Da Lat is a paradise for photographers who like to capture the splendid beauty of nature. Visitors to the Central Highlands City can watch the dawn sunlight filter through soft clouds as they drift over hill and down through wooded valleys. Ideal places for cloud hunters include Hon Bo, Pinhatt Peak, Suoi Vang (Golden Stream) Lake, and Cau Dat tea hill. (Photo: Nguyen Chi Nam) 10km from Da Lat city, the lavender field is a popular check-in spot for young people. Visitors pay just VND50,000 to enter the garden. Flowers are arranged in rows, creating eye-catching pathways. (Photo: Sao La Nguyen) Covering an area of 38 hectares, Hoa Son Dien Trang tourism site, about 10km from Da Lat’s city centre, is located within a valley beneath the Ta Nung Pass. The tourism site has been in operation since December 2017. The highlight of the site is the cherry blossom forest, its Tam Giac Mach (buckwheat) flower path, and the giant Buddha’s hand on the mountainside. Da Lat has … [Read more...] about Eight delights awaiting visitors to Da Lat
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Vietnam’s Da Lat buried under garbage following Tet holiday
Many photos and videos of a garbage-filled Da Lat, a popular tourist destination dubbed the ‘city of flowers’ in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, have gone viral on social media after Tet, or the Lunar New Year festival. Following the week-long public holiday, which began on February 16, multiple streets and famous landscapes in the tourist city have been overwhelmed with trash. This is not the first time Da Lat has been buried under a large amount of rubbish at the end of a large-scale national holiday such as Tet. “Littering became serious on February 12, four days before the Lunar New Year,” Quang Truong, a resident in Da Lat, said, adding that the situation has not only affected the city’s urban esthetics but also left a bad impression on visitors. This is an alarming issue as the city’s development relies mainly on tourism and related services, Truong remarked. Le Thanh Duy, a young citizen, recounted his conversation with Tom, a foreign … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Da Lat buried under garbage following Tet holiday
Untold stories of Da Lat – Conclusion: Capital of the regal domain
An administration established in Da Lat by Vietnam’s last king boasts lasting historic significance and provides inspiration for the city’s future expansion. >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P7: Pioneering veggie growers >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P6: Cherry blossom valley >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P5: Billeting army officers’ wives >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P4: The Haunted House on Prenn Pass >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P3: Royal partition >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P2: Stone villa of Nguyen King’s concubine >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P1: Nguyen Dynasty’s trusted retainer Da Lat is an idyllic resort town and capital of Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands. Within the first half of the 20th century, the French had built Da Lat into a ‘romantic French town’ on the Lang Biang Plateau with hallmark … [Read more...] about Untold stories of Da Lat – Conclusion: Capital of the regal domain
Untold stories of Da Lat – P7: Pioneering veggie growers
A batch of highly skilled flower and vegetable farmers who migrated from the north of Vietnam to Da Lat are credited with laying the groundwork for the city’s evolution into the country’s vegetable hub. >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P6: Cherry blossom valley >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P5: Billeting army officers’ wives >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P4: The Haunted House on Prenn Pass >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P3: Royal partition >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P2: Stone villa of Nguyen King’s concubine >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P1: Nguyen Dynasty’s trusted retainer Migrant farmers spear-headed their way through poor conditions to turn the once desolate land surrounding the Central Highlands city of Da Lat into the predecessor for today’s ‘city of thousands of flowers.’ It took over 120 years since Swiss-French physician and … [Read more...] about Untold stories of Da Lat – P7: Pioneering veggie growers
Da Lat strives to preserve its special charms
A famed resort town with a temperate climate, the Central Highlands city is in the midst of a building boom in an area well-known for its wooded landscapes, beautiful lakes, French colonial villas and high-quality horticulture, floriculture and agriculture. Recently, around 100 experts, academics and administrators from around the country attended a workshop organized by Lam Dong province’s People’s Committee to discuss ways to preserve the city’s urban and cultural heritage, particularly its French villas and buildings. Typical style: The Da Lat Railway Station was designed by French architects. Photo: toursdulichdalat.com Planning expert Le Quang Ninh told attendees at the workshop that the city’s master plan to 2030 calls for Da Lat to preserve its agricultural and architectural heritage, and at the same time become a “smart city”. Ngo Viet Nam Son, who specializes in urban transport infrastructure, urged city planners at the … [Read more...] about Da Lat strives to preserve its special charms
