Exploring Dalat during the rainy season: Where to go and what to do?

However, if you have the opportunity to travel to Dalat during the 'splendid' rainy season, you will discover that the rainy season in Dalat offers numerous interesting and exciting experiences. Let's take a tour with Vntrip through the following article to see where to go and what to do in Dalat during the rainy season!

1. Which month is the rainy season in Dalat?

The rainy season in Dalat typically starts from around May to October every year. Rain in Dalat is not as intense as the sudden showers in the Southern region, nor does it last as long as the persistent rains in the Central region. Here, rain is gentle, tranquil, and incredibly romantic. It could be sudden showers or continuous rainfall throughout the day. But the most beautiful sight is when the entire city is shrouded in misty fog after the rain.

Dalat in the rainy season. Image: Son Doan

Traveling during the rainy season also has another advantage: it's the low season, so famous destinations in Dalat are not overcrowded, allowing you to enjoy sightseeing and activities to the fullest. The prices of air tickets, hotel rooms, service fees, and transportation are also much lower compared to the peak season.

2. Enjoying the rainy season in Dalat at a homestay

One of the simplest and most effective ways to enjoy the rainy season in Dalat is to hide away in a charming homestay, breathing in the fresh air and feeling the coolness. Dalat has countless homestays to elevate the romance of a rainy day, making it unbelievably warm and cozy.

Glasshouse homestay in Dalat allows you to indulge in watching the rain. Image: Collected

A wonderful morning in Dalat is simply waking up to the sound of rain tapping on the metal roof, with droplets racing down the glass door. Just snuggle up in bed, lazily read a few lines from a book on the shelf, or simply sit by the window counting the raindrops. Choosing a homestay with a large window, opening up to a picturesque and romantic natural scenery, makes watching the rain even more relaxing.

Enjoying the rainy season in Dalat at a homestay. Image: Collected

3. Leisurely sipping coffee while watching the rain

When it comes to Dalat in the rainy season, besides the cold weather and thick fog, piping hot dishes... cafes are also indispensable. Dalat boasts a variety of cafes with different locations, unique designs, distinctive decor, and diverse menus. You can freely choose a charming cafe, sit down with a cup of coffee, gaze at the mountain ranges hidden behind the clouds, amidst the melodious music and the pitter-patter of raindrops.

Enchanting cafe corners in the rainy season. Image: Dong Ngo

Some beautiful rain-viewing cafes in Dalat include 'Waiting for Someone' – a cafe nestled on a high hill, deeply hidden in the forest, swaying among the lush pine trees. It's entirely made of wood, with a unique glass house floating on the lake, fully furnished with tables and chairs, decorated like a miniature coffee shop. Or 'Gau Garden' nestled in a romantic setting, amidst a vast valley with houses, layered mountains, lush green pine hills, and the ethereal clouds after the rain. Or 'Cheo Veooo Coffee Shop' located halfway up a high hill, hidden behind a cluster of dense trees, with a small staircase leading down, where you can feel the gentle and peaceful atmosphere of Dalat's rainy season with melodious tunes and occasional whispers of wind through the trees.

Admiring the rain in Dalat at the 'Waiting for Someone' cafe. Image: Hoang Linh Ha

4. Indulge in piping hot local specialties

In the chilly weather and pouring rain of Dalat, enjoying piping hot, steamy local specialties is simply unbeatable. Even if the Dalat rainy season leaves you damp or chilly, these dishes will instantly warm you up from the inside.

Beef hotpot

In the cool atmosphere of rainy days in Dalat, sitting around a steaming hotpot, inhaling the fragrant aroma emanating from the pot of beef hotpot will be an unforgettable experience. Ba Toa beef hotpot is famous for its thick, large pieces of beef, along with tendons, tails, and brisket, served with quality Dalat egg noodles and greens. A hotpot for 4 people is very reasonably priced at only about 250,000 VND.

