Da Lat – a place of tranquility and familiarity.

When I arrived in Da Lat, I hardly planned anything in advance. I just booked a hotel online, traveled by car or plane, and quickly found myself leisurely enjoying coffee at Thuy Ta Cafe and admiring the view of Xuan Huong Lake.

Walking for about 15 minutes further leads to Hoa Binh area with its rows of cafes and snack shops. In the evening, when the weather turns cold, both locals and tourists flock to the stalls selling soy milk and mung bean milk, accompanied by a couple of choux pastries with a soft, sweet cream filling.

Da Lat always has a captivating charm with its clouds and breezes. Once, inspired by a video of a valley of clouds where simply drawing back the curtains allowed the early morning clouds to rush in, I booked a room at a homestay quite far from the city center. Upon arrival, I rented a motorbike and my travel companion and I "adventured" around the village. When we passed a blue-painted wooden house, we stopped for a long time just to admire the tiny white flowers, like snowflakes, blooming in the small garden in front of the house.

Seeing our hesitation to ask to come in and take pictures, the gardener invited us in: "Feel free to push the door open." She also enthusiastically recommended good restaurants in the area. Another time in Da Lat, I arranged to meet a local friend. She took me to a local breakfast and coffee area. The shops were crowded but not noisy, and the owners and customers chatted happily.

My friend also suggested I buy roasted pork from a famous shop nearby. While waiting for my order to be packed, I asked where to buy rice noodles and bread to accompany the roasted pork, and the shop owner smiled and directed me to the shop next door. My friend explained: "That's how people in Da Lat are; they always live harmoniously and give opportunities to their neighbors. They never sell the same thing to compete." I was surprised! Da Lat is familiar, but the more I interact with it, the more interesting it becomes…!

Heritage Magazine