Dalat

From Eco Friendly Travels

Eco-friendly travel guide to Dalat advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Dalat, Vietnam.

View of 'Binh An Village Resort Dalat' from Tuyền Lâm Lake


  • Air quality: 4 / 5
  • Exploring by foot: 2 / 5
  • Exploring by bicycle: 3 / 5
  • Public transportation: 3 / 5
  • Parks: 3 / 5
  • Outdoor activities: 3 / 5
  • Locals' English level: 3 / 5
  • Safety: 4 / 5
  • Accommodation: US$10- $30
  • Budget per day: US$30 - $80

Responsible Travel

Dalat, also written as Da Lat, is the capital of Lam Dong province in Vietnam. This is the largest city in the central highlands region in Vietnam. The city of Dalat is located at 1,500 meters (4,900 ft) above sea level on the Langbian Plateau. Dalat is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Vietnam. It is spread in a total area of 152.4 square meters with a population of 425000 as per data from 2020. Dalat or Da Lat is famous for growing a wide species of flowers, fruit, and vegetables on its hugely spread farmlands as well as it has countless eye-catching nature sites like its magnificent landscape, evergreen jungles, and minority villages. French and Vietnamese architects are collaborating on a master plan to renovate and expand the city of Dalat in central highlands into an entity that will cover 3,300 square km. The plan, which is currently being reviewed in Paris, aims to retain the Dalat city's unique style laid down by the colonial rulers around 120 years ago. While traveling to such an elegant city, you must take care of your responsibilities as a tourist.

  • Although Dalat's air quality is good, it doesn't mean that you should not keep an eye on how you may cause air pollution while traveling there. Instead of fuel-based vehicles, try to use the electronic automobile while taking a tour of the city. If electric cars are not available, you must consider taking public transport services to roam around the city. This way you can limit the pollution that you may cause as a tourist.
  • Buy eco-friendly items from the local stores; local shoppers may lure you into buying materials made up of plastics or any other disposable substance, do not purchase such things as this can cause land pollution. Recent data shows that land pollution in Dalat has seen an increase due to the rise in the use of plastic garbage by thousands of tourists and locals.


Air Quality and Pollution

Dalat is a city that retains a very good air quality. The US AQI readings carried in late 2020 is coming consistently with decent ratings, along with this the concentration level of PM 2.5 in the air is as low as 4.1 µg/m³ and a maximum of 8.1 µg/m³, both of which are considered good according to the standards of World Health Organization. This is why Dalat is regarded as a very clean city; it has vast amounts of forested regions and woods surrounding the city alongside its elevated position above the sea level. These all contribute to the more pristine quality of air. However, there are a few issues that are perceived to elevate air pollution levels in Dalat, such as the high tourism volume, both domestic and local, along with the agricultural industry. It is advised to keep your windows close to restrict dirty outdoor air; people with sensitive health issues should be careful while travelling.


Respect the Culture

Local minorities of Dalat organize many traditional festivities and ritual ceremonies that attract many nearby and foreign visitors to observe and join in with them. As a tourist, you must pay respect to their beliefs and traditions. Dalat is the land colonized by several communities from different nations such as Chinese, Vietnamese, especially locals such as the chil, lach, the s’re, the churu, etc. These ethnic groups have established their own unique cultural identities enriched with the treasure of Vietnam culture in the forms of cultural rituals and festivals. If you are good to the people of Dalat, they will cheerfully help you to explore their region briefly. Don't try to mock their tradition; it'll be a bad deed on your part as a traveller, which can lead them to treat tourists as outcasts.


Top 10 Places to Visit

  • Lam Vien Square: Lam Vien Square always grabs its position on the list of attractions in Dalat that the tourists must visit. Lam Vien Square, also called the City Central Square, covers an area of about 72,000 square meters in total. It is the square in the heart of the dalat facing the scenic beauty of Xuan Huong Lake. It is located at the train Quoc the street, ward 1, Dalat. The attractive points of Lam Vien Square are the two huge works of art modelled with fancy stained glass that represent wild artichoke and anemone bud. Both gigantic structures fascinate large numbers of tourists to stop in and admire these modern architectural works. Usually, at night many locals like to hang out and chill there, making it more crowded at night time.
  • Xuan Huong Lake: This lake is conveniently situated in a prime location in the city's centre; it is one of the most gorgeous sights in Dalat that should not be missed by tourists. This beautiful artificial lake is deemed to be the heart of Dalat. Xuan Huong Lake was initially the upstream of the Cam Ly waterfall and was also the home of the ancient people of Dalat who belonged to the Lach ethnic group. The lake area is approximately 38 hectares. Xuan Huong Lake is encircled by pine forests and flower gardens that enhance this lake's poetic beauty. The lake is open for 24 hours to visit.

