What to see in Dalat on your own: a complete guide with prices, map, and opening hours

Lam Dong Museum

At the museum, you can see ancient pottery, costumes, musical instruments, and other antiquities of local ethnic groups preserved from ancient times. There's also an exhibit telling the city's history. The museum is housed in a villa popularly called the Ngyuen Huu Hao Palace.

The museum has nine exhibition halls covering: archaeological finds confiscated by police; historical periodization; traditional crafts; archaeological finds from Dai Lang; finds from Dai Don and Dai Lao; agricultural and hunting tools; nature, geography, and people; wartime finds from the resistance against American colonizers and the French; cultural life and traditional festivals; and achievements of socialist society in construction. More about Lam Dong Museum.

Hang Nga Crazy House (Biệt thự Hằng Nga)

This is a guesthouse, cafe, and art gallery all in one, popularly known as the Crazy House. It's a true work of art, the product of someone's creative imagination. Since opening in 1990, this extraordinary building without straight lines has been recognized for its unique architecture, featured in numerous guidebooks, and listed as one of the ten most "strange" buildings in the world. It's shaped like a tree with crooked windows, tunnels, and staircases. The interior and exterior are built with practically no right angles. Inside, there are many themed rooms: the Tiger Room, Eagle Room, Ant Room, Kangaroo Room, and so on, with handcrafted decorations and furniture matching the theme. More about the Crazy House.

Dalat Central Market

This is a local, colorful attraction worth visiting at least once. Part of the market is covered, the rest is outdoors in the numerous alleys around the building. Here you can buy fresh exotic fruit, famous Vietnamese coffee, green or artichoke tea, and much more, and you'll also find souvenirs if you look. Bargaining is a must. On the upper floor, there are clothes, including warm jackets, shoes, accessories, suitcases, and backpacks. This is where all the tourist action happens in Dalat towards evening. The nearby square comes alive with brisk trade, with local cafes setting up on the asphalt in minutes, along with street food vendors, smoothie and dessert stalls. Overall, it's an interesting place worth a few evening strolls. More about the Dalat Central Market.

Linh Son Pagoda

The pagoda is about a 20-minute walk from the lake and the central market, about 25 minutes on foot. You can only visit it on your own; group excursions don't include it. So you can safely call this place less touristy, which is great because it's almost always calm and not crowded. The temple sits on a small hill surrounded by pines and cedars. No significant historical events are tied to this place, and nothing special besides typical East Asian architecture, pleasing to the eye, makes this pagoda remarkable. However, it looks very picturesque from the outside and is worth a visit if you have free time. More about Linh Son Pagoda.

Van Hanh Zen Monastery and Golden Buddha

This is one of the largest Zen monasteries in Dalat, along with Thien Vien Monastery. The most notable thing tourists come here for is the gilded Buddha statue towering on the hill. It is considered the largest statue of Buddha Shakyamuni in Dalat. It's very conveniently located, just 3 km from the city center, and it's easy to walk here even. A place worth paying attention to, not only for the statue but also for a small antique museum to the right of the main temple. More about the monastery.

Xuan Huong Lake

Xuan Huong Lake, an artificial lake in central Dalat, was created after the construction of a dam in 1919. The lake plays roughly the same role for locals as the Lake of the Returned Sword in Hanoi – it's a favorite spot for evening strolls for both locals and tourists. Here you can not only walk but also swim in a rented rowboat or go horseback riding. You can also kayak or pedal boat. Next to the lake is Lam Vien Square, and from here begins Đường Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street, where the night market operates in the evening, and the street will lead you to Dalat Central Market. In short, if Dalat has a tourist heart, it beats around the lake. More about Xuan Huong Lake.

Lam Vien Square

Lam Vien is another central spot in Dalat, alongside Xuan Huong Lake and the City Market, that can safely be called the tourist heart of the city and a starting point. Various city and cultural events are held here, it's an important center of Dalat's cultural life, and a shopping spot. It's decorated with original architectural pavilions resembling a yellow sunflower and a green artichoke shoot. The use of floral motifs in the construction is no accident, as Dalat is called the city of flowers. The square has a wide staircase leading from the lower garden to the park, shopping and gaming areas. More about Lam Vien Square.

