Buzz
Why stay home on weekends when you can embark on a thrilling journey to Da Lat for just $45?
Unveil the wonders of Da Lat with a budget-friendly 2-day trip for only $45.
Although not a distant destination anymore, Da Lat still captivates countless travelers, making them want to return time and time again. Located in Lam Dong province, Da Lat is 307 km away from Ho Chi Minh City and over 1,400 km from Hanoi, offering various transportation options for your trip.
Transportation:
– Flight: Airlines operate daily flights from major cities to Lien Khuong Airport in Da Lat, taking just 1 hour from Ho Chi Minh City, 1 hour and 50 minutes from Hanoi, and 1 hour and 10 minutes from Da Nang. The airport is approximately 31 km from the city center, and depending on your preference, you can take a taxi or a bus to reach the city.
– Bus: In Saigon, you can choose from bus companies like Thanh Buoi, Phuong Trang, Thesinhcafe, specializing in the Saigon – Da Lat route with sleeper prices ranging from 189-210,000 VND/person/way. Additionally, there are some limousine bus companies offering quality services like Minh Tri Limousine with ticket prices at 250,000 VND. Booking hotline: (063) 655 9999 – (063) 350 8989.
From Hanoi, there are companies like Thu Minh, Tai Thang... with prices ranging from 600-700,000 VND/person/way. In Da Nang, you can choose Phuong Trang (265,000 VND/person/way) or Thanh Thuy (260,000 VND/person/way).
– Motorcycle: For those opting for motorcycles, from Saigon, just take the Hanoi Highway – QL 1A to Dau Giay intersection, turn left onto QL 20, and follow this highway to Da Lat. Along the way, you'll pass through Bao Loc Pass and Prenn Pass, so be cautious as these are winding roads with many large vehicles.
Suggested Itinerary
To enjoy a trip to Da Lat, it's advisable to book tickets one day in advance. We chose Thanh Buoi bus company, which picks up passengers at Van Thanh station (586 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District). Arrive at least 30-45 minutes before departure to receive your seat number ticket.
Departures from 10:30 PM (Friday) to 4:30 AM (Saturday). The Thanh Buoi transfer bus takes the group to the pre-booked hotel. Since it's still early, the lovely owner arranged accommodation for us to rest until check-in time in the morning.
Day 1 (Saturday): Truc Lam Zen Monastery – Tuyen Lam Lake – Clay Tunnel – Chicken Church – Da Lat Train Station – Teacher Training College.
6:00 AM: Wake up and get ready. We rented a car for 100,000 VND/day.
7:00 AM: Enjoy hot bánh căn (mini pancake) at Cay Bo Pancake Stall (56 Tang Bat Ho Street).
8:00 AM: Refuel and head straight to Truc Lam Zen Monastery. Following the Triệu Việt Vương route passing by Dinh III and Tran Nhan Tong Street, we were mesmerized by the lush valleys and nurseries below.
9:30 AM: The first stop is Truc Lam Zen Monastery. Nestled on Phung Hoang Mountain, the monastery is surrounded by dense pine forests, offering a serene retreat for visitors.
From the monastery, take the path down to the Boat Pier, where you'll find small cottages and plenty of stone benches to rest and admire Tuyen Lam Lake.
The towering pine trees interspersed with other types of vegetation always provide an ideal backdrop for those seeking a fresh natural setting for photography.
11:00 AM: We took the car and headed to Clay Tunnel, located 9.2 km from Truc Lam Zen Monastery. The road runs along Tuyen Lam Lake with one side against the mountain wall, quite beautiful and captivating.
12:00 PM: After purchasing entrance tickets (40,000 VND/person), our group arrived at Clay Tunnel (also known as Sculptured Tunnel) for the first time. We found it quite fascinating as all the architectural structures here are made of clay, resembling famous landmarks of Da Lat such as Chicken Church, Da Lat Train Station, Bao Dai Palace...
A special feature upon entering the depths of this Tunnel area is the bougainvillea garden, perfect for stunning floral photographs.
1:15 PM: Continuing our journey to visit Chicken Church on Tran Phu Street. Next to Chicken Church, Nhà Chung Street is one of the food streets with many eateries offering a wide range of dishes, perfect for exploration.
3:00 PM: Leaving the church, we headed down Tran Quoc Toan Street, passing by the picturesque Xuan Huong Lake, to Yersin – Nguyen Trai Street to reach Da Lat Train Station. The station's ancient architecture, built in 1932 during the French colonial period, leaves a lasting impression on every visitor. As Da Lat sits at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level, Da Lat Train Station is considered the highest train station in Vietnam. Here, you can experience buying train tickets for a 7 km journey through the nurseries of Trai Mat.
4:00 PM: Our last stop of the day – Teacher Training College located on Yersin Street just 1.2 km from the station.