Xuan Huong Lake is elegant in all seasons, especially in spring. You will adore the pink-coloured cherry blossoms blooming around the lake.

  • Dalat Night Market: Dalat night market, also known as Am Phu Market, is a suitable place to visit in the evening in Dalat city centre. This place is the most crowded sightseer attraction in Dalat during the night. It is located at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street, ward 1, Dalat.

Dalat night market's vendors trade many essential items of Dalat from fabrics, clothing, fine arts, unique souvenirs to a number of agricultural products. You may come here to take a walk, find a place to sit down and enjoy the view while having some fine rustic local dishes like grilled corn, grilled rice paper, and baked potatoes or for doing some shopping.

  • Hang Nga Villa (Crazy House): This place is recognized as one of the ten oddest architectural houses on the globe; Dalat’s Hang Nga Villa is also named as the "Crazy House". Hang Nga Villa comprises numerous buildings with different purposes, such as cafes, guest houses, art galleries built in different styles. The reason that this place is exceptionally famous and attracts more tourists is its rare architecture. From the outside to the inside, every part of this villa will surprise you with strange shapes and the creative picture prospects offered to visitors. You can also stay at night in the crazy house by renting a room to get a kick out of the "madness" of this complex and temporary escape from the hustle of the city centre.
  • Chicken Church: Chicken church, or Con Ga church, also acknowledged as the cathedral of Dalat, is one of the most famous churches in Dalat. The chicken church is one of the roman catholic architectural works in the European style. The name of the chicken church comes from the tip of the bell tower, which is painted with the image of a big chicken. This church has a length of 65 meters, a width of 14 meters and a height of 47 meters, it took 11 years to be built. Construction was completed in 1942. From the bell tower, one can see the flower city's spectacular view that will surely give you a special memory from your Dalat trip.
  • Domaine de Marie Church: This location is found on the windy Mai Anh Hill, which is about 1 km from the Dalat city centre; Domaine de Marie church is famous for its extraordinary architectural design. This church is also identified as Vinh Son church because this is the cathedral of the sisters of Bac Ai Vinh Son. Many call it Mai Anh church because the church province once had a ton of cherry blossoms. This place is built in the classic European architectural style from the 17th century. The distinctive feature of this church is that its walls are coated in the pink color. Another striking element about the Domain de Marie church is that it was built without the bell tower unlike the other churches. From the church, you can walk in many directions to see the mesmerizing beauty of Dalat city.
  • Dalat Railway Station: Dalat railway station is situated on Quang Trung street in the city center. The railway station has an incredibly impressive and remarkable architecture in the shape of the majestic Lang Biang mountain infused with French architecture. The platform has old steam locomotives and carriages parked there for exploring. Dalat railway station was constructed in 1932 by the French as the terminal stop between the railway connecting Dalat with Phan Rang. However, currently, this route is not functioning. The station now only serves travelers willing to travel the Trai Mat- Dalat route, which is 7 km long, allowing you to take the old train from the Dalat railway station to let you explore the mountain town and stop by Linh Phuoc Pagoda and Trai Mat. Railway entrance will take 5,000 VND per individual.
  • Dalat Pedagogy College: The college was built and established in 1927 by the French. Dalat Pedagogy college is still acknowledged as one of the most elegant academic buildings in Vietnam, which is also a well-toured tourist attraction in the Dalat.

The arc-shaped building with 3-storeys is the most unique feature of the building; it is assembled from red bricks, including a 54 meters high bell tower. It stands out amidst the dense pine forest in Dalat. Over the years, this college has become a famous tourist attraction. Many local couples also choose to take romantic wedding photos in this building. However, Dalat Pedagogy college's visiting time is limited because the college is open for tourists from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

  • Bao Dai Palace: The 3 Bao Dai palaces, respectively named Bao Dai I, Bao Dai II, and Bao Dai III, are located in the elegant city, Dalat. These three ancient buildings hold great significance to Dalat city and the entire country of Vietnam. If you visit here, you can get a chance to tour the lavish occupancies and working places of the ancient emperors of the Nguyen dynasty and learn about the modern architecture of the ancient French style.
  • Soul & Story Store: In addition to the well-known yellow color of the windmill bakery shop, tourists can visit the Soul & Story clothing store, whose wall comes in the list of photogenic locations in Dalat. This wall is painted with monochrome colors: white and black. There is a Korean memo that helps to create a perfect picture as if you are in Korea.