Dalat Flower Gardens

The Dalat Flower Gardens are one of the city's most vibrant attractions. This is a fairly large park laid out at the northeastern tip of the lake. This place is definitely worth a visit during your trip to Dalat. You can easily spend a few hours here, strolling among the most beautiful flowers and whimsical bushes. In the center of the park is a small lake where you can pedal swan boats. On weekends, the park is packed with visitors, as locals from all over Vietnam come to see the gardens. More about the Dalat Flower Gardens.

Dalat Opera House

This is an interesting place to get acquainted with Vietnam's cultural life and discover something new. Still, it's more suited for true connoisseurs of opera and vocal music. Musical evenings featuring Vietnamese and foreign performers, theatrical musical productions, and plays are held here. But honestly, for most tourists, it's just a modern architectural attraction and one of the city's new recognizable symbols. More about the Dalat Opera House.

Cam Ly Waterfalls

This is a natural attraction in Dalat and one of the well-known, hyped places located right in the central part of the city. The waterfall consists of several cascades fifteen meters high, which is why they are often called Cam Ly Waterfalls. A park has been developed around the waterfall, with paid access. The park grounds are moderately well-kept, but despite staff efforts, it's simply impossible to remove the garbage floating in the water and the sewage smell, which affects people's desire to come here. Nevertheless, there are several flower beds and gazebos near the water. To cater to tourists, anyone can dress up in cowboy clothes and have a photo taken, for a fee of course. More about Cam Ly Waterfalls.

Dalat Railway Station

This station has several descriptions with the prefix "most" – namely, the most beautiful and the highest-altitude in Vietnam, the oldest in Indochina, and the only place in Vietnam where a steam locomotive has been preserved and a unique 16 km long cog railway is located. Notably, there's a Soviet-made steam locomotive on the tracks here, which many people photograph. The station is located not far from the center, and you can even walk there on your own. Currently, you can take a historic ride on an old train from here to the village of Trai Mat. More about the railway station.

Du Sinh Roman Catholic Church

This is one of the most interesting and beautiful churches in Dalat. The church's unusual architecture combines elements of Asian and European styles. Dragon figures on the staircase railings leading to the temple, carved elements, curved roofs, triple entrance gates – all these typical features of a Vietnamese pagoda can be seen here. At first glance, you might think it's a Buddhist temple, but no, it's a Catholic church. A place underrated by tourists and rarely visited, which is a shame. More about Du Sinh Church.

Domaine de Marie Church

The pink Domaine de Marie Church is one of the three most famous and most visited Catholic churches in Dalat. There are always many visitors and tour groups here. This very beautiful building of classical European architecture is located on a hill and attracts the eye with its unusual – for this type of building – pink color, which the parish's walls have been painted for many years. Thanks to this, against the backdrop of the church on a clear day, you get striking photos. The well-maintained surrounding area, decorated with flowers and green lawns, adds richness and brightness. More about Domaine de Marie Church.

Bao Dai Palace 3

This is the most visited of the three Bao Dai palaces in Dalat. It served as the summer residence of Vietnam's last Nguyen emperor, Bao Dai, and his family from 1938 to 1954. One of the places we highly recommend you visit. You can get there by yourself or as part of a private Dalat city tour offered by private guides (Easy Riders); it's also included in city tours from Nha Trang and Mui Ne. Overall, exploring the palace's interior will take at least an hour, not counting the well-maintained green landscaped park around it with flower beds and a fountain. For an extra fee, you can try on costumes and have photos taken. More about Bao Dai Palace 3.

Bao Dai Palace 1

This is one of three residences of the last emperor Bao Dai in Dalat. It's a popular and visited spot for tourists, both independently and as part of a tour from Dalat, Nha Trang, or Mui Ne. The house was used as a working office from 1949 to 1954. The building, with features of European and Asian architecture, consists of two floors surrounded by a well-maintained park. The furnishings inside the palace are modest; you wouldn't immediately think an emperor lived here. All items and furnishings are preserved in their original form. Besides the work area, there is also a relaxation area. In the courtyard, there's a small exhibition of vintage cars and a horse-drawn carriage. There's a play area and a cafe. More about Bao Dai Palace 1.

Bao Dai Palace 2

This is one of Emperor Bao Dai's villas, which, although owned by him, he rarely visited. Today it's an almost abandoned, desolate area with a couple of buildings and a forest park around it, right in the center of Dalat. The building itself is modest and nothing special. It's possible to get inside, but you need to contact the administration. So most tourists just walk around the building in the shady park. It's a good place for photo shoots, especially wedding photo sessions. But if you don't have much time in Dalat, you don't necessarily need to go here. More about Bao Dai Palace 2.

