Things to do in Nha Trang & Dalat, Vietnam

Nha Trang is a lovely coastal city in Vietnam home to some famous beaches that makes for a perfect sea and sand lover holiday destination despite its urban appeal. Dalat is a tranquil town in the southern central highlands of Vietnam, 3 hours away from Nha Trang. This travel guide to Nha Trang and Dalat will uncover the best places to visit and things to do in these cities when planning your Vietnam itinerary. We’ve also spilled the beans on a secret gem of a location, a unique place to visit when in Dalat.

Nha Trang

🚀 How to get to Nha Trang?

✈️ Nha Trang has an international airport and you can even fly in from major local cities such as Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. It is important to note that Nha Trang’s Cam Ranh International Airport is located 30km south of Nha Trang, so you will either have to take the bus or a taxi into the city. The public buses are a cheaper bet and cost only VND 50,000 (USD 2.2) per person.

🚌🚆You can even spend 9 to 11 hours in a sleeper bus or train from Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang to get to Nha Trang. A one-way ticket to Nha Trang using a bus costs an average of VND 200,000-400,000 (USD 9-18) depending on where you are coming from and the bus company you’ve chosen. A train ride can set you back by VND 700,000 (USD 30).

🚀 Things to do in and around Nha Trang

• Go beach hopping – Tran Phu Beach (easily accessible from anywhere in the city), Hon Chong Beach (5-minute drive from the Ponagar Tower), Bai Tru Beach (nearby Vinpearl Land), and Doc Let Beach (popular for its nearby salt fields).

• Hon Khoi Salt Fields – Very close to Doc Let Beach, you will find the famous Hon Khoi Salt Fields in Nha Trang where you can witness the harvesting of natural salt from the shallow fields of the beach. The harvesting season is during the summer that runs between January and June. It makes for a culturally rich experience, and the salt mountains views during sunset make for quite a stunning scene.

• Long Son Pagoda – Also known as The White Buddha Pagoda, the 23-meter tall Gautama Buddha in meditation is located on the foot of Trai Thuy Mountain. Entry is free and clothes should cover shoulders and knees.

• Po Nagar Cham Towers – The Po Nagar Towers is a temple complex of the pre-existed Champa Kingdom, holding a significant spiritual value to the local ethnic group, the Cham. Go there to marvel at the intricate architecture of the place which is usually buzzing on special occasions, ceremonies, and pilgrimage. Entry ticket costs VND 22,000 per person, and you are expected to wear clothes covering your shoulders and knees.

• Ba Ho Waterfall – One of Nha Trang’s must-see attractions is the Ba Ho Waterfall, 20km north of Nha Trang. The waterfall is quite secluded and makes for a lovely spot to hike, go swimming, and bringing a picnic. Entry ticket to Ba Ho Waterfall costs VND 50,000 (USD 2.2).

• Vinpearl Land Nha Trang – If you’re up to splurge for 2 days, then visit the off the coast 5-star resort Vinpearl Land which is a Hollywood inspired amusement park, a water park, and a shopping center that forms one luxurious amalgamation residing on Hon Tre Island. Hop on a speed boat, a ferry, or the 3320-meter cable car above the sea. Local Insider has shared a detailed blog post about everything you need to know when planning a visit to Vinpearl Land.

Dalat

🚀 How to get to Dalat?

🛵 The best way to get to Dalat is renting a bike in Nha Trang to make your own way to Dalat and riding about 135km. This way you can even explore Dalat on your own with the motorbike. Bike rental in Nha Trang ranges from VND 80,000-150,000 (USD 3.5-6.5). There are heaps of vendors available on the road sides in the city. Many bike rentals may be apprehensive to rent out their bikes for a trip to Dalat because of the long distance… so make sure you get a bike from the right and willing agency. Expect to pay these agencies VND 250,000 (USD 11) for 2 days.

🚌 Other options include taking a bus/van/mini bus from Nha Trang (takes about 4-5 hours and costs USD 5-8) or Ho Chi Minh City (takes about 7-9 hours and costs between USD 7-20 depending on the provider you’re going with). Once in Dalat, you can then use Grab or local taxis to roam around the town.

✈️ There is also an option to fly into Dalat from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other major cities in Vietnam.

From Nha Trang, head to Dalat early in the morning for a 3-hour journey. It is recommended to not ride when it’s raining as rain slides are a nightmare through the highlands. The road leading to Dalat is super steep full of curves and turns. Even while it’s drizzling, the visibility drops to zero in the highlands, especially midway during the journey. If you’re not a confident rider, opt to take a bus instead to reach Dalat.

