Lâm Đồng Province Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/lam-dong-province/ Blog of a Traveling Coffee Addict Sun, 12 Nov 2023 20:44:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://i0.wp.com/caffeinatedexcursions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/wp-1555570621336.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Lâm Đồng Province Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/lam-dong-province/ 32 32 141833777 Things To Do In Dalat, Vietnam: Train Rides, Temples, Waterfalls, And More! https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/things-to-do-in-dalat-vietnam-train-rides-temples-waterfalls-and-more/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/things-to-do-in-dalat-vietnam-train-rides-temples-waterfalls-and-more/#comments Sat, 30 Nov 2019 03:00:00 +0000 https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=9243 When I first visited Dalat earlier this year, I was sadly unable to explore outdoors because of heavy, non-stop rain. That’s why I was so excited to revisit the city with my friend Ismael a few months later! When we got off the plane and were greeted by blue skies, I was so excited to finally see what Dalat had to offer...

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Things To Do In Dalat, Vietnam: Train Rides, Temples, Waterfalls, And More!

Published November 30, 2019

When I first visited Dalat earlier this year, I was sadly unable to explore outdoors because of heavy, non-stop rain. That’s why I was so excited to revisit the city with my friend Ismael a few months later! When we got off the plane and were greeted by blue skies, I was so excited to finally see what Dalat had to offer.

The one good thing about my first rain-soaked trip was that I got to explore the city’s amazing cafe scene. Since Dalat is the heart of Vietnam’s coffee-growing region, the cafes there are some of the best that I’ve come across in all my travels. I wrote a separate post about it, which you can check out here. I also updated the list with five new cafes and restaurants I tried with Ismael, so be sure to check it out!

One of Dalat's many cafes

I came away from Dalat this time loving the city. The green hills around town and the unexpectedly cool temperature will make you feel like you’re in Canada or Northern Europe. There are a couple of interesting and unique attractions in Dalat which are discussed in this post. They center around a historic train ride and a waterfall. To learn more, keep reading!

Unique Attractions in Dalat

A Tourist Train Ride

Dalat’s most noteworthy offering is a short historic train route that runs from Dalat Railway Station (Ga Đà Lạt) in the city center to Trại Mát Station (Ga Trại Mát) in the suburbs to the east. While Trại Mát has a beautiful temple that you should definitely check out, the scenic train ride is a fun experience all on its own. Below are more details on Dalat Station, the train, and the temple.

Dalat Station

You’ll first want to head to Dalat Railway Station, located here. The station itself is an attraction to check out with its distinctive yellow façade.

There are also old train cars on display, a couple of gardens, and a chocolate shop.

The Train Ride

After exploring the station, board the train at your designated departure time. Check out the vintage interior of the train and find a seat. As you chug along, you’ll be treated to scenic views of coffee farms and greenhouses.

The Linh Phước Pagoda
Chùa Ve Chai (Linh Phước)

The terminal station for this route is located here. Walk just a bit to the east, then turn south to find the entrance to the pagoda. Follow the crowd or ask an employee for directions if you’re not sure where to go.

We paid for round-trip train tickets, but this would’ve made for a very rushed temple visit. We wanted to take our time exploring the Linh Phước Pagoda, so we decided to forego the train ride back and took a taxi back to the Dalat town center instead.

The temple is a pretty large complex with a number of different rooms and shrines. If you only spend half an hour here, you might miss some of the most impressive parts. Those who are able should climb the steep staircases up to the top of the tallest pagoda, which offers really stunning panoramic views. It’s about seven stories tall!

Datanla Waterfall

Like the temple mentioned above, this waterfall is also a short distance outside of the city center. Unfortunately, there is no train service out here. Instead, visitors should call a Grab car (the local version of Uber) and ask to be dropped off at this point.

The Datanla Waterfall appears to only be accessible via a “roller coaster,” although it’s not the kind of thing you might imagine in an amusement park. It’s relatively slow and smooth, and even has a mechanism for slowing down. You ride in an individual car which is not connected to any other passengers.

I found this to be a fun part of the excursion, but I can imagine that some travelers might not be interested in (or able to) do this. You could inquire at the ticket booth about other ways to reach the waterfall, but it seemed to me like this might be it.

As mentioned above, the coaster ride itself was smooth and comfortable. The only thing I didn’t love about it was that the inclines felt pretty steep, and the car design has passengers reclined quite a bit. This gave me the feeling of almost laying down while being brought up the hill with my legs higher than my head, which didn’t feel natural. If the thought of that freaks you out, you might want to skip the Datanla Waterfall.

After all this talk of the coaster, you might be wondering about the actual waterfall itself. This is what it looks like (pictured below). At the bottom of the hill where it’s located, there’s a small visitor area. When you’re ready to go back, you’ll have to get back on the roller coaster to return to the main entrance.