Youth Prison Museum

This is one of the city's historical and cultural attractions, a place with a tragic and dark history. The prison was created as a "Dalat Children's Educational Center," but contrary to the promising name, they didn't teach here; they tortured and tested prisoners in every possible way. It existed for a very short time, just 2 years, from 1971 to 1973. During this period, over 600 prisoners aged 12 to 17, including young soldiers who fought in the South, went through this "school." Teenagers were brought here from other prisons in South Vietnam. The purpose of this upbringing was to suppress revolutionary sentiments among the youth of the South, which was under US pressure, and to criticize the communist regime founded by Ho Chi Minh. Between torture sessions, discussions, lectures, and sermons by Catholic priests were held with the youth, aimed at changing their consciousness. More about the Dalat Youth Prison Museum.

Yersin Park

A pleasant park in central Dalat next to Lam Vien Square and Xuan Huong Lake. It's a good place for walking and sports. There are gazebos and benches for resting, but not many. The park grounds are nicely landscaped and lush with greenery and flowers. The park is named after Alexander Yersin, a bacteriologist well-known in Vietnam. His marble bas-relief is installed in the center of the park.

Linh Phuoc Pagoda (Chua Linh Phuoc, Linh Phuong)

This is the most elegant and beautiful pagoda in Dalat and the most visited temple complex, which you absolutely cannot miss. In our ranking of Dalat temples, it undoubtedly takes first place, and it's actually one of the most unusual and amazing temples in all of Vietnam. It might sound a bit crude, but with all due respect to the faith, it's a whole unique "temple Disneyland" for believers and tourists. It features the most amazing temple wonders of Vietnam: the tallest bell tower; the tallest indoor Buddha statue; the largest set of zodiac tables and chairs; a Bodhisattva statue made of 650,000 artificial flowers; the longest underground tunnel under the building. On the lower floor of the bell tower are two unique halls: one symbolizes Nirvana or Paradise, and the other – Hell. More about Linh Phuoc Pagoda.

Prenn Waterfall and Park

Prenn Park is a tourist entertainment park that has grown up around Prenn Waterfall. And although on maps and in guidebooks this place is still marked as a waterfall (Waterfall), the waterfall itself, apparently, is now the last thing tourists pay attention to when they come here. It is located 10 kilometers south of Dalat at the foot of Prenn Mountain. Its main visitors are tourists from CIS countries. Groups of Russian-speaking tourists brought here on one- or two-day excursions from Nha Trang or Mui Ne are almost always milling about. Even signs and information are duplicated in Russian. Entrance to the park is paid, and to get to the waterfall, you'll have to buy an entry ticket anyway. However, you'll have to pay extra for all the entertainment in the park. More about Prenn Waterfall and Park.

Valley of Love (Thung Lung Tinh Yeu)

This is a theme park located not far from the city center and is very popular among tourists and local youth. Initially named Vallée D'amour by the French, the valley was renamed "Valley of Peace" by Emperor Bao Dai, and then got its original name back – "Valley of Love". This is one of the most picturesque places in the city, and in 1972, the valley became even more attractive thanks to the artificially created Da Thien Lake. Besides walking through the beautiful and vast territory, seeing the plants in the garden, you can pedal boat on the lake, climb Vong Canh Hill, which offers a wonderful view. The park grounds are conditionally divided into themed zones: Love, Dream, Ethno-Village, Venus Garden, Valley of a Thousand Flowers, a miniature park with replicas of world-famous buildings and structures, and a playground. More about the Valley of Love in Dalat.

XQ Dalat Embroidery Museum

This is a shop, art workshop, and museum that introduces the art of traditional silk embroidery. The halls display unique, one-of-a-kind embroidered pictures with traditional Vietnamese and other motifs (lotuses, butterflies, rural landscapes, portraits, etc.). Besides pictures, there are clothes and interior items. All pieces are renowned for their excellent quality and fine handiwork. There is a museum in a separate building (for an extra fee) where you can also see the richness and uniqueness of this art. More about the XQ Dalat Embroidery Museum.

