Last updated on August 21st, 2024 at 10:37 am
This is my Self-Guided Trip to Da Lat Tip. Traveling to Da Lat independently, many people love visiting Da Lat, going there two or three times a year just to enjoy the cool air and escape from the noisy streets. In December 2023, my family and I had an interesting self-guided trip to Da Lat, where we enjoyed the mountain views, sipped coffee, savored grilled specialties in the chilly weather, and explored the unique natural landscapes of this city of a thousand flowers.
In this article, I want to share the sights to see, the best times to visit, and suggest some cafes and dining spots with beautiful views for you to consider.
Back in 2020, my family traveled to Da Lat on our own for the first time. We chose our destinations hastily and without much research, visiting Da Lat in July, which is the rainy season. The continuous downpour limited our visits to just a few places like Langbiang, Bao Dai’s Palace, and Truc Lam Zen Monastery. The relentless rain, coupled with traveling by motorbike without being able to enjoy the scenery and facing difficulties in finding our way, made it a challenging and somewhat disappointing experience. We didn’t get to explore much and didn’t fully experience Da Lat.
Recently, my sister had the chance to visit Da Lat several times and explore its interesting spots, so she planned and organized another trip to Da Lat for my family when i visited Viet Nam during Christmas Holiday.
Ideal Time for a Self-Guided Trip to Da Lat
The best time for a self-guided trip to Da Lat is from September to April. In January, the cherry blossoms start blooming in some places, making it an ideal time for those who want to enjoy them.
To avoid crowds and save money, it’s best to avoid holidays, Tet, and weekends, when hotel prices in Da Lat can soar.
This time, my family wanted a leisurely trip to slowly enjoy the romantic landscapes, breathe in the cool air, and appreciate the clear skies and beautiful flowers.
Getting There
You can travel by plane or sleeper bus. People from the North usually fly, while those from the South often opt for sleeper buses or limousines.
Due to having elderly people with us, we chose to fly for convenience, though sleeper buses are a popular and economical choice for many. My family traveled from Da Nang.
Flight prices from Da Nang to Da Lat can be high due to fewer flights. We traveled close to Christmas and New Year’s, which matched our schedules (I visit home during Christmas break) and was slightly more expensive.
On a previous trip, I found that flying from Hue to Da Lat was half the price compared to flying from Da Nang to Da Lat, taking about an hour and a half to get to Hue airport. If you’re considering flying but find the tickets expensive, look into flights from Hue.
Transport to the City Center
Taxi prices from the airport to the city center are about 270,000 VND for a 7-seater and 240-250,000 VND for a 4-seater, depending on the location of your hotel.
Suitable Hotels for a Self-Guided Trip to Da Lat
Choose hotels near the night market, where there are many options with competitive prices. Budget hotels are quite affordable, ranging from 300-500,000 VND per night, and there are also 3-4 star hotels nearby. Prices can double on weekends, so check carefully if you’re traveling then.
For those who prefer a quieter location away from the night market, there are plenty of options, and booking online can sometimes offer discounts.
Getting Around and Sightseeing
Renting a motorbike for about 120-150,000 VND per day offers freedom to explore. Rental prices are cheaper outside the city center, and some rental services offer delivery.
For those unfamiliar with the roads, hiring a taxi for the whole day for about 900,000 VND, or half a day for specific visits, can be a cost-effective and convenient option for groups, saving time on navigation. Many tourist spots in Da Lat are 20-30 km from the city center, so plan your visits accordingly.
Day 1: Arrive at Da Lat airport at 1 PM, take a taxi from the airport costing about 270,000 VND, and head to the hotel to rest. Then visit Xom Leo for grilled dishes, enjoy coffee at Quan Xuan next to “Loi Cua Gio” coffee shop, savor grilled chicken eggs, and enjoy the cool atmosphere with many photo spots.
Day 2: Tà Nung Route
Van Thanh Flower Village – Me Linh Coffee – Linh An Pagoda – The Florest garden Cafe
Day 3: Cau Dat – Windy Rose Garden – Lunch at Tuktuk Chicken – Tui Mo To cafe
Day 4: Lunch with grilled pork rolls– Nam Nuong Grilled Restaurant – City Square – Night Market
Self-guided travel in Da Lat This is just part one of the series of articles on a self-guided trip to Da Lat, sharing the means of transportation, tips, and itinerary.
The second part will detail the itinerary of the trip, the self-guided travel in Da Lat, the places I visited, and my dining experiences at various coffee shops and grill spots. Thank you for visiting and reading through the series on a self-guided trip to Da Lat.
Here’s to your journey being filled with awesome adventures and loads of cool stories to tell.
The part 2 of the Da Lattrip ,continue to read this post