In addition to this attractive wall, the store also auctions a lot of beautiful things. After taking your pictures, you may again come in and purchase some pretty clothes.

Lam Vien Square


Explore

Dalat features numerous interesting landmarks. Its waterfalls and lakes have been counted as some of its prime attractions, since a long time. On the other hand, the emperor Bao Dai’s summer palace and the Buddhist pagodas have equally attracted thousands of visitors per year. Tourists can discover a good number of well-maintained chalets and French villas in the French Quarter situated near the city centre. It’s quite simple to reach Xuan Huong Lake, you can proceed to explore many other sites from there by walking, as they are quite close by. The minority villages nearby Dalat are a must visit to know Vietnam up close as the villagers have still preserved their traditional ways of life.


City Parks

  • Yersin Park: This park was named after a well-known French scientist: Alexandre Yersin, due to his contribution in discovering Dalat City. It is situated next to Xuan Huong Lake, covering an area of about 11 ha distributed into six main sectors: nurseries, land lake, central gardens area, exhibitors, international trade center area, and planting trees. The park has a lot of usual flowers in Dalat. Inside, there is a 4 m high Yersin statue engraved with “Give fun for one and cool for others”.
  • Dalat Flower Park: It is also called Dalat flower garden with an area of 7,000 sq.m placed on the north shore around the Xuan Huong Lake about 2 km from city center, on the ravine of Cu Hill. Here tourists can contemplate the extensive selection of flowers in Dalat. It is deemed as a natural museum that keeps a fine array of native as well as exotic flowers. There is a small cafe in the park. It's also an appealing interest on the occasion of the annual flower festival.
  • Valley of love: 'The Valley of Love’ is another Vietnam's themed park located in Dalat. It is located in a beautiful natural sitting with elegant valleys and a lake. The place is huge and you may need free electric trolleys to tour the place. There is a ‘Lovers Maze’, in which it is easy to get in but not so easy to get out. But, eventually they have 5 spots where you can look above the Maze to figure out an exit. You'll also get plenty of restaurants there.
Yersin Park


National Parks

  • Cat Tien National Park: UNESCO has acknowledged Cat Tien National Park as a world biosphere preservation region. It has a total area of 70,548 hectares. The head office of Cat Tien national park is in Tan Phu District – Dong Nai and the office of the management board in Phu My commune, Cat Tien district – Lam Dong. During the rainy season, the streams turn into falls. In the middle of the river, some small islands are located. Tourists can do camping on the islands; they are allowed to enjoy campfires at night. The national park has an old forest encompassing many precious trees on the left and the most fabulous waterfall on the right: Heaven waterfall. Passing through the woods and some deep valleys, tourists will discover the Bau Sau: the biggest pool in the middle of the park, it has numerous kinds of fish, the crocodiles are also found in the pool along with many herds of birds around the pool.
  • Bidoup Nui Ba National Park: It is situated in the districts of Lac Duong and a part of Dam Rong-Lam Dong province. The park has a total area of 63,938 ha, comprising multiform natural resources and wonderful sceneries, specifically its waterfalls. A centre of environmental education and ecological tourism has just been organized there. It is included in the list of one of the regions among 221 others with birds of special kinds in the world and one of the four biological multiform hubs of Vietnam. 91% of its region comprises forest land and forest, in which there are almost ancient forests having many species of plants and animals. In total, it has 1933 plant species; among them, 62 precious species have been indexed in the red book of Vietnam since 2000.
Cat Tien National Park


Beaches

The city of Dalat has no beaches because it is located in a land-locked place and is miles away from the ocean or sea. For beaches you'll need to visit the coastal cities like Nha Trang and Ho chi minh.


