The city of Dalat is built on the Lang Biang highlands. It belongs to the Lam Dong province, about 300km away from Ho Chi Minh City. Under the French, it has Latin name – Dat Aliis Laetitiam Aliis Temperiem with meaning “giving the pleasure and happiness for people”. In Vietnam, Dalat is a popular tourist destination.
It’s no easy at all for travelers to choose the initial visiting place in Dalat for its widespread covering beauty. On a whole, Dalat looks like a cross between Vietnam and the French Alps. Temperatures are pleasantly warm by day, and quite cool at night, down to perhaps 10oC.
Today, Dalat is undoubtedly a beautiful tourist town. The vast majority of visitors are both domestic and foreign tourists on short package tours, drawn by the scenery, vivid blue skies, fresh air, flower-filled parks, and local edible treatment.
Whoever has come to Dalat could never forget Xuan Huong Lake, which is located in center of town. Xuan Huong lake is now one of the main draws of Dalat, and also where we can see honeymooners and locals strolling its banks. Side by side Xuan Huong Lake is Top-peg Hill, where has grown up a vast golf ground. If you are fond of fresh flowers, Dalat Flower Park is your accurate choice.
For couples, Valley of Love is the premium place to go. The other choice is Lake of Sorrow or Lake of Sighs, whose name came from a tale of two lovers, one of whom committed suicide after the other was called up to serve in the army. The romantic and beautiful Tuyen Lam Lake (the lake where rivers, springs and forests meet), Prenn Falls, or Pongour are also worth visiting for their beauty and fun.
On the other hand, Dalat is popular for French-style architecture. Examples are King Bao Dai’s Palace, Ngo Dinh Diem and Nguyen Cao Ky’s villas, Hang Nga villas, and so forth. All of those should really be visited since they demonstrate the deeply special beauty and somehow culture of the old French.
Nowaday Dalat is one of the most attractive destinations in Vietnam. About 800,000 domestic tourists and 80,000 foreign tourists visit every year, and it becomes the country’s favorite honeymoon spot thanks to its romantic scenery.