Urbanist Travel's Guide to Da Lat

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Snarled mangrove roots sipping from tangled Mekong estuaries; cloud-shawled mountains casting shade onto verdant rice paddies, and hectic city-scapes thronged with traffic: there are many stereotypical scenes one pictures when thinking about Vietnam, however, pine tree-filled hills are rarely one of them.

The sleepy Central Highlands city and capital of Lam Dong Province was famously developed by the French during colonialism to allow for a cool getaway from Saigon’s muggy climate. Da Lat’s rolling hills are still home to much of the French architecture and the city’s European vibe making it a truly unique location that contributes to its place as one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

Verdant backdrops perfect for photo sessions.

Beyond a mere setting for ideal Instagram photos and lazy weekends, in recent decades Da Lat has developed into a producer of Vietnam’s most acclaimed fruits, vegetables and dairy products as well as a leader in the nation’s burgeoning boutique coffee industry.

The area is Vietnam's most important coffee producer

Over the years Saigoneer finds ourselves visiting Da Lat frequently, often in search of completely different types of stays. The outskirts boast fantastic opportunities to experience nature, the crowded city center offers unique munching and sipping opportunities and a bevy of cultural spectacles rest everywhere in between. We’ve collected some of our favourite places to eat, drink and experience so you can enjoy Da Lat in Saigoneer style.

This is far from an exhaustive guide, but we hope it’s a good place to start if you’re planning your trip to Da Lat, whether it’s your first or your 50th.

Here are some of our favorite places to visit in Da Lat

Da Lat’s chilly temperatures allow for a variety of dishes that don’t otherwise suit Vietnam’s typically sweltering climate. When walking on the street, one notices countless steaming pans of xiu mai, boiling bowls of hotpot and smoking bánh tráng nuong. The many farms surrounding the town give rise to some of the freshest, most flavorful meals across all cuisines.

When in Da Lat, all roads lead to Banh mi xiu mai

Shops dishing up meatballs accompanied by freshly baked banh mi are a lot like children: you can’t have a favorite.

The unexpected delight of Italian baked tarts in Misty Da Lat

Based in a gorgeous vine-covered cottage, Emai serves up some of the finest Italian dishes one can relish anywhere in Vietnam.

Here are some of our favorite cafes and bars in Da Lat

If you’re a fan of the nascent coffee culture in big cities like Saigon or Hanoi, going to Da Lat is like discovering the root of a legend. Coffee farms and industry experts are aplenty in town, as well as a myriad of vintage cafes hidden amid hilly landscapes. For the coffee-adverse, fresh soy milk, mulberry juice and alcohol options abound.

Da Lat's Ngàn Cafe Is as Comforting as an Embrace

Descend a steep incline and enter a soothing oasis: a dreamy view of fruit trees, a well-curated playlist, and cute cats.

Da Lat, the Unlikely Home of El Salvador's Rare Pacamara Coffee Beans

The whimsical story of how one Da Lat farmer came into possession of some rare coffee beans from El Salvador.

Cù Rú, an Old Saigon Bar That Took Root in Da Lat

Off-kilter, unabashedly cluttered and, at times, delightfully weird — Cù Rú Bar offers homemade alcoholic concoctions as fascinating as the chair you’ll enjoy them on.

Here are some of our favorite places to visit in Da Lat

Aside from tourist mainstays like Chợ Đà Lạt and the Domaine de Marie, Da Lat’s misty ambience makes the town the perfect setting for contemplative pursuits or adventures into the unknown. A visit to the infamous Crazy House or Tay Nguyen Biological Museum might provide the adrenaline rush that thrill-seekers need. For calmer mornings, Da Lat’s lush strawberry and mushroom farms and Da Phuoc temple have just the right dose of nature and serenity.