The hill town of Da Lat has long been the most popular location in the region for getaways since French colonial times. Many people call it ‘Le Petit Paris’ and the town even features a mini-replica Eiffel Tower in its centre! Situated on a plateau 1,500 metres above sea level, this retreat town offers a welcomed change of atmosphere with a refreshingly cool climate – other cities in Vietnam can be very hot and humid, especially during summer. Trousers and jumpers are needed if visiting Dalat from November to around March as temperatures hover at about 10°C (50°F).
Da Lat is famous for its wide variety of flowers, vegetables and fruit harvested from its surrounding farmlands. The town also features countless nature sites with beautiful landscapes, evergreen forests and minority villages. The area’s main sources of income are from agriculture and tourism but the city is also very proud of being an education centre that produces multi-field professionals each year, including doctors and architects (Dalat University alone has more than 13,000 students). Therefore, there’s a good chance that you'll meet young, enthusiastic and friendly Vietnamese from every corner of the country during your visit here.
