The 15 best attractions in Dalat

The first impression this church will make on you is its vibrant pink color and its unique architecture. Interestingly, the church was built in the 1940s using natural adhesives such as plaster and molasses. Despite its humble campus, Domaine De Marie church boasts a beautiful surrounding with blooming flowers all year round, against the backdrop of the blue sky and green pine trees, which are a delight to the eyes. Visiting this church and enjoying some serene time should be on your to-do list.

Address: 01 Ngo Quyen St, Ward 6

Note: Please note that the ceremony time is 7:15 AM on weekdays and 6:00 AM on weekends, so you can plan your visit accordingly.

Little did you know that Dalat Railway is the oldest Indochinese station left and also is the highest station in terms of altitude (1,500 meters above sea level) in Vietnam. The station was built in 1932 following the design of two recognizable French architects at the time, Moncet and Reveron. Due to the high and winding hills of Dalat, engineers had to use a toothed rack rail and locomotive-hauled system at some points along the route, which was one-of-a-kind in Indochina. While the internal design of Dalat Railway Station is believed to be deeply influenced by French archetypes, its appearance is characterized by its three-pointed roofs, which replicate the spectacular Lang Biang Mountain peaks.

The station is now operated for tourism. A 7-km train ride will take you through beautiful pine forests, serene monasteries, temples, and colorful flower blossoms, making it one of your best train experiences, we promise.

The station offers more than just architecture; it also provides a range of services including cafes in train carriages, exhibitions of the ancient railway industry, and souvenir shops.

• Address: 01 Quang Trung St, Ward 10
• Opening time: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Entrance tickets: 5,000 VND ($0.2)

The Flower Garden is an iconic attraction of Dalat and is considered as the national “flower sanctuary” where it exhibits and preserves more than 200 species of flowers. After a period of abandonment soon after its establishment in 1966, the garden was refurbished and transformed into a lively flower collection as it is seen nowadays.

Situated on a vast area of 7,000 square meters right in the city center, the Flower Garden is a good start to your trip. You will find stunning figures shaped from countless types of flowers, lovely water fountains, and decorative staircases, which will set a beautiful background for your photos. You can also buy the seeds of your favorite flowers to take home with you. The best time to visit the garden is in the early mornings or around sunset time.

• Address: 14B Dong Da St, Ward 3
• Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM on weekdays (7:00 AM – 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays)
• Tickets: 60,000 VND ($2.5) for adults and 25,000 VND ($1.05) for children

Note: there are some replicas and models set up by private companies which will charge you for taking photos, so make sure to look around for a price list or ask the staff so that you won't be charged unwantedly.

Bao Dai was the final emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty and is commonly known as the last reigning emperor of Vietnam. His palaces were built in prime locations throughout the country, but with a special affection for these beautiful highlands and a specific historical context at the time, there are three palaces named after Bao Dai that were used for different purposes. They are now known as Palace I, Palace II, and Palace III.

Palace Iwas the former home of a French officer before being bought and transformed into the headquarters and workplace of Bao Dai's government. It is said that during the refurbishing process, a secret 4 km underground tunnel was discovered connecting to Palace II, but it was kept secret during Bao Dai's reign and was not publicly known until the city council decided to exploit the place for tourism.

• Address: 01 Tran Quang Dieu St, Ward 10
• Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Tickets: 50,000 VND ($2.1) for adults, 25,000 VND ($1.05) for children

Palace II was used as the office for Jean Decoux, the Governor-General of French Indochina in Vietnam at the time, during the summer, which is why it is also known as the Summer Palace. This grand and magnificent construction was built in 1933 with 25 rooms on a scenic pine hill overlooking Xuan Huong Lake.

• Address: 12 Tran Hung Dao St, Ward 10
• Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• Tickets: 30,000 VND ($1.25) per person

Palace III was the main residential and workplace of Bao Dai, where he spent most of his time, and is therefore also known as the Bao Dai Palace. Among the three palaces, Palace III most clearly reflects the integration of Vietnamese and French architecture and is the most popular palace among local tourists.

• Address: 01 Trieu Viet Vuong St, Ward 4
• Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
• Tickets: 30,000 VND ($1.25) for adults and children over 1.2 meters tall, free for children under 1.2 meters tall

Note: the three palaces are located at three separate sites, stretching over several kilometers, so it is recommended to have personal transportation or to choose one palace and spend a good amount of time exploring it.

An open market where you can find almost everything you can ever imagine: crochet clothes, all Dalat street foods and specialties, souvenirs, and street performances. This is the best place to experience Dalat's nightlife, feel the excitement of the city's vibes, and have fun.

• Address: Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Ward 1
• Opening hours: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM daily
• Entrance tickets: Free admission

Perched majestically on Tran Phu Street, St. Nicholas Cathedral is the largest Catholic church in Dalat and one of the most prominent French Romanesque legacies in Vietnam. Built between 1931 and 1942, the church is affectionately called “Nha Tho Con Ga” due to the distinctive copper rooster perched on top of its 47-meter bell tower, which serves as a weather vane. The interior is illuminated by 70 stained-glass panels crafted in France, casting ethereal hues across the stone nave.