An Amazing Array of Cafes

Dalat has a vibrant food and drink scene, but in this town, coffee is king! That’s because coffee is one of the region’s most important industries, so much of what you’ll find here is local specialty brews. This post would be way too long if I included all my recommendations, which is why I’ve written a separate post all about Dalat’s best cafes. Be sure to check it out!

Other Points of Interest

As you can see, Dalat is a very green city that has a small-town vibe. That’s why it’s such a great place for outdoor activities as long as the weather is good! I highly recommend setting aside some time to explore on foot, and an excellent place to do this is along the shores of Xuan Huong Lake (Hồ Xuân Hương).

Along the southern shore, you’ll find Lam Vien Square (Quảng trường Lâm Viên) which has some interesting modern architecture, cafes, a shopping center, and street vendors.

This is hardly the only place worth checking out on foot, but it’s a good starting point. Dalat’s District 1 (Phường 1) and District 2 (Phường 2) are both commercial areas with lots of interesting restaurants and bars to explore.

Also, here’s one tip: pack layers! Since the town is in the mountains and not on the coast, it can be surprisingly chilly, especially at night!

Where to Stay

On my first visit to Dalat, I stayed at the Tigon Dalat Hostel (affiliate link). On this trip, we booked a room at the Tía Dú Homestay (affiliate link). Both were a little out of the way, but the panoramic views from the homestay were a great reason to stay in that particular neighborhood, which is pretty residential. If you’d rather be closer to restaurants, bars, and cafes, I’d recommend looking for a place to stay in District 1 (Phường 1).

Tigon Dalat Hostel
Tía Dú Homestay
Stunning views from the Tía Dú Homestay
The residential area where Tía Dú Homestay is situated (the northern part of Phường 3), is also amazing for sunsets.

Go check out Dalat!

This blog post is by no means exhaustive. If you stay for longer than a few days, you’ll have ample time to see everything mentioned here and more! Have you been to the area before? Are you interested in checking it out on your next trip to Vietnam? Leave a comment and let me know! Thanks for reading, and if you’re either in Dalat now or headed there soon, enjoy!

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If you're thinking about a trip to Vietnam, don't overlook Dalat! This medium-sized city nestled in the mountains of Lam Dong Province is a joy to explore and contains many pleasant surprises. Check out this post to learn more! #dalat #dalatvietnam #vietnam #dalatlamdong #lamdong #lamdongprovince #visitdalat #visitvietnam #dalatcafes #dalathostels #dalathomestay #dalattrain #linhphuocpagoda #datanla #datanlawaterfall #cafesdalat #hoxuanhuong #travelblog #travelvietnam #caffeinatedexcursions If you're thinking about a trip to Vietnam, don't overlook Dalat! This medium-sized city nestled in the mountains of Lam Dong Province is a joy to explore and contains many pleasant surprises. Check out this post to learn more! #dalat #dalatvietnam #vietnam #dalatlamdong #lamdong #lamdongprovince #visitdalat #visitvietnam #dalatcafes #dalathostels #dalathomestay #dalattrain #linhphuocpagoda #datanla #datanlawaterfall #cafesdalat #hoxuanhuong #travelblog #travelvietnam #caffeinatedexcursions

This post was published on Nov 30, 2019

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Upcoming Trips

  1. Bangkok (Sept)
  2. Istanbul (Sept)

Support the Blog!

The post Things To Do In Dalat, Vietnam: Train Rides, Temples, Waterfalls, And More! appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

]]> https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/things-to-do-in-dalat-vietnam-train-rides-temples-waterfalls-and-more/feed/ 6 9243 The Complete Guide To Cafes In Dalat, Vietnam https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/the-complete-guide-to-cafes-in-dalat-vietnam/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/the-complete-guide-to-cafes-in-dalat-vietnam/#comments Tue, 03 Sep 2019 17:00:24 +0000 https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=7881 When I learned that Dalat was the coffee growing capital of Vietnam, I knew I had to go check it out! In this post, I'll share seven unique cafes that everyone should check out while visiting this charming town in the mountains!

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The Complete Guide To Cafes In Dalat

Published September 4, 2019

Before moving to Vietnam, I had never heard of the city of Dalat. However, once I learned that it was the coffee growing capital of the country, I knew I had to go check it out! In addition, Dalat is a backpacker’s paradise nestled in the mountains of Central Vietnam, so I was excited to breathe some cool, fresh air and spend most of my trip outdoors.

Unfortunately, it rained the entire time I was there. And I mean literally the entire time. It didn’t let up for one waking hour! As far as I could tell, it even rained through the night. So instead of exploring outdoors on foot like I normally do, I ended up checking out the city’s impressive cafe scene.