Landmarks

  • Summer Palace of King Bao Dai: It was built between 1916 to 1922. Palace provides a beautiful site. The structural style resembles the art deco style, it is open to tourists who would like a peek into the history of Dalat. The building conserves features of the colonial era and functions as a hotel till date.
  • Linh Phuoc Pagoda: Linh Phuoc Pagoda in Dalat is conceivably the most beautiful pagoda in and around this city, It crams multiple gorgeous sights in just one area that can make you feel overwhelmed. Linh Phuoc has a tendency to set national records for biggest bell in entire Vietnam, 49 m long glass dragon (longest), also the tallest statue of Quan Am Bodhisattva, and so on. They are in a continuous process of improving, extending, and renovating the pagoda and temple as a way of worship.
Linh Phuoc Pagoda


Museums

  • Lam Dong Museum: This is the main museum of Dalat. It exhibits numerous items of the ancient trips and ethnic minorities of the Highlands, along with the archeological findings from unearthed sites and thorough portrays of tribal life. You may even play the instruments to recreate the sounds of these old cultures. In the basement, you'll see Vietnam’s viewpoint of the American war with various photog propaganda and war leftovers.
  • Biological Research Institute: This is one of the weirdest museums you possibly ever heard of. This mysterious building is a remodeled church with an adequate selection of animals. Actually, French zoologists started cataloguing the aboriginal Vietnamese wildlife in Dalat, so many of the displays are from the colonial era. It’s absolutely a must-visit for any biologist or other traveler with a science background.
Lam Dong Museum


Eat

  • Banh Mi Xiu Mai: Banh mi is basically a crispy baguette with a variety of stuffing. When you’re in Dalat, it is served as a bowl of meatballs and bread on the side. These delicious meatballs are prepared with minced mushroom, garlic, onion, ground pork, and some local spices, before being simmered in a hearty tomato-based bouillon. You can have banh mi xiu Mai early in the morning as it’s light and warm.
  • Banh Canh (Noodle Soup): Banh canh is a tasty noodle soup made with baked bones and pork meat. This dish contains a good amount of thick tapioca rice noodles, cilantro, green onions, and pork slices. If you don't like pork, you can have it with fried spring rolls, quail eggs, fish balls or fish cakes. It is served with a platter of fresh greens on the side.
  • Bun Bo (Beef Rice Noodle Soup): Bun bo has its origin from Hue, but tourists can find this dish in Dalat restaurants too. A local cafe 'Quan Bun Bo Hue' is known to serve the best bun bo in the city of Dalat. The dish is spicier than pho consisting of rice vermicelli, banana buds, sprouts, red pepper flakes, beef slices, and lemongrass.


Traditional Local Restaurants

  • Goc Ha Thanh: Goc Ha Thanh serves original Vietnamese dishes in a tiny and intimate space decorated with wooden furniture and walls, intended to look like a countryside home. The menu is great, none of the dishes can be cut off as lacking. You can order a large feast of dishes and eat in family style.
  • Artist Alley: Artist Alley is one of the most prominent cafes in Dalat. It has an affordable menu mostly focusing on French and Vietnamese cookery, you’ll enjoy your meal in a cosy setting, with a peaceful tune of live guitar in the background. There are unique masterpieces and sculptures dispersed around the venue. Candlelit settings are also served during evenings.
  • Ganesh Fine Indian Cuisine: Ganesh is a popular restaurant chain since 1999 found throughout Vietnam. Its menu serves mostly northern Indian meals, the two appetizers: samosas and tandoori fish is popular and liked by the people of dalat. Dishes here can make you full for all day long.


Vegetarian and Vegan

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or just looking for plant-based dining alternatives in Dalat, this city will fulfill your desire. Even curious non-vegetarians should agree that the menu including tasty vegan options available at these restaurants would please a discerning palate. From the breakfast to brunch, from dinner to late-night snacking, and every non-meat feast in-between. Here are the best veggie dining services in Dalat:

  • Biang Dalat Garden Restaurant
  • Vegetarian Restaurant
  • Tu Hanh Vegetarian
  • Vcafe
  • Goc ha than
  • My Thoa Vegan Restaurant
  • Chef's Dalat Restaurant
  • Day Gastropub & Vegan Food
  • Chau Full Moon Vegetarian Restaurant