• Address: 15 Tran Phu St, Ward 3
• Opening hours: 5:15 AM – 5:30 PM (visiting outside mass hours recommended)
• Entrance tickets: Free admission

Located in Trai Mat, about 8 km from the city center, Linh Phuoc Pagoda is an extraordinary Buddhist temple that has earned multiple national records. Built in 1949 and continuously enriched, the entire complex is encrusted with millions of pieces of broken glazed pottery, porcelain bowls, and colorful glass bottles. Highlights include a 49-meter dragon sculpture crafted from 12,000 beer bottles, an 18-meter statue of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara covered in over 600,000 dried immortal flowers, and a 37-meter bell tower housing the heaviest bell in Central Vietnam.

• Address: 120 Tu Phuoc St, Trai Mat
• Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
• Entrance tickets: Free admission

Originally christened Vallée d'Amour by the French in the 1930s, this romantic park is nestled among undulating pine hills approximately 5 km north of downtown Dalat. Spanning hundreds of hectares around Da Thien Lake, the valley boasts romantic heart-shaped floral gardens, pedal boats, panoramic viewing platforms, and labyrinth hedges. It has long been a favored retreat for couples, newlyweds, and families seeking idyllic alpine leisure.

• Address: 03-05-07 Mai Anh Dao St, Ward 8
• Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• Entrance tickets: 250,000 VND ($10.5) includes sightseeing train and pedal boat

Covering more than 350 hectares at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, Tuyen Lam Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Dalat and a designated national tourist area. Known as the “Paradise Lake,” its glassy emerald waters are framed by virgin pine forests, peaceful valleys, and luxury eco-resorts. Visitors can rent motorized boats or kayaks, try stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) at dawn, or embark on a pine forest trek to hidden camping grounds.

• Address: Ward 4, Dalat City (6 km south of downtown)
• Opening hours: Open 24/7 (boat rental services: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
• Entrance tickets: Free entry; boat tours from 300,000 VND – 500,000 VND / boat

Perched atop Phoenix Mountain overlooking Tuyen Lam Lake, Truc Lam Zen Monastery is the largest Zen Buddhist monastery in Lam Dong Province and one of Vietnam’s foremost spiritual sanctuaries. Built in 1993, the pagoda harmoniously combines traditional Vietnamese curved-tile temple architecture with meticulously manicured gardens boasting rare hydrangeas, purple orchids, and tranquil lotus ponds. Visitors can also reach the monastery via a scenic 2.3-km cable car ride from Robin Hill.

• Address: Truc Lam Yen Tu St, Ward 3
• Opening hours: 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• Entrance tickets: Free admission (Cable car round-trip: 120,000 VND / adult)

Listed by international travel magazines as one of the world’s ten most bizarre buildings, Crazy House (designed by Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga) is an awe-inspiring labyrinth of surreal expressionist art. Resembling a gargantuan decaying banyan tree, the complex features spiraling concrete bridges, sculpted spiderwebs, tree-trunk tunnels, and themed animal rooms (such as the Tiger, Kangaroo, and Eagle rooms). It's an imaginative fairy-tale dream brought to life in concrete and stone.

• Address: 03 Huynh Thuc Khang St, Ward 4
• Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• Entrance tickets: 60,000 VND ($2.5) for adults, 20,000 VND ($0.85) for children

Just 5 km south of the city center along Prenn Pass, Datanla is Dalat’s most popular waterfall for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike. Cascading dramatically over smooth, multi-tiered stone ledges through a lush rainforest canyon, Datanla is legendary for the longest alpine coaster track in Southeast Asia (2,400 meters). Adventurous visitors can also participate in guided canyoning tours, zip-lining, and abseiling down roaring water curtains.

• Address: National Road 20, Prenn Pass, Ward 3
• Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Entrance tickets: 50,000 VND ($2.1) entrance; Alpine coaster round-trip: 200,000 VND ($8.4)

Often hailed as the “Roof of Dalat,” Langbiang Mountain towers over 2,167 meters above sea level, approximately 12 km north of the city center in Lac Duong district. The mountain is steeped in the tragic, Romeo-and-Juliet-like folklore of K'Lang and H'Biang, heroes of the local K'Ho ethnic minority. Visitors can ride Russian UAZ open-top military jeeps up the winding mountain road to Radar Peak (1,929m), where observation decks afford 360-degree vistas across the Golden Stream, Silver Stream, and emerald valleys.

• Address: Lac Duong Town, Lam Dong (12 km north of Dalat)
• Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Entrance tickets: 50,000 VND ($2.1) admission; Jeep ride: 120,000 VND ($5.0) per passenger round-trip

Meandering for over 1.2 kilometers along the banks of Tuyen Lam Lake, the Clay Tunnel is an open-air architectural museum sculpted entirely from local red basaltic clay mixed with eco-friendly binders. The route chronicles Dalat's history from its prehistoric wilderness to its French colonial belle époque, featuring clay replicas of the Cathedral, the Railway Station, traditional villas, and airplanes. At the tunnel's end sits the famous Infinity Lake (Ho Vo Cuc), where two monumental sculptured stone heads face each other across a reflecting pool surrounded by pines. If you have extra time, venture further southwest to explore the untamed grandeur of Elephant Waterfall (Thac Lieng Rowoa) cascading thunderously down basalt stone cliffs.

• Address: Ward 4, Dalat City (Clay Tunnel) & Nam Ban Town (Elephant Waterfall)
• Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• Entrance tickets: Clay Tunnel 120,000 VND ($5.0) adults, 50,000 VND ($2.1) children