Buzz
When mentioning Đà Lạt, one immediately thinks of a poetic, romantic city with pine forests, waterfalls, and endless flower fields. In recent years, Đà Lạt has become an essential destination on the travel map for adventurers.
Independent Travel in Đà Lạt offers you new, free, and comfortable experiences compared to guided tours. So, what do you need to prepare for your upcoming trip? Let's explore in the following article with Mytour.
First-time Traveler's Guide to Independent Travel in Đà Lạt. @hoangminh.dg
1. Best Time to Visit Đà Lạt?
Located at an altitude of 1,500 meters, surrounded by majestic mountain ranges and lush forests, Đà Lạt is a beautiful highland city with a mild mountainous climate. With its favorable weather and stunning natural landscapes, you can visit Đà Lạt in any season of the year.
Independent Travel in Đà Lạt
Mesmerizing backgrounds for striking poses. @_hoanganh.chu
Summer usually starts from April to June, ideal for vacations to escape the heat. During this time, the temperature in Đà Lạt typically ranges from 16 to 27 ℃, cooler than neighboring provinces. Moreover, it's the season of specialty fruits, perfect for buying as gifts for your loved ones.
Fall lasts from July to September, with unpredictable weather, sometimes rainy, sometimes sunny. Despite the occasional inconvenience, many still choose fall for travel, captivated by the romantic scenery of the city of thousands of flowers.
Đà Lạt is a destination you can visit in any season of the year. @murilo_andes
Explore Đà Lạt independently
2.How to Get to Đà Lạt?
Đà Lạt City is over 300 km from Saigon, over 1,400 km from Hanoi, depending on your starting point, you can choose the suitable means of transportation.
By Airplane
Airplane is suitable for travelers from distant provinces who want to visit Đà Lạt. Mytour offers discounted airplane tickets to Đà Lạt, allowing easy booking and payment through the app. Departure points include major cities like Hanoi, Saigon, Danang, Haiphong, Hue… The destination airport is Lien Khuong Airport, located in Duc Trong district.
Travelers can reach Đà Lạt via direct flights. @shutterstock
Self-Guided Travel in Đà Lạt
Hanoi to Đà Lạt Airplane Ticket: Prices starting from 810,000 VND/one way
Saigon to Đà Lạt Airplane Ticket: Prices starting from 550,000 VND/one way
In addition to booking early, you can opt for the Price Alerts feature to receive information on flights that suit your needs.
Bus
Taking a bus from Saigon to Đà Lạt only takes about 5 hours. This is also a popular way to travel to Đà Lạt for many people. Ticket prices range from 150,000 – 350,000 VND per person, depending on the type of seat. Bus companies operating on this route include Thành Bưởi, Phương Trang, Minh Trí Limousine, and more.
Buses are affordable means of transportation, suitable for travelers from Saigon to Đà Lạt. @shutterstock
Personal Vehicles
The advantage of traveling by personal vehicle is that you can have control over your own itinerary and movements. With a distance of over 300 km, it will take you about 6 – 7 hours to travel. The route has many bends and passes, requiring drivers to have strong steering skills.
3. Transportation in Đà Lạt
Tips for self-guided travel in Đà Lạt
Motorbike Rental
To comfortably explore, you should rent a motorbike for yourself. Motorbike rental services are usually concentrated on roads such as Phan Như Thạch, Bùi Thị Xuân, Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa... Additionally, some hotels and homestays also provide this service. Rental prices range from 80,000 to 150,000 VND per day, excluding fuel costs.
Just with a motorbike, you can roam everywhere @shutterstock
Taxi
If your group is large, you can choose a taxi as a means of transportation. Local drivers can introduce you to many quality dining and entertainment spots. Moreover, in Dalat, there are also tourist car services priced at 700,000 - 1,000,000 VND per day.
4. How much does it cost for self-guided travel in Dalat?
Typically, for a self-guided trip, you need to spend on the following items: transportation, dining, accommodation, entrance tickets... If you travel by plane, you will spend at least 500,000 - 700,000 VND per leg, while traveling by bus will save you a bit. Accommodation costs range from 300,000 VND to 800,000 VND per night for homestays or 3-star hotels. Dining costs range from 200,000 VND to 300,000 VND per day per person.
The cost of traveling to Dalat is not too expensive but the experience it brings is absolutely wonderful. @nestbyen
So, on average, a 2-day 1-night trip to Dalat typically costs about 1,500,000 - 2,000,000 VND per person. This is a fairly reasonable expense, extremely commensurate with the value you receive.