Since coffee is grown on farms surrounding the city, many cafes have their own local sources, resulting in unique blends you can’t get anywhere else. Many of these establishments are also beautifully decorated, making them the ideal spot to spend a few hours especially on a rainy day. Here’s a list of the ones I visited; click any link below to skip to that specific cafe!

  1. Tiệm Cà-phê CÔ BÔNG
  2. Cafe Thiên Thanh
  3. An Cafe
  4. V Cafe
  5. Bicycle Up Cafe
  6. Artist Alley
  7. La Viet Coffee
  8. DOHA Café Đà Lạt
  9. Miền Du Lam
  10. Two Additional Restaurants & A Bar
An unusual building near the southern shore of Xuân Hương Lake in Dalat
The Đà Lạt Cathedral on a rainy afternoon

1. Tiệm Cà-phê CÔ BÔNG

Address: 238 Yersin, Phường 9, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Website: https://www.facebook.com/caphecobong/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiemcaphecobong/

This cafe on two stories is most notable for its vintage-inspired decor. Order on the first floor and check out all the different rooms before deciding where to sit to enjoy your beverage.

The second floor also has a nice covered balcony where you can sit outdoors, rain or shine.

2. Cafe Thiên Thanh

Address: 02 Pasteur, Phường 4, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Website: https://www.facebook.com/CafeThienThanh

This restaurant and cafe is housed in what looks like a converted villa. Surrounding the main building is a lush, green patio and garden.

I stopped in for lunch and enjoyed the steak and baguette I ordered.

The interior of the main dining area has a unique color scheme featuring pastels and intricate paintings. If the weather is good, they also have a large outdoor seating area as well.

3. An Cafe

Address: 63Bis Ba Tháng Hai, Phường 1, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Website: https://www.ancafe.vn/an-cafe-english
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ancafedalat/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/an_cafe_dalat/

This cafe built on a steep hill had plenty of seating on multiple levels. I sat on the lower level, which had a wide view of the street below. The rustic decor and plants on each tabletop gave An Cafe a very interesting vibe. It somehow felt both modern and “well-worn.” As you can see, it had a very bright and cheery dining area as well, which was the perfect place to stay dry from the rain.

I tried a chocolate mint smoothie and eggplant parmesan here, both of which were delicious. If I had more time, I probably would’ve come back to try more items on their fairly extensive menu.

4. V Cafe

Address: 17 Đường Bùi Thị Xuân, Phường 2, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vcafe.dalat

I tried V Cafe for breakfast, although it definitely felt more like a bar than a breakfast or brunch joint. When I went, there was only one other person there. In all honesty, the interior seemed pretty dated, but that arguably gave the place a bit of charm.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed the chicken phở, fruit plate, and coffee I got here.

5. Bicycle Up Cafe

Address: 82 Đường Trương Công Định, Phường 1, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Website: https://bicycle-up-cafe.business.site/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bicycleup
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bicycleupcafe/

This was probably my favorite cafe in Dalat. Presumably named for the bicycle perched on top of the antique piano pictured below, Bicycle Up had an impressive menu of fancy choices for lovers of all things caffeinated.

Every inch of the cafe was quirky, which was great! Many of the decorations look like antiques, but overall the place has a refreshing yet very cozy atmosphere. Props to whoever designed this space and acquired everything on display.

Bicycle Up was also the smallest of all the cafes I visited. However, it never got crowded during the two-plus hours I spent there. Perhaps that was because of the rain, but it was nice to not have to share this small space with a crowd of people.

6. Artist Alley

Address: 124 Phan Đình Phùng, Phường 2, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Website: https://artist-alley-restaurant.business.site/

Like Bicycle Up, this restaurant was also quirky in an endearing way. Perhaps because the main theme seemed to just be “there are paintings on the walls,” or maybe because I was literally the only person here (although I did go for a late lunch around 3:00 p.m.), Artist Alley just felt a tiny bit odd. Nonetheless, the food and service were good, so don’t hesitate to pop in for lunch or dinner.

I ordered a curry with pumpkin soup as an appetizer, and both were perfect for the rainy weather.

7. La Viet Coffee

Address: 200 Nguyễn Công Trứ, Phường 8, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Website: https://laviet.coffee/en/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coffeelaviet/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavietcoffee/

If Bicycle Up was my favorite place on the list, then La Viet was a close second. However, the two are so different that it’s hard to compare them. While Bicycle Up was small and quirky, La Viet is housed in a massive industrial warehouse. It’s by far the biggest cafe I visited in Dalat, and has an almost American vibe. They were even playing country music when I was there!

For dinner, I tried a lavender Vietnamese coffee and an order of fish and chips. Both were good; the menu here has some other western meal choices as well.

La Viet is a little out of the way. However, if you’re willing to walk or hire a Grab, it’s definitely worth checking out. You’re also basically guaranteed to get a seat because there are so many tables inside.

