dish of the mountainous town that you must try, especially if it's your first time here. The simple dish consists of a clear, flavorful broth with a touch of fat for richness, and some fresh green onions for a vibrant look.

Many diners add a bit of chili sauce for color and a spicy kick. You can also enjoy it with bean sprouts, cilantro, or crispy fried shallots, adding them to the bowl while the soup is still hot for a delightful aroma.

When traveling to Dalat, you won't find it difficult to discover places to savor this dish. In addition to stalls outside the market, schools, you can visit small eateries in Anh Sang village or the intersection of Bui Thi Xuan - Thong Thien Hoc.

8:30 AM: Explore the city center

On the first day, you can spend time wandering around the center of Dalat. Some noteworthy attractions with beautiful photo opportunities include Xuan Huong Lake, Dalat Pedagogy College, Dalat Station, Lam Vien Square, Chicken Church, and Dalat Flower Garden. These spots are just a few kilometers apart, allowing you to cover them in a few hours.

Among these locations, the Chicken Church stands out, boasting over 70 years of history. Constructed in 1931 and completed in 1942, the building follows Roman architectural style, making it one of the oldest surviving French structures in Dalat.

The church is constructed in the shape of a cross, measuring 65 meters in length and 47 meters in height. Both the horizontal and vertical planes are symmetrically designed. With this height, from the church's bell tower, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

12:00 PM: Lunchtime

A delightful variation, 'banh uot long ga' gradually captures the hearts of many for its unique flavor. The dish carries a hint of sourness due to its accompaniment with chicken salad, different from the typical 'banh uot' served with pork sausage. The preparation is simple, allowing you to savor the soft fragrance of the 'banh uot,' the sweetness of the meat, and the combination of chicken heart in well-balanced fish sauce, with a touch of spice from chili and the rich aroma of herbs.

This dish is quite popular in Dalat. Each serving costs an average of 35,000 VND. Visitors can explore eateries along Tang Bat Ho or Phan Dinh Phung streets.

2:00 PM: Check-in at Tuyen Lam Lake, visit Truc Lam Zen Monastery

Truc Lam Yen Tu (Quang Ninh), Truc Lam Tay Thien (Vinh Phuc), and Truc Lam Dalat Zen Monastery are the three largest Zen monasteries in Vietnam following the Truc Lam school. Located by Tuyen Lam Lake, expansive and serene, it is 5 km away from the city center. Surrounded by dense pine forests, visitors can come here to pray at the beginning of the year and relish the fresh air by the lake.

5:30 PM: Dinner Time

While the South has 'lau ga la giang' and the North often uses mugwort for dipping with chicken, in Dalat, you'll savor a unique chicken hotpot flavor - 'lau ga la e' where the fresh 'la e' leaves add a slightly sour taste when raw but turn into a mildly bitter, refreshing flavor when dipped into the hotpot. Notably, 'la e' is known for its medicinal properties, helping with conditions like colds, coughs, and promoting better sleep, making this dish an effective remedy for those experiencing such symptoms.

Inside the hotpot, in addition to chicken, there are fresh bamboo shoots. Chicken is typically dipped in a mixture of salt, pepper, and lime. With a spoonful of piping hot broth, you'll experience a harmonious blend of sweet, slightly bitter, and spicy flavors. A portion of this hotpot costs 250,000 VND, including half a pre-cut chicken, a plate of fresh vermicelli, a plate of mushrooms, and a plate of 'la e' leaves.

7:00 PM: Dalat Market

The night market is one of the most appealing destinations in Dalat. Every day, thousands of tourists flock here for shopping and dining, especially during the evening.

9:00 PM: Enjoying Soy Milk

Indulging in warm soy milk at night is a must-try experience in Dalat, especially during the chilly weather. Guests can enjoy a steaming cup of soy milk while engaging in conversations with friends or family.

The city boasts various spots for soy milk, but the most renowned is the soy milk at the corner of Tang Bat Ho Street or the small shop near Anh Sang hamlet. These places offer a variety of soy milk with different flavors, such as combining it with cow's milk, peanuts, or pandan leaves. Regulars often order with shorthand names like 'nanh phung' (soy milk with peanuts), 'nanh bo' (soy milk and cow's milk), 'nanh xanh' (soy milk with mung bean milk), etc. To accompany, diners can order sweet treats like 'sung trau,' 'su kem,' 'bong lan,' with a mild sweetness and slight firmness. The price for each cup starts at 9,000 VND.

Day 2

6:30 AM: Enjoying Coffee in the Net

For those who love Dalat, Mrs. Nam's coffee shop on Phan Boi Chau Street is an unmissable stop. This place is a familiar coffee rendezvous for locals and a memory haven for many travelers.