Beef hotpot. Image: @1201.foodiz

Chicken 'lá é' hotpot

Alongside beef hotpot, chicken 'lá é' hotpot is also a must-have dish for the rainy season in Dalat. Chicken 'lá é' hotpot consists of finely chopped chicken, broth with a spicy aroma of chili, served with noodles, straw mushrooms, a few bamboo shoots, and a plate of 'lá é' vegetables. When dipping the 'lá é' leaves into the hotpot, it's best to eat them rare; you'll taste the slightly bitter and crunchy flavor of the leaves. You can enjoy this dish at Tao Ngộ restaurant for around 200,000 VND.

Chicken 'lá é' hotpot. Image: Collected

Meatball sandwich

Meatball sandwich is a simple dish of the people of Dalat, consisting of a bowl of clear, steaming broth scooped from a large pot, with a meatball, a few slices of pork skin, and some spring onions and coriander served alongside the bread. You can find this dish anywhere in Dalat, from stalls outside the market gates, schools, along Thong Thien Hoc Street, or at the Tran Nhat Duat - Hoang Dieu intersection. The price of a portion of meatball sandwich ranges from 10,000 VND/bowl.

Meatball sandwich. Image: @andiroimap

Grilled dishes

Dalat's rainy season cuisine is incomplete without grilled dishes, especially items like: grilled meat, grilled sweet potatoes, grilled corn, grilled quail eggs... But the most enticing is still the grilled rice paper, a legendary dish made with chicken, beef, cheese, sausage, along with eggs and onions.

Grilled dishes in Dalat. Image: Collected

Soy milk

Soy milk is ubiquitous, but drinking it during the rainy season in Dalat is just perfect. In addition to soy milk, most places also offer sweet cakes as accompaniments or other milk flavors such as green bean, black bean, peanut to enrich the menu and help you diversify your palate.

Hot soy milk in Dalat. Image: Collected

5. Posing at beautiful architectural landmarks

If you've had enough of boring rain, you can spend time visiting beautiful architectural landmarks with roofs for shelter. Dalat is likened to a miniature Paris, as it was discovered by a French doctor, Alexandre Yersin, and developed from there. The French colonial-era buildings were erected and are still in use today, mostly retaining the characteristics of French architecture.

The palaces of King Bao Dai

One of the famous architectural structures built by the French in Dalat is the luxurious, exquisite villas and palaces, blending classical and modern styles, with a strong Western influence. These include Dinh I, II, III, the Tran Le Xuan villa, and the Nam Phuong Queen's palace. These are places closely associated with the life of King Bao Dai, where he and his family experienced the ups and downs of life. You can visit not only to sightsee and take photos but also to learn more about our country's history.

Bao Dai Palace. Image: Son Doan

Teacher Training College

This is a school built by the French, recognized as one of the 1000 unique architectural structures of the world from the 20th century. The school is famous for its incredibly unique beauty, with a design featuring curved lines in an arch shape, accompanied by a large bell tower. Today, it serves as a place to train future generations and also welcomes visitors for sightseeing and photography.

Teacher Training College. Image: Collected

Dalat Railway Station

Dalat Station used to be a means of transportation on the 84km route from Dalat to Phan Rang. The design of the station was inspired by the famous Langbiang Mountain, becoming one of Dalat's long-standing landmarks. Here, you will have the opportunity to experience train rides departing from Dalat Station to Trai Mat.

Dalat Station. Image: Collected

Domaine De Marie Church

The church features a design that combines Eastern and Western styles, taking the model of the Rong houses as its root, then adding classical and luxurious designs in European style, making the church unique and becoming a must-visit destination when traveling to Dalat.

Domaine De Marie Church. Image: Collected

6. Evening Chill-out Spots

If it's a typical evening in Dalat, everyone would likely opt for strolling around the streets, walking along Xuan Huong Lake, wandering in the Dalat night market, or enjoying coffee and chatting with friends. But if you're traveling to Dalat between May and October, outdoor evening activities seem a bit challenging.

Chilling at bars/pubs. Image: Collected