Dalat travel guide

On paper at least, Dalat reads like one of Vietnam’s most evocative towns.

At the turn of the 20th century, French physician Alexandre Yersin founded a hilltstation and sanotorium in the temperate mountains of the central highlands. Dalat quickly became a popular escape from the heat of Saigon. The colonial elite were drawn to the cooler climes, hunting and scenery that took them home to Europe. Spectacular chalet style lodges sprung up around the town.

Recent decades haven’t been so kind to Dalat. While it survived the ravages of war virtually unscathed, its charms have faded as a rising population has seen chaotic building as well as demolition and poor renovation of heritage buildings. Some treasures remain, including some very nice hotels, but Dalat’s reality is a long way from the travel brochure hype. Its status as Vietnam’s honeymoon capital has spawned a booming industry of kitsch.

The surrounding countryside is scenic and the temperature is certainly an agreeable contrast to the heat and humidity of other southern cities.

Dalat is a good stopover on an overland journey through the Vietnam but it’s probably not an essential inclusion in an itinerary where time is short.