Pongour Waterfall

This waterfall is one of the largest and most beautiful in Vietnam. During the rainy season, the water cascades down over multiple tiers in a wide stream and flows into a small lake at the foot. In the dry season, the waterfall loses its power and looks like many small streams, but still retains its beauty. The only downside: the waterfall is located about 50 kilometers from Dalat. But if you're in Dalat during the rainy season, be sure to go to the waterfall despite the long distance — a stunning sight is guaranteed. Plus, on the way to the waterfall, you'll see beautiful landscapes, passing by coffee and avocado plantations. More about Pongour Waterfall.

Datanla Waterfall

This is the most popular and visited waterfall, whether on your own or with excursions from Nha Trang and Mui Ne. Almost every city tour stops here, which is not surprising. It's located just 5 km from Dalat center, and getting there by rented transport or taxi is not difficult. Because of its accessibility, there are always many visitors, especially on weekends. Overall, this is a whole recreational complex, and besides the waterfall, conditions for active recreation have been created here – kayaking, ziplining, high-speed alpine coaster, cable car. More about Datanla Waterfall.

Gougah Fall

It is located about 40 km from Dalat and 1000 meters from Highway 20. The waterfall's height is 17 meters. A protruding rock in the center of the waterfall splits it into two streams. The right stream trickles down to the foot of the mountain in a thin stream, while the left one falls with furious force, raising myriad droplets of water dust.

Overall, the waterfall is not an incredible sight, and driving that far just for it is not worth it. Moreover, most of the year, the water in the waterfall's basin (a fairly large lake) is dirty brown. You could stop by if you're passing by.

Elephant Waterfall Thac Voi

This place features two attractions at once: the Elephant Waterfall itself and Linh An Pagoda. Elephant Waterfall is the most famous and powerful waterfall in the vicinity of Dalat. Unfortunately, it's hard to call it beautiful, but its power is definitely impressive. A must-visit place, included in almost all tourist routes of organized groups and independent travelers, including some tours to Dalat from Mui Ne and Nha Trang. The road from Dalat to the waterfall passes by coffee plantations and very scenic places. Along the way, you can visit a silk farm, a coffee farm, a local natural market, and many other interesting things. More about Elephant Waterfall in Dalat.

Linh An Pagoda

This pagoda is notable for housing the tallest outdoor statue of the goddess Guanyin in Vietnam, its height being 71 meters. And in the temple's inner park, there is the largest statue of Buddha Maitreya in Lam Dong province and 500 deities of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. It's amazing how many unique sculptures are gathered here in one place. Another interesting thing about Linh An Pagoda is that from here you can see the famous Elephant Waterfall. These attractions are located close to each other, making them convenient to visit. Additionally, both places are among the top ten must-sees in the Dalat area and are included in most tour routes, so you can't miss them. More about Linh An Pagoda.

Thien Vien Truc Lam Monastery and cable car

Although the start of the cable car is almost within the city (next to the bus station), it will take you to Thien Vien Monastery on Phung Hoang Mountain. As you go up the mountain, you can see wonderful bird's-eye view landscapes. It's just a pity the cable car takes you too fast. But no problem, a wonderful view also opens up from the top. And the monastery on the mountain is a whole Buddhist village, consisting of several separate structures (pagoda, pavilions with a huge bell and drum, monks' dwellings, etc.). The vast monastery grounds themselves are very colorful and picturesque with manicured lawns, animal-shaped bushes, and gazebos. More about the cable car and Thien Vien Monastery.

Suoi Vang Golden Valley

This is another one of many tourist areas with a large park in the outskirts of Dalat on the shores of Ho Suoi Vang Lake. The park is decorated with flower arrangements, bridges, a pine forest, a pink hill, and bonsai trees. Unlike most theme parks in the area where people go for a walk and take nice selfies, Golden Valley is more suitable for camping by the lake. This place is popular among local youth for organizing group events, family gatherings around a fire, and outdoor recreation. For an extra fee, you can pitch a tent by the lake. More about Suoi Vang Golden Valley.

Lang Biang Mountain

Lang Biang or Lang Biang is the highest peak in Dalat, as well as an excellent and the most popular spot for easy day hiking in this area. The mountain is located in a national park and consists of three peaks: Radar Peak (1929 m), Ba Peak (2167 m), and Ong Peak (2124 m). Only 2 peaks are actually visited: Radar (Radar Peak on the map) and Ba (Ba Peak on the map). Moreover, Radar is usually just visited by jeep, while Ba Peak is hiked. The peaks have observation decks with great views of the beautiful surroundings of Dalat. Getting to the mountain and doing the climb is very easy on your own. More about Lang Biang and how to visit it.