The café has a space of about 20m², with only a few wooden tables and chairs inside and additional seating on the sidewalk. The morning crowd at the shop mainly consists of older customers. Many travelers arriving in Dalat on early bus trips also visit the café.

Net coffee typically lacks the thick consistency of Vietnamese drip coffee but offers a long-lasting aroma. The rich, intense bitterness and the lingering fragrance of each coffee drop leave a memorable aftertaste.

7:30 AM: Breakfast

Banh canh, introduced to Dalat from other regions, is simple in its preparation. The cake, molded from rice flour, becomes extraordinary as the filling is diversified, leaving a lasting impression on diners.

The joy of savoring this dish lies in choosing a seat near the cast-iron stove. In the chilly morning, sitting close to the stove feels like being warmed by a fire. When the cakes are just cooked, the quickly spreading aroma in the space will make you marvel.

The cake's filling is a highlight, featuring quail eggs, native chicken eggs, or duck eggs poured onto the cake's surface when the dough is nearly cooked. The delightful flavor of this dish is enhanced by a skillfully crafted dipping sauce made from fish sauce mixed with shallot-infused lard and chili or satay.

8:30 AM: Cau Dat Tea Hill

If waking up early for a 'cloud hunting' expedition isn't your style, you can indulge in breakfast and then head towards Trai Mat. By now, the sun has risen, and the trees stand tall on the plateau, making the chilly morning more bearable.

Cau Dat is more than 20 km southeast of Dalat city center. Take Tran Hung Dao - Hung Vuong Street, reach National Highway 20, follow the signs to Trai Mat, go straight to Xuan Truong village, and ask for directions to the tea hills of Cau Dat Joint Stock Company. After a long winding road with steep slopes, the Cau Dat tea hills in Xuan Truong commune gradually come into view, covered in a lush green hue on successive hills. This region is at an altitude of over 1,600 meters above sea level, resulting in a cold and misty climate throughout the year.

In the morning sun, the fresh green tea buds stretch out to welcome the sunlight. The tea hills become more visible in the eyes. Somewhere, a few 'lonely' trees stand tall amidst the neatly arranged tea rows. A myriad of pale green extends to the horizon. When the workers immerse themselves in the fields, life in the hundred-year-old tea village returns to its normal rhythm.

After the tour, return to the main road and stop by local eateries offering bun bo (beef noodle soup), Mi Quang (Quang-style noodles), hu tieu (noodle soup), or local rice dishes for lunch.

2:00 PM: Check-in with Cherry Blossoms

Not just an iconic flower of Dalat, cherry blossoms are an unforgettable memory for visitors arriving here in spring. The blossoms start to bloom from January, signaling the arrival of spring.

Against the blue sky, rows of cherry blossoms bloom brightly, creating an ideal backdrop for check-in photos. Cherry blossoms often bloom along the banks of Xuan Huong Lake, Tran Hung Dao Street, especially the famous Da Quy sloping road adorned with beautiful 'pink-coated' trees.

5:00 PM: Dinner

Grilled nem (spring rolls) might not be a familiar dish to the locals, but it's a popular choice among many tourists. You can visit the nem shop in the Hoang Van Thu planning area, which offers a spacious and clean environment. The shop has been open since the early 2000s. The nem is made from minced meat, wrapped around bamboo sticks, and grilled on a red-hot charcoal stove. The dish is dipped in a yellow, rich sauce made from simmered bone broth and ground bean paste, with additional spices for the perfect flavor.

The richness of the meat, the sweetness of the dipping sauce, the crispiness of the rice paper, along with the flavorful sauce, will make this dish unforgettable.

6:30 PM: Shopping for Gifts, Local Specialties; Relaxing at a Cafe

Dalat is playfully referred to as the capital of jams. Visitors have the opportunity to choose and buy over 30 types of jams, from fruits and vegetables to sweet and sour flowers. Dalat's jams are diverse, beautifully displayed, and attract buyers. Don't forget to sample the flavors of these dishes before making a purchase.

Another distinctive local specialty you shouldn't miss is various types of tea: Oolong tea, Lotus tea, Artichoke tea, Green tea, and even tea bags. Alongside tea, 3-in-1 coffee, phin-brewed coffee, or whole coffee beans are easily found gifts. You can visit the night market, Hoa Binh area, or some stores along the central streets to make a purchase.

Additional Notes

According to forecasts, the weather in Dalat during the Lunar New Year is quite cold, with evening fog. It's advisable to prepare extra layers and items to keep moisture.

Dalat often experiences rain in the afternoon. Travelers may want to prepare an umbrella, hat, or raincoat, and a bag to protect electronic devices when moving away from the city center.

Around the market or shopping areas, there are often people trying to attract customers. Be cautious to avoid scams and overcharging.

If renting a vehicle, make sure to check it beforehand to ensure safety during travel.

Source: Phong Vinh/Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour