Dalat
Da Lat is a highland city in Vietnam's Lam Dong province, where pine hills, a lake in town and French-era villas sit in cool air, well away from the lowland heat.
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Da Lat is a highland city in Lam Dong province, in the south of central Vietnam, at about 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level. The cool air, pine-covered hills and the lake in the middle of town set it apart from the coast and the big cities. Many of its villas date from the French colonial period, when Europeans built hill stations to escape lowland heat. Around town you find coffee farms, waterfalls, forest trails and canyoning routes in the hills.
Da Lat suits travelers who want cool weather, a slower pace and a few days of walking, eating and short day trips. Temperatures stay mild all year. The drier months, roughly December to April, bring the clearest days, and the rainy season is wetter but still cool. Plan at least three days for the lake, the farms and the outlying sights. The airport is about 30 km from town, so build the transfer into your first day.
Dalat in five
- Choose your arrival: flight, sleeper bus or roadThe airport is about 30 km south of town. Sleeper buses run from Ho Chi Minh City, and Mui Ne and Nha Trang are a few hours away by car or shuttle van.Da Lat or Mui Ne
- Pack a sweater for November to JanuaryThe tourism board advises a jumper from November to January and an umbrella for rain between April and November. May is its pick for a warmer stay.Best time to visit Vietnam
- Book canyoning and treks with a licensed guideDatanla waterfall has canyoning, Langbiang Mountain reaches 2,167 m and Bidoup Nui Ba National Park covers 70,000 hectares. Confirm that your travel insurance names the activity.UK travel advice: adventure tourism
- Rent a motorbike only with the right papersThe UK advice says you need a 1968-version international driving permit plus your home licence, and helmets are mandatory. Many visitors use Grab, taxis or guided motorbike tours on the hill roads.
- Visit the central market earlyFruit, flowers and preserved fruit fill the market first thing, and the upper floor serves noodle dishes all day. Walk Xuan Huong Lake after that.Dalat in 3 days
Things to do in Dalat
See all attractions in Dalat
Need to know
- Airport
- Lien Khuong (DLI), about 30 km south of the city
- Getting there
- Flights, sleeper buses from Ho Chi Minh City, road from Mui Ne
- Getting around
- Walking the lake and center; taxi, Grab or guided rides beyond
- Best base
- Near Xuan Huong Lake and the central market
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 nights
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Dry, coolJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cool
- FebruaryPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Dry, sunnyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Dry, warmMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- AprilRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°WarmestAprilRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest
- MayRain27 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Rain beginsMayRain
Poor
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 287 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain begins
- JuneRain27 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°RainyJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 259 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- JulyRain29 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°RainyJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 273 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- AugustRain27 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh24°Low17°RainyAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 256 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy
- SeptemberRain28 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°RainySeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 376 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- OctoberRain26 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°RainyOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 346 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Rain, chillyNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 218 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, chilly
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Cool, blossomsDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, blossoms
Average daily high and low in Da Lat, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Dalat
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 17°
- Humidity
- 97%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Dalat
04:56 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today22°13°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed23°12°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu24°12°99%Thursday: Rain. High 24°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Fri23°13°89%Friday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 89%.
- Sat22°14°86%Saturday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Sun22°13°74%Sunday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 74%.
- Mon22°14°37%Monday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 37%.
Updated 12:47 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,787 VND
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Tuyen Lam Lakeabout 7 km from the cityA 350 hectare lake ringed by pines, good for a boat or kayak outing in the mist.
- Linh Phuoc Pagoda at Trai Matby tourist train from the old stationA mosaic-covered pagoda reached on a short train ride out of the city.
- Langbiang Plateau and Datanla waterfalla short road tripWaterfalls, canyoning and a hike to the top of Langbiang Mountain.
Before you go to Dalat
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Rules for Dalat, checked
- Use approved adventure companies, take a reputable guide and check that your insurance covers canyoning, trekking or other planned activities.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Dalat
Dunes, kitesurfing and sunny months
Read the guideNha TrangIsland boats and Po Nagar Cham Towers
Read the guideCat Tien National ParkForest park between Saigon and the highlands
Read the guideHo Chi Minh CityThe usual start for the road to the highlands
Read the guideAll of VietnamEntry, seasons, regions and money
Read the guideDalat FAQ
Is Da Lat worth visiting?
Yes, if you want cool air, pine hills, coffee farms and a break from coastal heat. Skip it if your priority is beaches, or if you only have a day and a half for a long transfer.
How many days do you need in Da Lat?
Two to three nights is enough for the lake, the market, a waterfall or canyoning day and a coffee farm. Add a night for Bidoup Nui Ba National Park or a slower pace.
Is Da Lat cold?
It is cool year-round and can feel cold at night between November and January, so bring a sweater. Rain falls from about April to November, which suits waterfalls but needs a wet-weather plan.
How do you get from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat?
By sleeper bus, by private car or by a short flight to Lien Khuong airport, which is about 30 km south of the city. The old railway no longer joins the north-south line.
What should you eat in Da Lat?
Banh can for breakfast, banh beo with river shrimp at lunch and banh mi xiu mai in a hot meaty broth in the evening. The market also sells preserved fruit, candied ginger, coffee and artichoke tea.