Nguyen Khong Pagoda

Nguyen Khong Pagoda (Ni Vien Nguyen Khong) is a little-known place among tourists, but it's an interesting nunnery that serves as a practice place for nuns. Dharma readings and meditations are held here, nuns engage in charity work and provide various kinds of help to those in need. It's no coincidence that there's a shelter for children in difficult life situations here, and even a kindergarten for the littlest ones. It's not worth going here specifically to see the temple, but if you're passing by these places, you can stop by and see this beautiful spot. More about Nguyen Khong Monastery.

Coffee farms

The surroundings of Dalat are rich in various natural and cultural attractions, but one of the special places to visit is the coffee farms or plantations. Dalat is considered the coffee capital of Vietnam, so visiting at least one farm during your vacation or excursion here is simply a must. On some farms, regular coffee is grown, on others – premium coffee, well-known as Kopi Luwak or civet coffee, called Weasel here. We visited one such well-known plantation called Me Linh Coffee Garden. Entrance is free, and you can order a tour for an extra fee. More about coffee farms in Dalat.

Dalat Wonderland amusement park

Wonderland is an amusement park for children and adults, located on the shore of a famous natural attraction – Tuyen Lam Lake. The vast park area includes a variety of attractions. The funniest ones are dog racing, horseback and ostrich riding, and a local petting zoo. In our opinion, this is the largest and most diverse amusement park in Dalat; at least, we don't know of any other such places. More about Dalat Wonderland Park in Dalat.

Lady Buddha Cao Dai Temple

This is one of the large and important temples in Vietnam practicing the Cao Dai religion. A very beautiful building with many bright architectural details attracts attention. It is very different from typical Buddhist temples. Although the place is not popular with tourists, if you like less touristy spots, be sure to visit it. Especially since it is located just a few minutes' drive from the popular and grand Linh Phuoc Pagoda. More about the Lady Buddha Cao Dai Temple in Dalat.

Tiger Cave and Tiger Cave Waterfall

This waterfall is surrounded by mixed forest and will appeal to those who love untouched, wild places. It's a little-known spot among tourists and rarely visited, accessible only to independent travelers on rented transport via a bad dirt road. At the time of our visit, we were the only visitors here, and the official path to the waterfall was actually closed off, with cables and prohibition signs strung up. Nevertheless, you can visit the waterfall, just the access is on the other side. More about Tiger Waterfall in Dalat.

Tuyen Lam Lake

Tuyen Lam is considered the most beautiful and romantic lake in Dalat. A place for water excursions and photo shoots, it looks especially picturesque against the backdrop of sunrise or sunset. However, based on our own experience visiting, we can say that all the enthusiastic tourist reviews are somewhat exaggerated. In fact, Tuyen Lam is no different from many other lakes, except perhaps for its whimsical shape. When viewed from above, it resembles thin veins of a leaf pointing in different directions. And this is no accident, because it is artificial and formed as a result of stone mining activities. But you won't appreciate its shape during your trip anyway; it's only visible from the air. More about Tuyen Lam Lake in Dalat.

Clay Tunnel

This is a fun theme park, representing an open-air "tunnel" filled with clay sculptures and bas-reliefs that depict the main attractions and history of the development of Dalat and its surroundings, as well as unique architectural works from around the world. Hundreds of tourists come here to wander through it, and most importantly – to take cool and romantic photos. The place is unusual and very popular among Vietnamese and foreign tourists. It's worth noting that the Clay Tunnel is very different from other theme parks around Dalat. Most other parks are based on some natural attraction and wealth, such as a lake, waterfall, flower farm, coffee or fruit plantation, and the like. Here, the basis is man-made sculptural compositions. More about the Clay Tunnel in Dalat.

Dray Nur and Dray Sap Waterfalls

Located within a large natural national park in Dak Lak province, 190 km north of Dalat. From the plateau through which the Srepok River flows, jets of water fall in a powerful stream, forming thousands of tiny splashes. Each of the water streams is unique. Dray Nur is considered the main waterfall. Its height is 30 meters (10 stories!!!), and its length is about 150 meters. Dray Sap is known as the "Male" waterfall. It is smaller than Dray Nur, but no less attractive and beautiful. Its height is just over 12 meters, and the width of the streams reaches 140 meters. More about Dray Nur and Dray Sap Waterfalls.