48 hours in Da Lat

The following suggestions are for first-time visitors to Da Lat who want to have experiences that are both traditional and new.

The two-day itinerary in Da Lat was suggested by two tourists from Ho Chi Minh City and one tourist from Hanoi .

Day 1

8:00 AM: Breakfast with steamed pork buns.

Steamed pork dumplings (xíu mại) are one of Da Lat's signature dishes, perfect for breakfast. These dumplings are commonly found at casual eateries and are primarily made with minced pork mixed with ingredients like shallots, breadcrumbs, and pepper. They are steamed and then topped with a thick sauce made from tomatoes or broth. Da Lat's steamed pork dumplings are best enjoyed hot with bread.

Some recommended addresses: 47 Hoang Dieu, Be Linh Steamed Pork Dumplings, Co Suong Steamed Pork Dumplings, 207 Phan Dinh Phung, Gia Phuc Steamed Pork Dumplings in a Bowl...

9 AM: Tung Coffee

The interior of Tung Cafe. Photo: Da Lat Tourism

The location, which was featured in the film "Em and Trinh," is situated in the Hoa Binh area, in the city center. Phong Vinh, a tourist who has visited Da Lat, believes that Tung is suitable for those who appreciate nostalgia and want to experience old Da Lat.

"Having existed for over half a century, Tung Cafe remains rustic with its old tables, faded paintings, wood-paneled walls, and even the slightly ajar door letting in the sunlight. Some people come here to watch the street and the crowds, some come to listen to some old songs, and some sit in the cafe just to relive memories," Vinh recounted. The drinks at Tung are traditional coffees, each cup carefully prepared by the owner, priced from 15,000 VND.

>> See more: Old Da Lat in a coffee shop over 50 years old

10:00 AM: Take a stroll around the city center.

The Y-shaped bridges surrounding Xuan Huong Lake. Photo: Tam Anh

The center of Da Lat is often mentioned as encompassing the areas around Xuan Huong Lake. This is a must-visit area, especially for first-time visitors. Some popular photo spots in the center include: Xuan Huong Lake with its Y-shaped bridges, Lam Vien Square with its artichoke-shaped building, and the Hong Kong corner in Da Lat Market. If the sun isn't too strong, you can take a stroll around the lake.

12 PM: Chicken hot pot with basil leaves

A pot of chicken hotpot with basil leaves, enough for 4 people. Photo: Tam Anh

Chicken hot pot with basil leaves is a must-try dish. The hot pot features a clear, refreshing broth with a light sweetness. This is a popular, affordable dish, costing between 200,000 and 400,000 VND per pot, containing mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and chopped chicken, and most importantly, basil leaves. Chicken hot pot with basil leaves is served with vermicelli noodles and a bowl of chili salt or lime-pepper salt for dipping the meat. The chicken is tender, the mushrooms are sweet, the bamboo shoots are crunchy, and they absorb the flavors, along with the subtle spiciness of the basil leaves.

Many restaurants sell chicken hot pot with basil leaves, and the preparation and taste are not significantly different, depending on the location you choose, whether it's the Tao Ngộ or 668 chain.

>> See also: Two hot pot dishes you'll never get tired of eating in Da Lat

3 PM: Visit Da Lat train station and go to Trai Mat.

Train tickets from Da Lat station to Trai Mat station when purchased directly. Photo: Tam Anh

After resting, in the afternoon tourists can visit Da Lat train station. This is an old station, built by the French in 1932, with a three-tiered, pyramidal architectural style, stylized as the three peaks of Langbiang Mountain or the traditional longhouse of the Central Highlands. This is a unique railway line in Vietnam with approximately 16 km of cogwheel track, at an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level.

If you have limited time, you can simply visit and take photos. If you have more time, take the train to Trai Mat station. Trains run regularly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with each trip lasting approximately 30 minutes. The first train departs at 9:50 AM from Da Lat station, and the last train leaves Trai Mat at 5:05 PM. From March onwards, train tickets are sold online. Round-trip tickets cost 160,000 VND, and one-way tickets cost 90,000 VND.

7 PM: Stuffed snails and oxtail hot pot

Stuffed snails are a famous dish in Da Lat. Photo: Tam Anh

Eating stuffed snails and oxtail hotpot is perfect for the cool evening weather in Da Lat. Each serving of snails costs around 150,000 - 200,000 VND, enough for two people. The snail meat is finely minced and mixed with seasoned ground meat, garnished with lemongrass, and steamed until cooked. It's served still fragrant and steaming hot. The restaurant also sells oxtail hotpot alongside its signature dish, stuffed snails. A hotpot costs between 200,000 and 300,000 VND.

Some recommended places: 33 Snail restaurant on Hai Ba Trung Street; Beef hotpot restaurant Quan Go at the end of Hoang Dieu alley.

Day 2

Túi Mơ To coffee shop is one of the places many tourists seek out. Photo: Coffee shop

7:30 AM: Breakfast and coffee outside the city center.

Another "specialty" of Da Lat is its beautiful cafes. Therefore, the next morning, tourists should leisurely leave the city center. In the early morning, the air in Da Lat is fresh. Choose a spacious cafe on a hill, amidst pine forests, with a wide view in front. If you wake up early, you can even chase the clouds. Having breakfast and enjoying a peaceful morning at these cafes, you "will fall in love with Da Lat immediately," shared Anh Kiet, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City who once sat at Chênh cafe in Da Lat.

Some other places to consider: Binh Minh Oi, Cafe Suoi Mo, Lo Coffee Da Lat, Tuoi Mo To, Doi Mot Nguoi...

10:00 AM: Pick strawberries and take photos while admiring hydrangeas.

While you're out of the city, take advantage of a variety of activities like strawberry picking and visiting hydrangea gardens. "The hydrangeas in Da Lat are huge, bloom profusely, and every corner of the garden offers beautiful photo opportunities," a Hanoi visitor commented. Entrance fees to the gardens range from 30,000 to 50,000 VND. Some notable locations include: the Clay Tunnel, Trai Mat field, Lac Duong field...

Leaving the flower garden, choose one of the nearby strawberry farms. Da Lat has long been famous for its delicious strawberries. The strawberries in Da Lat aren't too big, but they're fresh and quite sweet. After picking the strawberries, you can take them home. The farm owner will weigh and pack them in boxes for your peace of mind during transport. The price per kilogram of strawberries ranges from 150,000 to 200,000 VND.

3 PM: Taking photos at Da Lat Teacher Training College.

If you're visiting Da Lat for the first time, be sure to stop by Da Lat Teacher Training College and ask to take photos inside. The college is located about 2 km from the city center, on Yersin Street. It was once recognized by the World Architects Association as one of the 1,000 most unique buildings in the world in the 20th century. There's no entrance fee, but if you want to stroll around, take photos, or tour the campus, remember to bring your ID card or other identification documents.

4:30 PM: Wandering Clouds Music Performance

"When in Da Lat, you absolutely must listen to music and watch the sunset," is a suggestion from a tourist in Hanoi. May Lang Thang is an outdoor music venue with two stages located in alleys on Tran Quang Dieu or Hoang Hoa Tham streets. The show, best suited for enjoying music while watching the sunset, usually takes place from 5 PM to 7 PM. Ticket prices range from 150,000 VND to 1,200,000 VND depending on seating location and the singer.

7:30 PM: Dinner

The famous avocado ice cream of Da Lat. Photo: Tam Anh

Street food around the city center makes for a light dinner and dessert of avocado ice cream. "One of the most famous avocado ice cream vendors in the city center is Thanh Thao. Be patient because you might have to queue for quite a while," a Hanoi tourist shared.

Tam Anh

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