The late afternoon renders the scenery of the college serene and impressive. The standout feature of the school is its curved buildings with a bell tower reaching 54 meters, gradually sinking with the sunlight. Walking through the other buildings on the campus, our group was reminded of the long-standing schools in Saigon such as Marie Curie High School or Nguyen Thi Minh Khai School.
5:00 PM: Hunger strikes, so we headed back to find 1A/1 Thong Thien Hoc Street to enjoy a bowl of delicious chicken heart rice noodle soup.
7:00 PM: Strolling around Lam Vien Square. The highlight of the square is the art installation of a daisy and bud made of tempered glass, creating an artistic space characteristic of Da Lat.
Next, we headed to Da Lat Market. Saturday night sees the market bustling with various trading activities. The market is like a food and clothing paradise, enticing us to explore every stall.
We walked over to Hoa Sua Soy Milk Shop at 64 Tang Bat Ho Street, where we enjoyed a warm glass of soy milk for only 6,000 VND along with some biscuits.
Upon arriving at Homy, I made sure to reserve tickets for the group's 2:00 PM Sunday trip back to Saigon.
Day 2 (Sunday): Linh Phuoc Pagoda – Cau Dat Tea Hill – Strawberry Farm
6:00 AM: Arranged our belongings and left them at Homy for safekeeping.
7:00 AM: Had a breakfast of meatball sandwiches at a shop on Thong Thien Hoc Street. A bowl of meatballs with added pork skin accompanied by 2 bread rolls filled us up nicely.
7:30 AM: It took just 20 minutes from the city center of Da Lat. We followed the route along Sương Nguyệt Ánh Street – Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street – Tran Quy Cap Street – National Highway 20 straight to Linh Phuoc Pagoda. Exploring Linh Phuoc Pagoda, also known as Ve Chai Pagoda, the temple sets 11 records with its unique architecture made from pieces of porcelain, glass, and bottles, leaving us amazed at the meticulous craftsmanship.
Few know that beneath the Bell Tower lies a display of precious antiques worth tens to hundreds of millions, crafted by talented sculptors. Additionally, on the same basement level, there are statues of Buddha and monks. The “18 Layers of Hell” on the second basement level is for those interested in exploring and understanding the types of punishment for sinful souls.
Reaching the 324 statues of Quan The Am Pagoda, 3.7 meters tall, the 'highlight' is a 17-meter tall statue established as the record-holding Quan The Am Bodhisattva statue made of reinforced concrete, the tallest in Vietnam.
Moving to the area of the Quan Am Bodhisattva statue made from immortal flowers - a special flower of Da Lat that never fades over the years, always carrying profound meanings.
9:00 AM: on the QL 20 route from Linh Phuoc Pagoda to Cau Dat Tea Hill is only 15.2 km, we passed through a mountainous road full of pine forests, from a distance, you can see vegetable gardens of local households. After crossing the pass, another 2 km leads to the tea hill on the left.
We parked our car at an empty lot then freely took photos. If you want to get a higher viewpoint of the tea hill panorama, there's a cafe container uphill where you can go further.
If you want a beautiful photo spot without anyone getting in the frame, the path behind the tea hill is the most comfortable place.
10:30 AM: we headed back to find the 'strawberry farm'. If you don't have much time to visit a strawberry farm, this is an interesting suggestion for you. The 'strawberry farm road' is along Nguyen Cong Tru Street where many households harvest strawberries in their gardens and bring them to sell or package at the farm. Strawberries here are already packaged at different prices such as 80,000 VND/box/kg or 60,000 VND/box/half kg (depending on the type of strawberry and the time).
12:00 PM: we returned the motorbike and collected our ID cards, then went for lunch with chicken heart steamed rice cakes.
1:00 PM: Thanh Buoi shuttle bus picked us up at the appointed place, and at 2:00 PM, we boarded the bus back to Saigon, ending our 2-day-1-night escape in Dalat. We promised to come back to explore Dalat again soon with new experiences and emotions.
The total cost for the 2-day-1-night Dalat trip was 945,000 VND/person (excluding souvenir expenses), including:
- Thanh Buoi bus ticket: 420,000 VND/person.
- Dorm bed: 80,000 VND/person.
- Motorcycle rental: 150,000 VND.
- Entrance ticket for Mud Tunnel: 40,000 VND/person
- Food and drinks: 215,000 VND/person.
- Other expenses (parking, gasoline): 40,000 VND/person.
Note:
- Truc Lam Zen Monastery is a solemn place, so when you visit, make sure to wear appropriate clothing.
- Observe carefully when turning on mountainous roads (check mirrors).
- Stick to the designated trails when taking photos at Cau Dat tea hill and maintain cleanliness for the tea hill.
By Mai Nguyen (Photo: Pan)
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourApril 28, 2017
