We fall in love with Dalat the moment we landed and I want to show you how fun and entertaining it can be. Once you are there you feel like you’ve been teleported into a fairytale. If you want to experience a misty vibe mixed with dreamy landscape, then this is your place. The city is nestled amidst towering mountains, the air is crisp and cool, filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers and the scent of pine trees.
Although some of the best things and top attractions in Dalat are right in the city, you can adventure yourself into the nature a little bit far away from the city centre. The more you explore, the more you love this place and you realize how many cool activities and places it has and you just wish you had more time.
THE CRAZY HOUSE
Crazy House in Dalat is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever visited! We think you must see it with your own eyes to fully appreciate how incredible this structure is. You’ll need around two hours for a complete visit. This house was never intended to be a a touristic attraction, but this impressive piece of art, attracted people’s attention and it became the main tourist spot in Dalat. It defies all conventions and standards of tastes. The Crazy House is outrageously marvellous, hideously eccentric and very weird.
If you love anything spooky, unique and misty, then you are in here for a treat, the good news is that you can actually stay at the Crazy House if you want to, because it is also a hostel.
Every room inside has its own theme connected to animals. For example there is tiger room, eagle room, kangaroo room or even ant room. Each room has decorations matching the theme. The architect says that themes of the rooms are symbolic.
the story behind the Crazy House
The Crazy House is a project of architect Dang Viet Nga, the owner of this mansion and she actually lives here. That’s so cool!! The artist had this idea because Dalat started to develop more and more, witch meant, nature was less (it is still lots of nature, but I get the point), so she started this project in 1990 to honour nature. Nature we loose everyday because of buildings, streets and cars.
the stairs
There is an insane amount of stairs at this house. Plenty of spiral stairs lead to several areas and rooms of the House. Although some parts of the stairs are quite challenging to move, it was still an exceptional experience. The house looks a little bit like a labyrinth.
Adrenaline adventures
Places like Dalat encourage travelers to try something new, something they have never done in their entire lives. As the area is rich in waterfalls, forests, it is a great place to try unique things, such as a roller coster in the forest. When I found out about it, I had to try it and trust me it was the best experience EVER!
DATANLA WATERFALLS
Only a few kilometres south of Dalat is one of the most popular attractions in the area, Datanla Falls set in pine-forested hills. Although it is heavily visited by both locals and foreigners, it’s not crowded at all. There are many things you can do around the waterfall including mini roller coaster ride, zip lining, canyoning or you can take a cable car that will take you deeper in the forest. There are also a few restaurants with pretty delicious food and tea, just for you to take a rest and enjoy the fabulous views.
CLAY TUNNEL
We loved the vibe of the city, as it’s surrounded by mountains and the people are friendly. We even rented a scooter, witch it was an awesome experience, a little bit scary (you know Dalat traffic is insane, so many cars and scooters going so fast, they have experience with this type of traffic), but I kind of enjoyed it.
Da Lat is also filled with Instagrammable spots, so we had to see the Clay Tunnel. Why is this gallery art so special? It is a set of beautiful and impressive clay sculptures, from giant motorbikes and planes, to musical instruments. There is a lot to see at the Clay Tunnel and we had fun shooting here.
LUMIERE DA LAT LIGHT GARDEN
This is another impressive place in Dalat, filled with great photo opportunities. Lumiere Light Garden stands as an unparalleled exhibition. With each step you take, an emotional journey through distinctive visual effects awaits. Through the harmonious fusion of installation art and advanced light projection technology, its 9 mythical realms promise to instill a sense of awe as you find yourself immersed in their mesmerizingly enchanting dimensions.
You can hire a costume, which I found it super cool. They have different types of costumes, from Japanese, to Chinese to warriors, or even cosmonaut costume. Pretty awesome no?
The Lumiere Da Lat Light Garden is a unique and immersive experience that appeals to any type of visitors. It is open year round and offers both daytime and nighttime viewing options, allowing visitors to experience the garden’s beauty in different ways. We preferred a late night visit, so we could enjoy the outside activities and art galleries in day time.
XUON HUONG LAKE
Xuon Huong lake, also referred as the heart of the city, it’s located in the centre of Dalat and is a picturesque lake where you can enjoy a few cool activities. You can rent out a swan pedal boat for a beautiful ride on the lake. If you are a hopeless romantic, as I am, I recommend you a sunset ride. Whether the water surface might be reflecting the clouds from the sky, or the shining sun, the sunset reflects the shimmering city on the water surface and it is fabulous.
The lake has a total area of about 25 ha with crescent moon shape and is close to many several tourist spots in Da Lat. You can also find a few restaurants around, if you want to have a coffee or dinner with a view at the lake and also a parking spot free of charge.
Madeleine 𓇼 