Street Food

  • Salt And Chili Toast: Recently, in Dalat a very original and incredible salt and chili toast came into existence that everybody wants to try at least once, especially the youths. You can find this food in some street stalls at Dalat Peace Square, Phan Boi Chau street or Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street, Phan Chu Trinh intersection etc.,
  • Grilled Pork Rolls On Skewers: Grilled pork rolls on skewers are a unique dish of Dalat, due to their individual, flavorful taste. Grilled pork rolls are draped in rice paper, vegetables, and pickled onions. When you bite the grilled pork rolls, the mixture of spicy and hot sauce with the aroma of the hot pork rolls can make you feel warm in the icy air.
  • Grilled Rice Paper: Grilled rice paper is a common snack of the people living in central provinces, the western highlands, and particularly in Dalat. With the cold weather all the year round, having grilled rice paper has come to be quite popular among people. Many travelers enjoy it while visiting Dalat. Many people also call it “Dalat pizza”.


Drink

  • Strawberry juice: Dalat is one of the popular areas for harvesting strawberry, hence strawberry juice comes to be Dalat’s popular drink because of its quality and purity. It is a wonderful drink after a tired working day. You can get strawberry juice throughout the city. In Dalat, hundreds of associations are making and processing this drink.
  • Soy milk: Soy milk is familiar to every Vietnamese, this Dalat drink has a new flavor that you won't find in any other place. The recipe of this drink is not mixed up with pure Vietnamese ingredients. Tourists must enjoy this famous Dalat drink with a plate of pastry to feel the taste and sweetness of the milk.
  • Passion fruit juice: The specialty of Dalat passion fruit juice is that it is made up of only selected passion fruits. There are a number of juice types for you to select with a decent price. Dalat passion drinks are good for one's health, cardiovascular, and resistance.
  • Dalat wine: Dalat wine originates from France under the experienced hands of artisans. Dalat wine is distributed widely in the market throughout the nation and also abroad. Dalat wine is made from extremely rich products, great quality and are carefully selected like: Dalat wine premium, Dalat red wine, Dalat white wine. They have thoughtful products as gifts named after elegant flowers such as Pensee, La Tulipe, Will Rose and Marguerite.


Tap-water

You should be very careful of what you are drinking. In dalat, tap water is heavily chlorinated in the urban regions, but still you should avoid it. In place of tap water you can use bottled water, which you can find everywhere. However, Ice is mostly safe in the towns and resorts; They are often put into the drinks and coffee.


Organic Cafés

  • Brew & Breakfast - Coffee, Chill, Chay
  • An Cafe
  • The Sky Over Dalat
  • Weasel coffee shop - Ca Phe Organic, cafe sach
  • Nha Hang Chay Hoa Sen
  • Emai Italian Restaurant


Breweries

  • Moi Craft Beer
  • The Wall Cold Beer - Dalat
  • B21Bar
  • tiembiaso13
  • Khịa : Beer & Fun
  • BeerCorner


Activities

The best thing about traveling to other places is we get to do a lot of fun activities that are going to be in our memories. The city of Dalat is well-known for its mesmerizing nature sites and unique structures. As it is the largest city of central highlands, you get to see a variation of attractions in this place. From museums to flea markets, this city is full of excitement. Here are some activities that you must not miss out while staying at Dalat.

  • Explore elephant waterfalls
  • Kayaking
  • Hiking
  • Mountain bike tours
  • Country-side bike tour
  • Canyoning
  • Full day biking to Nha Trang


Yoga and Retreats

The places where a proper way of performing Yoga is taught is known as Yoga retreats. Many yoga centers are available in Dalat city as natives are very much concerned about their fitness. One can take a monthly membership in one of these retreat centers to enjoy the technique of various trainers. Here's a list of yoga centers:

  • Sivananda Yoga Resort and Training center
  • Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center Dalal
  • Trung tam Yoga Da Lat
  • Study tour-yoga tour


Accommodation

Several accommodation options are functional in the entire city or village of Dalat. The city offers you luxurious facilities and a cozy atmosphere at reasonable rates. You can have a look at different accommodation alternatives with their respective prices which will help you choose the best stay for you. Wherever you travel to Dalat and choose to stay there, you must act like a responsible tourist and should adopt habits and methods that are eco-friendly, including fewer usage of plastics and proper dumping of waste. In this city, one can find 4 different kinds of accommodations, I.e eco-friendly hotels, guesthouses and hostels, and camping areas, and apartments.


