Horse-drawn carriages in Da Lat: A unique tourism product that needs to be restored and developed.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong province believes that horse-drawn carriages for tourist transportation are a unique product of Da Lat and need to be organized and managed strictly.

On December 11th, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong province sent document No. 2791/SVHTTDL-QLDL to the Department of Construction of Lam Dong province regarding the resumption of horse-drawn carriage services around Xuan Huong Lake (Da Lat). The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated that horse-drawn carriages carrying tourists were once a distinctive cultural feature associated with the image of the old Da Lat city, creating a unique experience for visitors when touring the Xuan Huong Lake area – one of the central tourist destinations of the old Da Lat city.

If properly organized and managed, horse-drawn carriage services could become a unique tourism product, enriching the range of tourism services in the locality.

Therefore, a specific regulatory framework is necessary for relevant sectors, levels, organizations, and individuals to base their implementation on.

A procession of horse-drawn carriages carried 80 Miss Cosmo contestants from various countries and dance troupes participating in the Tea Carnival - a street art parade in Da Lat.

PHOTO: LAM VIEN

Based on the above request, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism agreed on the principle of assigning the relevant agency (either the Department of Construction or the Provincial Police) to advise the Provincial People's Committee on issuing regulations for managing the operation of non-motorized vehicles in Lam Dong province.

Accordingly, organizations and individuals operating rudimentary vehicle services for transporting tourists, such as horse-drawn carriages in Da Lat, ox carts in La Gi, cyclo-rickshaws in Phan Thiet, and rickshaws, must join a professional organization (association, if one does not exist, a proposal for its establishment should be made) or cooperative; have a business registration in accordance with the law; and commit to complying with regulations on order, safety, and environmental hygiene.

The regulations clearly define specific routes and operating hours, prohibiting operation during peak hours and in areas with high traffic density; prioritizing short routes, within parks, and avoiding operation on main traffic arteries. A specific and timely waste disposal plan and waste collection equipment are mandatory.

As Thanh Nien newspaper reported, on February 21, 2025, the People's Committee of Da Lat City (formerly) issued document No. 1092/UBND-LN regarding the cessation of passenger transport business by horse-drawn carriage around Xuan Huong Lake, and simultaneously instructed households to bring horse-drawn carriages into Tuyen Lam Lake Tourist Area to serve tourists.

On May 8th, Mr. Le Viet Dong, representing 10 households operating horse-drawn carriages for tourists, moved their carriages into the Tuyen Lam Lake Tourist Area to operate as instructed by Da Lat City. However, the Tuyen Lam Lake Tourist Area Management Board did not allow the operation, demanding that they cease, and threatening to issue a citation if they continued to transport tourists. Since then, horse-drawn carriage services for tourists in Da Lat have been suspended.

At the international tea festival, locals and tourists were surprised to see a procession of horse-drawn carriages carrying 80 Miss Cosmo contestants from various countries.

PHOTO: LAM VIEN

However, at the World Tea Fest 2025 on the afternoon of December 7th, locals and tourists were surprised to see a procession of horse-drawn carriages carrying 80 Miss Cosmo contestants from various countries and dance troupes participating in the Tea Carnival – a street art parade – through the central streets of Da Lat. This shows that horse-drawn carriages are a real need and a very unique characteristic of Da Lat.

Mr. Le Viet Dong, representing the Da Lat Horse Carriage Cooperative, added that from the beginning of December 2025, with the approval of the Da Lat Golf Course Management Board, five horse-drawn carriages were allowed to transport tourists on the internal road of the golf course. This road runs parallel to Tran Quoc Toan Street next to Xuan Huong Lake, making it popular with tourists from South Korea and other countries.

Horse-drawn carriages carrying tourists are allowed to operate within the internal roads of the Da Lat golf course.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTOR

However, the route is only a few hundred meters long, which is not enough to satisfy tourists. Business owners hope that horse-drawn carriage services for tourists will soon be available around Xuan Huong Lake.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xe-ngua-da-lat-san-pham-du-lich-dac-thu-can-khoi-phuc-va-phat-trien-18525121116262943.htm