8. K'fe House
(Formerly DOHA Café Đà Lạt)

Address: Số 2, Trần Quốc Toản, Phường 10, Thành Phố Đà Lat, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Website: https://kfehouse.vn/gioi-thieu/?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kfehouse.millijsc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kfe.house/

Located on the southern shore of Xuân Hương Lake (Hồ Xuân Hương), K’fe House is hard to miss. It’s a large glass building shaped like a flower bud. If you grew up in the 90s, it might remind you of the Pokemon Bulbasaur! It’s located next to a few other pieces of interesting modern architecture as part of a large public square with scenic lake views.

While the coffee here wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, it’s worth ordering something inside so you can check out the glass panes up close. There are multiple levels of seating, so it’s also a great place to take a rest if you’ve been walking around the city for a while.

9. Miền Du Lam

Address: 37 Đường Đống Đa, Phường 3, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mienDuLam.Official/

This cafe (which seems to be run by a family who live on the same property) is located on a residential street away from the hustle and bustle of the town center. Not only is their outdoor seating area beautiful, but they serve their coffee on a cute little platter, complete with a cup of tea and some crackers and candy. The atmosphere simply couldn’t be better!

Miền Du Lam is proof that even the most random coffee shops in Dalat are full of character regardless of location. In fact, I only found Miền Du Lam because it was a short walk away from the Airbnb I stayed in. If there are any cafes near your hotel, hostel, or Airbnb, give them a try! One could end up being your favorite, even if it’s not mentioned on this list.

Two Restaurants and a Bar

10. Biang Dalat Garden Restaurant

Address: 94 Đường Lý Tự Trọng, Phường 2, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biangdalat/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biang_bistro/

Biang Dalat (formerly Biang Bistro) was the perfect blend of a beautiful outdoor-centric dining area and a modern take on Vietnamese cuisine. If ever a restaurant had the vibe of a spa, this would be it. If you’d like to try something a little different in terms of flavor that isn’t a complete departure from local cuisine, Biang Dalat is exactly what you’re looking for.

11. Le Chalet Dalat

Address: 6 Đường Huỳnh Thúc Kháng, Phường 4, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lechaletDalat4

Le Chalet Dalat was another interesting restaurant we tried. Located a short distance from Cafe Thiên Thanh, Le Chalet combines an interesting vintage vibe with satisfying meals. I have to admit that I liked Biang Bistro a tiny bit more, but Le Chalet was another good option for a nice dinner.

12. Heyla Cocktail Bar

Address: 10 Tản Đà, Phường 6, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Website: https://heyla-cocktail-bar.business.site/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeylaCocktailBar/

Dalat may not have the reputation for nightlife that Ho Chi Minh City does, but there’s one bar I recommend if you’re looking for a couple of drinks after dinner. Heyla Cocktail Bar is a stylish place that draws both locals and foreigners. While the vibe is good, their selling point is their massive menu of creative cocktails. We tried a number of unique drinks there, including some legitimately spicy (yet still delicious) ones, pictured below with the chili pepper devil horns on the glass!

My favorite beverage there was definitely the blue flaming cocktail shown in the video below. I don’t remember what it was called, but I’m if you show the bartender this video, he or she might recognize it and be able to set one up for you!

Dalat: I Had to Go Back For More!

Although I was stuck indoors the entire time I was there, Dalat clearly had much more to offer than its impressive selection of coffee shops. I’m planning on heading back soon with fingers crossed for better weather. Keep an eye out for when I do; I’ll write another post and update this one with any new cafes I discover. Thanks for reading, and remember to check out my comprehensive guide to Dalat if you haven’t already!

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Dalat is the coffee-growing capital of Vietnam, a country that drinks a LOT of coffee! Naturally, the city is home to many amazing boutique cafes. Check out my post to learn which ones were my favorites! ☕🇻🇳 . . . #dalat #dalatvietnam #visitdalat #dalatcafe #vietnamesecoffee #phin #foodandtravelblog #travelblog #travelblogs #travelblogger #travelbloggers #foodblog #foodguides #visitvietnam #centralhighlands #highlandsvietnam #☕ #🇻🇳 #🇻🇳☕ Dalat is the coffee-growing capital of Vietnam, a country that drinks a LOT of coffee! Naturally, the city is home to many amazing boutique cafes. Check out my post to learn which ones were my favorites! ☕🇻🇳 . . . #dalat #dalatvietnam #visitdalat #dalatcafe #vietnamesecoffee #phin #foodandtravelblog #travelblog #travelblogs #travelblogger #travelbloggers #foodblog #foodguides #visitvietnam #centralhighlands #highlandsvietnam #☕ #🇻🇳 #🇻🇳☕

This post was published on Sept 4, 2019

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Upcoming Trips

  1. Bangkok (Sept)
  2. Istanbul (Sept)

Support the Blog!

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