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Whether you have an abundance of travel time or are planning a quick 'electric speed' getaway, Da Lat is always a priority destination for travel enthusiasts. Explore the super enjoyable, super economical solo travel tips from #teamKlook's Do Ha Ngan!
Approximately 300km from Saigon, the city of Da Lat is a familiar choice for escaping the heat. With its beautiful white mist, pleasant year-round weather, and numerous captivating 'Instagrammable' spots, Da Lat offers endless joy and exploration. Even with a limited weekend time of only 2 days and 1 night, you can 'chill' and visit the famous tourist spots in Da Lat. Join Ngan for a refreshing Da Lat 2-day, 1-night solo travel itinerary below.
Detailed Itinerary for a Solo 2-Day, 1-Night Da Lat Trip
Day 0: Departure from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat
For those with limited time like Ngan, the advice for a trip to Da Lat is to take advantage of the night before. I chose to travel with Minh Tri Limousine for comfortable, private seating at an affordable price. The bus to Da Lat from Saigon departs at 11:00 PM, bringing Ngan to the City of a Thousand Flowers by the early morning. After checking in at the hotel, there's still time for a few hours of rest before starting the exploration journey.
If you choose to fly to Da Lat, consider opting for the airport transfer service from Lien Khuong Airport to the city center of Da Lat to save waiting time and avoid accidentally calling a 'fake taxi'.
Day 1: Datanla Waterfall – Robin Hill – Truc Lam Zen Monastery – Tuyen Lam Lake – Mai Anh Church – Da Lat Night Market
On the first day, I discovered a beautiful waterfall right in the city, Datanla Waterfall, known for its longest forest slide system in Southeast Asia and various exciting activities. The water at Datanla is stable year-round, making the waterfall majestic and wild at all times.
I experienced many games from gentle to adventurous, especially the thrilling slide. You can also participate in activities like high wire walking and ropes crossing over the waterfall to challenge yourself. Of course, don't forget to paddle a boat and take the cable car to admire the natural beauty of Da Lat's mountains and forests.
The next destination is Robin Hill - famous for the cable car tourist area, with a cable car route over 2km long leading to Truc Lam Zen Monastery. The one-way cable car journey from Robin Hill to Truc Lam Monastery takes about 12 minutes. During that time, I leisurely glided over endless pine forests, overlooking Tuyen Lam Lake, Elephant Mountain, and the majestic mountainous landscape.
After the cable car ride, I visited Truc Lam Zen Monastery. It is one of the three largest Zen monasteries in Vietnam, situated on Phoenix Mountain, overlooking Tuyen Lam Lake - an extremely solemn and picturesque scene. I visited the main hall to admire intricately carved sculptures, then strolled around the large monastery grounds to enjoy the scenic flowers. If planning to visit Truc Lam Zen Monastery in the 2-day, 1-night Da Lat travel itinerary, #teamKlook, choose modest and dynamic attire to fit the elegant atmosphere here.
Next, I explored the Tuyen Lam Lake area, nestled amid vast pine forests and high-end resorts designed in French architecture. Tuyen Lam Lake is as beautiful as a painting. At the Tuyen Lam Lake tourist area, I joined kayaking and enjoyed a fascinating canoe ride. Along the way, I could stop at beautiful spots to capture moments with swaying grass fields or explore strawberry gardens and maple forests.
Concluding my first day in the 2-day, 1-night Da Lat self-guided trip at Mai Anh Church, officially named Domaine De Marie, was delightful. I admired the unique architectural lines and the serene surroundings with vibrant pink hues. After touring the church, I visited the lovely yarn shop, where cute products handmade by orphaned or underprivileged children, cared for and nurtured by the nuns, are sold.
In the evening, I strolled through Da Lat Market to select local specialties as souvenirs. I indulged in the famous duo of hot soy milk and sweet bean cakes. Every trip to Da Lat must include a gastronomic adventure with various snacks like grilled rice paper, skewers, mini pancakes, grilled nem, and savory sticky rice. Just mentioning them makes my stomach growl!
Day 2: Dong Hoa Cam Tu Cau – Linh Phuoc Pagoda – Dog Farm – Valley of Lights
On the last day of my 2-day, 1-night Da Lat tour, I had to wake up early to check out of the hotel and store my luggage. I decided to utilize the remaining time to visit the famous Cam Tu Cau flower field, currently making waves on social media. I assure you that each cluster of sparkling flowers, with gentle white and green hues, will capture your heart at first sight. Unlike other flowers that bloom seasonally, Cam Tu Cau flowers bloom all year round, each season revealing its unique beauty. Hence, you can visit this site anytime.
In the Tram Mat area, I also took the opportunity to explore Linh Phuoc Pagoda, colloquially known as the Broken Glass Pagoda. Constructed from millions of broken pieces of pottery, the temple has set numerous records in Vietnam. Venturing through the 18-floor structure depicting the realms of hell, the law of karma, and moral stories, I gathered plenty of useful information to share with friends back home.
Puppy Farm Da Lat has captured the hearts of many, including mine, as it houses over 150 adorable dogs. Besides interacting and taking photos with these cute dogs, visitors can explore vast sunflower fields and a high-tech strawberry garden. The staff here is incredibly enthusiastic, so feel free to ask them anything.
On the way back to the city center, I visited Valley of Lights – Lumiere Da Lat, a newly opened attraction. It's genuinely the hottest 'Instagrammable' spot in Da Lat, featuring an exhibition space of artistic light displays that incorporate cutting-edge Vietnamese technology into highly impressive projections. Lumiere Da Lat impressed me with its creativity, blending art installation and modern technology.
Concluding the visit to Valley of Lights – Lumiere Da Lat also marked the moment I had to temporarily bid farewell to Da Lat and head back to Saigon.
Summary of 2-Day 1-Night Da Lat Travel Experience
- My general impression of this 2-day 1-night Da Lat trip is that the time frame is a bit tight. Although it's still possible to check-in at many 'must-visit' spots, you won't have enough time to savor every moment. In the future, I plan to arrange a more leisurely schedule for my Da Lat trips, perhaps 3 days 2 nights or 4 days 3 nights.
- Traveling to Da Lat in just 2 days and 1 night means you'll have to move around quite a bit. You can opt for the easiest and most proactive solution: renting a motorbike or, if you're traveling in a large group, consider renting a car with a private driver for a more convenient journey.
- If you're not confident in managing your time or feeling a bit overwhelmed by the list of attractive destinations in Da Lat, you can book private tours, half-day tours, or day tours in Da Lat right on Klook. There are countless available itineraries suitable for various types of travelers, such as countryside exploration tours, Lang Biang conquering tours, Datanla Falls & Tuyen Lam Lake, unique destination discovery tours… Prices start from just 247,000 VND.
- Prioritize choosing a hotel in Da Lat near Da Lat Market or the city center for convenient exploration. Da Lat hotel prices are quite budget-friendly, starting from only 185,000 VND/night.
With just 2 days and 1 night, it's a short time for solo traveling in Da Lat; nevertheless, it's enough for #teamKlook to unwind, recharge positive energy after days of intense work. Before embarking, visit Klook's Blog for more insights into solo traveling experience in Da Lat, a list of beautiful cafes in Da Lat, or explore the 'Instagrammable' spot Hoa Son Dien Trang.
Invite your best friend or significant other for a 2-day 1-night trip to Da Lat, why wait?!