Green Hotels

Green hotels are certified by the government regulatory body. They are different from regular hotels. They are named as green hotels because they follow eco-friendly measures that most of the ordinary hotels don't. Solar panel and wind mill is the source of energy there. They serve only organic dishes maintaining hygiene. The rooms are well-maintained, they use organic fabric towels and bed sheets. Hotel commodities like shampoo, soap, face wash etc., are herbal. Green hotels provide a luxurious lifestyle at decent prices.


Hostels and Guest Houses

If you are traveling solo then hostels and guesthouses are the best choice for you as you can stay there at low budget. They offer you a clean room with only essential facilities along with a free breakfast. Many hostels can offer you shared dorms, where you can make some friends to travel with. Some hostels may not allow you to enter if you are not planning to stay there. While staying at the hostel you must be careful about your stuff. If you are traveling with your friends and family then guesthouses would be a better option for you. You can get private time with your family and friends in the guesthouse. You'll find all kinds of appliances available here.


Apartments

Apartments are the best choice for people who are going to stay in Dalat for an extended time. For a longer stay, apartments are cheaper than hotel rooms. Many of the apartments are provided with a kitchen and 1 or 2 bedrooms, and one hall. These apartments give you complete privacy; you can live comfortably there with your partner, family, or friends. You'll be able to cook your own meal and it will save extra expenses on restaurants and cafes.


Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing suggests staying at any local's home without any rent and in return you have to help them in their daily household chore. It is cheap and suitable for solo travellers. It will also help you to socialize with other locals easily. You should be a little alert and do some research before you do couch surfing with any local. You can find hundreds and thousands of hosts that will be welcoming you for couch surfing.


Camping

If you don't have a big budget then camping is a great way to stay in Dalat. Camping can be adventurous, you will come in direct contact with nature and can live without any rush of the modern world. For camping, you must carry all your essential stuff with you: a tent, packed food, and other essential items. Camping is good, maximum for a week. Do not practice camping during bad weather conditions.


How to Get There

One can get access to different forms of transportation services if they plan to travel Dalat. Transport means such as trains, flights, buses are available for tourists to reach here.


Air

You can get to Dalat by plane. Close to the city about 30 kilometers, the international airport Lien Khuong International Airport is located. Although the airport is constructed for carrying out international flights, at present it is not in practice. However, daily flights take place from domestic towns like Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi from the Danang airline, Vietnam Airlines and Air Mekong (only Hanoi).

Lien Khuong International Airport


Bus

Bus service is not available for travelling to Dalat from international locations. However, from nearby towns you can take a tourist bus, open bus (daily routes) or a sleeper bus (night services). You can get tickets for these buses through the travel agencies in the tourist areas and in inns. These buses depart from the tourist locales directly, and often they even gather passengers from the hotels. It would be best to book them in advance, because buses go to Dalat city early in the morning. Depending on the route travel time varies from 7 to 9 hours. Buses can stop at some scenic spots along the ride.

Bus station in Dalat


Train

Train services are not in operation to reach Dalat from foreign locations currently.


Hitchhiking

Asking for lift from someone who is going on the same path is known as hitchhiking. This action may be dangerous as strangers might come out as criminals. Sometimes you might be fortunate if you found any genuine helper. As crime rates in Dalat is low to moderate you can practice hitchhiking but still be cautious.


Others

The other methods to reach Dalat are by hiring a motorcycle or taxi. This city has maintained good quality air, so as a responsible traveler, you must not partake in it. The use of engine cars emits the carbon pollutants into the atmosphere and pollutes it. Rise in the use of motorcycles and taxis increases traffic problems which raises noise pollution. Moreover, there is also a risk of taxi scams to tourists; therefore, always use taxi services from genuine agencies.


Moving Around

Moving around by walking in Dalat is not highly risky at night because the crime rate is not that high. However, an increase in crime has been spotted from the past few years, It would be best if you take other means of transportation that are quick and budget-friendly.


Walk

In recent times, Dalat is filled with a number of mesmerizing tourist attractions. Most of the attractions can be covered by walking as some sites are not too far from each other. You can also book a vehicle for your city tour. However, self-guided walking outings will introduce you to sites that are worth seeing.


Bicycle

Cycling is a great way to stay active while you are on vacation. The roads around Dalat city centre are fairly smooth, so many travellers and locals like to ride bicycles to get around. Best thing is, these roads are barred to motorised vehicles to provide safety for cyclists and pedestrians. Rent for a day is VND 30,000, but you have to pay more for a mountain bike ride.