5. Where to stay when visiting Dalat?
As a 'holy land' for travel enthusiasts, Dalat never leaves you worried about accommodation. Dalat offers a variety of accommodation options, from hotels, resorts, guesthouses to homestays. Depending on your needs, you can choose an ideal place to stay.
Dalat has some super beautiful homestays with amazing views. @quinni.198
Independent travel to Dalat
6. Compilation of the most attractive tourist destinations in Dalat
It's no coincidence that Dalat becomes an enticing destination for travelers. This place boasts countless sightseeing spots, entertainment venues, and 'Instagrammable' locations. It might take you many days to explore all the beautiful highland flowers here.
Lam Vien Square
Lam Vien Square is situated on Tran Quoc Toan Street, Ward 1, and is an unmissable destination whenever you visit Dalat. Built in 2016, the square is dubbed the 'giant wild sunflower'. Visitors can stroll around, enjoy the cool breeze, and take colorful flower-themed selfies. Inside the flower is a bar and coffee shop with incredibly impressive decor.
The 'giant wild sunflower' - an iconic symbol of the city of thousands of flowers. @lily.lxxvii
Chicken Church
Independent travel to Dalat
Chicken Church - a touch of Europe in the heart of the city. @miemeow_min
Valley of Love
The Valley of Love is located about 5 km from the center of Dalat city, marking the spot for romantic love stories just as its name suggests. Surrounded by hills, lush pine forests, and vibrant flower gardens, the valley exudes a dreamy atmosphere. With its picturesque scenery, it has become the hottest 'instagrammable' spot in Dalat.
Romantic scenery, surrounded by lush greenery in the Valley of Love. @co0l1010
Dalat Night Market
Exploring Dalat would be incomplete without visiting the Dalat Night Market in Hoa Binh area, Ward 1. It is renowned as a culinary paradise, offering a wide array of famous Dalat street foods. Apart from grilled rice paper, quail eggs, corn, and baked sweet potatoes, you can also try various delicious dried fruits.
Dalat Night Market is truly a paradise for street food enthusiasts. @mintz_mintz_
7. What to Eat in Dalat?
Essential Guide to Self-Guided Travel in Dalat
Chicken and Elephant Ear Mushroom Hotpot
Chicken and Elephant Ear Mushroom Hotpot is a dish that warms the hearts of food enthusiasts, especially on chilly winter days. Just one taste, and travelers will forever remember the harmonious flavors of chicken, fragrant mushrooms, and refreshing elephant ear leaves, accompanied by noodles or vermicelli to complete the dish. The best Chicken and Elephant Ear Mushroom Hotpot can be found at Tao Ngộ restaurant on Ba Tháng Tư street, priced from 200,000 - 300,000 VND per serving.
Specialty Chicken and Elephant Ear Mushroom Hotpot at Tao Ngộ restaurant. @tastydarling_
Chicken Heart Steamed Rice Cakes
Chicken Heart Steamed Rice Cakes are highly praised by tourists for their delicious flavor, making them a must-try dish when visiting Dalat. A serving of chicken heart steamed rice cakes costs 25,000 VND and comes with a variety of toppings such as chicken heart, chicken meat, and Vietnamese pork sausage, served with fresh vegetables and sweet and sour fish sauce. Here are some recommended places for delicious chicken heart steamed rice cakes: Long Chicken Heart Steamed Rice Cakes - 202/2/5 Phan Đình Phùng, Ward 2; Hằng Chicken Heart Steamed Rice Cakes - 39 Đồng Tâm, Ward 4.
The enticing flavor of chicken heart steamed rice cakes delights tourists with its delicious and unique taste. @foodie_jennie
Grilled Rice Paper
Explore Dalat Independently
Rice Paper Salad - a must-try snack when traveling to Dalat. @_hangoutwner
Ba Toa Beef Hotpot
Ba Toa Beef Hotpot is the perfect dish to conclude your Dalat food tour. The broth is vibrant yellow, rich, and fragrant thanks to the beef bone broth, oxtail, and beef. To enjoy Ba Toa Beef Hotpot, visit 1/29 Hoang Dieu, Ward 6, priced from 140,000 – 300,000 VND per serving.
Experience an Exceptional Beef Hotpot that Leaves Travelers Unforgettable Memories. @1201.foodiz
Explore Dalat Independently
See More:
Dalat by Night and the Hottest Spots You Must Visit
Discover the Unforgettable Attractions of Dalat That Will Make Travelers 'Forget the Way Back'