Ring busted for Da Lat-Saigon motorbike thefts
An illegal ring of thieves has been broken up after carrying out multiple thefts in which they stole motorbikes in Da Lat, a popular tourist destination in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, and sold them in Ho Chi Minh City. Police in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province on Tuesday began legal proceedings against five suspects who are members of the motorbike theft gang. The criminals previously admitted to carrying out over 20 thefts, but officers believe the number was higher. According to initial information, Phung Duc Phong, 32, and Vu Thai Hung, 33, were the masterminds behind the illicit operation. Hung was previously put behind bars for three convictions of theft and robbery and finished his jail term in October 2016. In August 2017, Hung and Phong began the robberies, hiring Nguyen Duc Tien, 23, Vo Nguyen Tuan Anh, 36, and Le Thanh Thai, 23. They also recruited three other men named Sau, Hieu, and Long, who are still at large. Officers confiscate a stolen motorbike in Ho Chi … [Read more...] about Ring busted for Da Lat-Saigon motorbike thefts
Da Lat cherry blossoms held too late
Visitors have complained that the Da Lat Cherry Blossom Festival was held too late when there are no more blossoms to see. The first Da Lat Cherry Blossom Festival opened at Tuyen Lam Lake in Da Lat city of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on January 27. Many visitors have expressed disappointment when there are no more flowers to see during the festival. Da Lat Cherry Blossom Festival opened at the Sam Tuyen Lam Resort on January 27 when there are no flowers "I was so disappointed," Nguyen Huu Luan, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City said. "Some 100 trees at the Sam Tuyen Lam Resort where the opening ceremony was held, showed no flowers. On many trees around the lake there were only leaves growing while the flowers had all gone." Visitors to the Da Lat Cherry Blossom Festival on January 27 According to local people, cherry blossoms started to bloom about a month ago when many areas in the city, especially Tuyen Lam Lake were covered by the amazing pink … [Read more...] about Da Lat cherry blossoms held too late
Untold stories of Da Lat – P2: Stone villa of Nguyen King’s concubine
The imposing stone villa in Da Lat that King Bao Dai, Vietnam’s last monarch, gifted to one of his concubines is a lasting reminder of the regal romance. >> Untold stories of Da Lat – P1: Nguyen Dynasty’s trusted retainer Apart from Queen Nam Phuong, his official wife, King Bao Dai (1913-1997), the 13th and last king of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), had several concubines and lovers. Nguyen Dynasty is also the country’s last monarchy reign. Da Lat is an appealing resort town and the capital of Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands. A singular paramour Following his abdication in August 1945, Bao Dai was sent back to Vietnam by the French government in April 1949. After receiving the news about Bao Dai’s return to Vietnam and stay in Da Lat in 1949, Phan Van Giao, governor of the central region, picked him up at the town’s Lien Khuong Airport and introduced a young woman named Le Thi Phi Anh to him. Anh, 12 years younger than … [Read more...] about Untold stories of Da Lat – P2: Stone villa of Nguyen King’s concubine
Turning Da Lat into a great tourim center of the region and nation
(Cinet) – The Prime Minister signed Decision No. 1462/QĐ-TTg approving the overall plan for socio-economic development of Lam Dong province until 2020. The overall plan for socio-economic development of Lam Dong province until 2020 aims at turning Lam Dong province until 2020 a strong development one in the Highlands, with the tourism industry making up a high percentage in the economic structure, simultaneously striving for turning Da Lat into a great tourim center of the region and nation. The plan set a target for the annual average GDP economic growth in the 2011-2020 period of 14,5 - 15% and in the 2016-2020 period of 13,5-14%/year. For the tourism field, the plan specified, Lam Dong tourism should develop advantages and exploit climatic resources efficiently, making tourism a driving-force economic sector for a purpose that until 2020 the tourism industry makes up a percentage of 10% of the GDP structure and striving for turning Da Lat into a great tourim center of … [Read more...] about Turning Da Lat into a great tourim center of the region and nation
The forgotten Da Lat
A new photo book shows a simple, unobstructed Da Lat, before the days of tour buses and kitschy souvenirs.It was by pure chance that photographer Tam Thai stumbled across a dusty box containing hundreds of old photographs and film reels of Da Lat in the 1950s.It was 1976 and Thai had been searching private storage areas and public records in Nha Trang for materials about Dr. Alexandre Yersin as part of a personal research project. But the rare photos, showing an undeveloped and pure Da Lat, put him on another track.“I knew immediately how important this collection was,” said Thai. “I decided to track down the history of each photo.”The collection contained a vast array of shots and films, depicting the people of Da Lat and their everyday lives, as well as the stunning mountainous landscape of Da Lat and its views from atop the Langbiang plateau.Now, over 30 years later, Thai has put 150 of those photos, along with 150 of his own shots, into a new 230-page book: … [Read more...] about The forgotten Da Lat