🚀 Things to do in and around Dalat

First and foremost, enjoy the scenery in Dalat. The highlands of Dalat offer stunning landscapes, relatively unspoiled villages and world-class biodiversity. With towering pine trees, stunning vistas of the lake and thick mists in the early morning, this is the place for people seeking a bit of Europe in the tropics. Interestingly, Dalat was established in 1893 thanks to the French, who wanted to find a place with cool atmosphere similar to their homeland.

• Admire the flowers in Dalat – Upon entering Dalat, you will be greeted by the absolutely lovely hydrangeas, an iconic flower species of the region. You can also go to a flower farm if you want to see more varieties of other flowers such as lavenders growing either in greenhouses or farms taken care by the locals. Some of them ask for a small fee of around VND 15,000-35,000 (USD 0.65-1.5) for entry. The Dalat Flower Park, Van Thanh Flower Village, Garden hydrangeas or the Lavenderdalat Gardens are two good spots to visit!

• Visit Dalat’s iconic French Buildings – The Domain de Marie (Pink Church) and Dalat Railway Station are local icons worth seeing and make for great photo spots! The Dalat French Quarter is also home to some old colonial villas and mansions, and the Bao Dai Summer Palace is a popular tourist attraction in Dalat.

• Have a picnic by the Xuan Hong Lake – Just a short walk from Dalat’s railway station, witness the serenity of the Xuan Hong Lake. Bring a picnic during lunch or stay back till dusk for a magical experience. You can even enjoy a swan paddle boat ride here!

• Check out the Crazy House – If you want to see something absolutely absurd in the middle of a charming scenic town like Dalat, then stop by the Crazy House and witness its quirky architecture brimming with strangely shaped and painted walkways, staircases, chambers, and peep holes. Entrance fee into Crazy House is VND 40,000 (USD 1.7). You can even stay there as it serves accommodation options.

• Have a taste of Dalat’s coffee culture and watch the sun set – The hills surrounding Dalat are smothered with coffee plantations. You can opt to go for a coffee plantation tour, or simply go café hopping and enjoy the various local brews. There are quite a few places in Dalat you can catch a beautiful sunset. Hồ Tuyền Lâm is a great place by the lake where you will find the Pini Café. Even the Gâu Garden Café is a unique place to witness the sky blaze with a scenic view of the lush green mountains and plantations.

Pro Tip: The Tuyen Lam lake is quite magnificent and can be witnessed better from Robin Hill, the best vantage point in Dalat.

• Explore Dalat’s Waterfalls – Datanla Falls is just 15 minutes outside the heart of Dalat where you can go for a casual walk or indulge in some adventurous activities such as water abseiling. Entrance fee to Datanla Falls is VND 30,000 (USD 1.3). Elephant Falls is a breathtaking cascading falls that will add some adventure to your time in Dalat. The path to the falls is a tad tricky involving some steep steps and slippery uneven rocky paths. It is often crowded given how popular this attraction is in Dalat. Entry fee to Elephant Falls is VND 20,000 (USD 0.8). While you are there, check out the Linh An Pagoda (where Dalat’s over-sized Laughing Buddha statue can be found) which is a 2-minute walk from Elephant Waterfall.
  Fun tip: Hop on the “Self Control Rollercoaster” that lets you zip through the lush forest of Datanla on a 2,400-meter long alpine coaster trail passing by the Datanla falls. The rollercoaster ticket costs VND 150,000 (USD 6.5).

• Visit Wonder Resort (a hidden gem in Dalat) – Drive to the Scandinavian part of the town (as many call it), where Wonder Resort is located – a European type of setting in Dalat, that looks like a cross between Vietnam and the French Alps. Such a gorgeous view in a truly wonderful place! This is one of those places that you go hunting after seeing someone post a jaw-dropping photo on Instagram!

• Cho Dem Dalat Night Market – If you’re finding souvenirs and some local treats such as dried fruits, jams and preserves, chocolate, tea and coffee, then head to the Dalat’s night market for a shopping opportunity coupled with a fantastic street side eating experience.

The palm-lined pristine beaches and salty breeze of Nha Trang, as well as the picturesque and peaceful landscape of Dalat await you! Keen to explore more of what Vietnam has to offer? Check out our travel guides to plan a trip to Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang and Hoi An. Happy Reading 😊