A charming French colonial town in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, Da Lat offers a break from the relentless heat of the coast and serves up some of Vietnam’s most stunning natural wonders, remarkable mountain roads and trails, and panoramic canyons. A popular town amongst Vietnamese weekend tourists, Da Lat certainly isn’t an undiscovered masterpiece, however it’s still relatively unspoiled and offers scenery that’s completely unmatched in central Vietnam.

Visitors to Da Lat are often part of package tours from south or central Vietnam, or day-trippers passing through on the way to Ho Chi Minh City or Hoi An. If you’re traveling independently, it’s worth checking out a range of guesthouses and attractions during different times of day — you may find that prices drop and more rooms are available once the crowds of day-trippers and package tourists move out of the city.

Unlike Vietnam’s major cities, Da Lat moves at a slower, more relaxed pace. There are still hundreds of motorcycle nipping up and down the main streets, but it’s easily possible to cross the road here without planning a strategy, and visitors will have no trouble walking around most of the main town on foot.

One thing that you’ll instantly notice when arriving in Da Lat is the temperature. While most of Vietnam’s coast pushes 90 degrees year round, Da Lat has cooler temperature, primarily due to its higher altitude. At 1500-2000 metres above sea level, the temperature is calm and comfortable, and can drop significantly during the night.

What to see:

Da Lat is renowned for its stunning French colonial architecture. Built as an escape from the coastal heat, French army officers and politicians regularly spent their leisure time in Da Lat, absorbing the remarkable scenery and comfortable temperature. There are hundreds of beautiful buildings around the city, with tours available to see all of the most impressive architectural works.

If you’ve got enough time, the surrounding highlands are definitely worth a look. Offering some of the most spectacular views in Vietnam, the many day walks and hiking tracks in the area provide something for everyone. Day trips hiking through the scenery and visiting semi-authentic hill tribes can be arranged, and many tour operators will be able to point you towards the most important and impressive walking trails.

Mountain biking and country motorcycling are both popular activities in Da Lat. Thanks to the impressive countryside there are some exciting trails and mountain roads, each offering thrills depending on your interests. Speed isn’t exactly a priority on the motorcycle tours — most are on 110cc Vietnamese scooters — but the roads are still exciting and offer some of the most impressive views in Vietnam. Book a day tour through the Da Lat Easy Riders and enjoy the scenery.

Da Lat is very popular amongst Vietnamese tourists on a shopping bender, and has many handicrafts on offer. Silk clothing and artwork is available throughout the town, however anyone looking to buy should check out the central market before venturing into the galleries. While the galleries have more stock on offer, the prices are significantly more expensive than at the market.

Where to stay:

Most of the major hotels surround Ho Xuan Huong lake, Da Lat’s most impressive and prominent lake. Ranging in price from $20-30, 3 star hotels are common and offer a reasonable level of comfort and amenities. Hotel rooms with a lake view tend to fall on the upper end of this price scale, and may fill up quickly in the high season or during Vietnamese holiday weekends.

For budget travelers, there is a wide range of guesthouses and other accommodation available. With rooms available from just $5, it’s unlikely that you’ll have any trouble finding a room in your price range at a location that’s convenient. Da Lat isn’t a particularly large town, so finding a room that’s slightly far away from the city center itself isn’t a major issue as it would be in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Remember that Da Lat is significantly cooler than most other parts of the country, and that nighttime temperatures can be severely uncomfortable if you’re stuck in an exposed hotel room. Spend a little more and stay in a room that offers decent insulation and comfort, and you’ll save yourself a sleepless night.

If you need ultra-budget accommodation near the city center, check out Nguyen Chi Thanh Street. Just a quick walk from the central market, this area is packed with cheap guesthouses, student hostels and budget eateries.

How to get around:

Most of the major tourist locations are within walking distance of each other. Depending on where your guesthouse is, you’ll be able to walk from one tourist attraction to another, and easily access the central market and cheap eating options. Grab a tourist map from one of the many travel agents in town and plan a route around the city center.

If you’re staying outside of the city center you’ll find motorcycle taxi drivers continually asking you if you need a lift into town. If you get offered a lift, be sure to negotiate on the price before sitting down on the bike. As a general rule, you’ll be able to comfortably negotiate a price that’s around half of the original quote, with skilled hagglers able to drop prices to 1/3rd of what they once were.

Finally, if you want to adventure into the countryside, motorcycles are available to explore the city and surrounding areas. You’ll find small Japanese and Chinese scooters available for around $5-10 per day, with automatic models sitting at the higher end of the price scale. Don’t be too worried about driving in Da Lat — the traffic is very calm compared to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City — however it’s best to adjust on the local streets before venturing through the city center.

Costs, Customs and Extras:

Da Lat is a major tourist town for Vietnamese weekenders, so don’t be surprised if you find some accommodation options booked out. For a relaxing day around town you’ll struggle to spend more than $30, however the more activities you add to your schedule (and there are many on offer) the higher your spending will grow.