Electronic Vehicles

A project was established in 2018 for the use of electric cars to carry travelers in Dalat City, the central highlands province of Lam Dong. Not much data is available about the availability of the electric vehicles in Dalat. Electric vehicles should be adopted to control the many pollutants that are released by fuel-based vehicles.


Public Bus

Travelling by public buses is a pocket-friendly means of exploring the attractions outside Dalat city centre. Public buses become functional from 05:30 AM in the morning to 5:30 PM and these buses depart from the Dalat inner city bus station. In total seven bus routes are running through the neighbouring districts. You can visit notable landmarks and local villages such as Elephant falls, Datanla waterfalls, and Truc Lam Pagoda.


Tram, Train and Subway

Though Dalat's trails are no longer linked with the north-south railway line of Vietnam. you can still hop onto the train to Trai Mat to take a visit of the spectacular, mosaic-covered Linh Phuoc Pagoda, the route will show you stunning valley filled with pine trees, tea earnings, vegetable farms, and the area's colonial monuments give a peek into Dalat's history.


Sustainable Shopping

Sustainable shopping means products that are good for your health and nature. Dalat has many sustainable shops and markets. Using sustainable products lets you help the environment and lead a healthy living. The prime sources of these products are local handicraft shops, hand looms, farmers, gardeners, fishers, and bakers. The electricity used in production of these products are obtained by natural resources like sun or wind. Sustainable products are chemical free.


Food Markets

The citizens are always pleased when tourists come to examine and buy their local food ingredients as it is their way to pay respect to their cultural heritage. You must visit the food markets; sellers there are friendly, and the rates are not unreasonable. You can ask the sellers what kind of food you are desiring for and they will help you out.


Flea Markets

The flea markets in Dalat are a part of sustainable shopping. The items that you'll find in these markets will not be new, but there is no question on their high quality, and the good point is that you can buy them at a lower price. You can also bargain in such markets as prices are never fixed.


Second Hand Stores

You will also find some amazing second-hand markets in Dalat, that can help you in purchasing a collection of items of your interest. You can get unlimited items from a second-hand store, it would be good if tourists take a visit to such markets.


Eco-Fashion

Eco-fashion supports manufacture and trade of fashion clothes that are made with eco-friendly regulations. Using eco-friendly products lessens the quantity of pesticides that a cloth farming requires. No doubt that these products can reduce toxic waste, including several dyes that are required for colouring clothes.


Recycling

Recreating any existing product in a different form is known as a recycling process. This practise is very much beneficial for us as well as our nature. Recycling of certain products such as metals, plastic, paper and wood can save a lot of trees from being cut and reduce the accumulation of plastic garbage, hence resulting in less pollution. Recycling eliminates land pollution. Many recycling plants are present in Dalat run by either private businesses or the government.


Waste

Useless items are known as waste. Two basic methods of handling waste are incineration and landfill. Incineration burns waste by thermal energy while in landfills, waste items are dumped into a massive land which is disposed later. The waste management in this city is not good enough, about 77 % of the locals are not satisfied with the disposal of garbage. The dumping ground is not properly-maintained; Hence, it adds to soil and air pollution.


Work and Study Abroad

Among a wide variation of job requirements in Dalat, the advertising, digital marketing, and education sectors are most prime. There are many institutions present in Dalat who are in constant need of native English teachers. If you are highly qualified in academics, you must grab this opportunity. Other than this, digital marketers also have plenty of opportunities to level up their professional skills in this city.


Exchange Student

The student exchange program is a scheme in which students excelling in studies are sent to coalition colleges in other countries to attain their remaining degrees. Student exchange programs are being practiced in some international universities within the continent. Dalat International school serves this purpose by opening its doors to students of all nationalities and faiths who meet their admissions criteria.


Au Pair

Au Pair is an individual who belongs to a foreign country and decides to stay in a specific city in order to help out a local family by performing household works and taking care of their children. To find au pairing vacancies, one can inquire in local employment agencies or look for the advertisements in the newspapers. You must behave kindly and humbly to the couple offering you this job.


Volunteering

In Dalat many NGOs are actively working for human welfare especially for orphan children. The organizations have a prime motto of giving the healthy growing years to orphans and help them to get higher qualifications. The SOS children's village, Dalat is one of the prominent non-profit organizations for orphans care.


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