Readme before you journey
Chapter 2: Dalat, the Switzerland of Vietnam
Every step we take in our daily lives, whether for work or leisure, creates memories and experiences that add color to our lives. Sometimes, when we travel, we always wonder what lies ahead, whether it will be like the reviews, different, or even if the money we have prepared will be enough (because every time I travel, I end up eating instant noodles at home). This trip of mine has now entered its second day, from Mui Ne, a city with a rather hot climate, to Dalat, a city in the mountains, nicknamed "the Switzerland of Vietnam". In my mind, I thought, I've never been to Switzerland, so how would I know if it's similar or different? But entering Dalat made me realize the kindness of the Vietnamese people who helped me. Sometimes, putting down Google Maps and asking the locals might give you a different kind of fun.
(For continuity, you can read the first review of the trip to South Vietnam at: https://th.readme.me/p/2241)
The last day in Mui Ne, I waited for the car to pick me up to go to my next destination, Da Lat. I sat and waited for the car in front of the guesthouse. The car would pick me up around 12:00 p.m. When the car arrived, I got ready to go to Da Lat. The journey took about 5 hours (from Mui Ne to Da Lat). The trip to Da Lat involved going up a mountain (picture above). There was a stop for passengers to use the restroom or buy food and drinks, as the journey was still long.
I arrived in Dalat around 6 pm, and the sky was starting to get dark. It was easy to tell that I had arrived in Dalat.
1. An environment that is more unusual than normal
2. The mountain is covered with pine trees.
3. The way people in the area dress, they will wear sweaters (this is the easiest to observe).
Pauling, I have summarized the travel expenses for you. This time, I have arranged for a tour to take you there.
Now I have fully arrived in Da Lat. When I arrived, the bus stopped in front of the tour company, past the Tulip Hotel. The staff at the tour company came out to greet me and asked where I was staying. They also gave me directions on how to get there. However, I got lost. I used Google Maps, but it only made me more confused and lost my way. The roads were more complicated than in Mui Ne, with many alleys and lanes. In the end, I had to ask the security guard at the hotel for directions to my accommodation. It turned out that I was still lost even after asking. The security guard then went to ask the taxi driver for directions. I was confused again. I walked around and went back to the security guard again. Then, the old man took me to another taxi driver who was parked nearby. After asking for directions, I got lost again. So I decided to walk back and take a motorbike taxi instead. I couldn't take it anymore, my legs were about to give out. The motorbike taxi driver took me to the front of my accommodation for 20,000 VND (about 30 baht).
Accommodation:
Binh Yen Hotel (2 nights). I stayed in a dorm room, which cost around 10 USD or 400 THB for 2 nights. I arrived at the hotel when it was already dark. I checked in and the son of the guesthouse owner took me to my room. Let's take a look at the room.
This is a picture of the Dorm room at Binh Yen Hotel. It has 6 beds and can accommodate 12 people. Each bed has a bedside lamp, a clothes rail, and a locker under the bed. When I arrived at the room, I was a little surprised because it was so quiet. I asked the son of the guesthouse owner if I was the only one staying in the dorm room today, and he said yes. I was a little worried because I thought it would be scary to stay in a single room like this at another place, but at least it was small. But this is a dorm room, and I'm the only one staying here, with 11 empty beds. It's a little creepy, but at least there are curtains. If there weren't, I would have to sleep with my head covered. 555
The side is a washbasin. There is a hair dryer available. The accommodation in Dalat does not have a fan or air conditioner because the weather here is cool all year round. Especially at night, it's cold to curl up in a blanket.
After checking in and unpacking, I took a shower and went out to explore Dalat at night. As I walked around, I came across a shop selling what looked like tofu pudding and fried bread, as well as something that resembled curry puffs from Saraburi. The tofu pudding I tried tasted like coconut milk, and the shop was packed with customers, as the night air was quite chilly. So, everyone was looking for something warm to eat.
The atmosphere on the street at night is quiet and eerie, with the cool air making it comfortable to walk around.
On my way back to the accommodation, I completely forgot that I hadn't eaten yet, so I stopped by a restaurant. This restaurant sells something like rice porridge, with chicken and mung beans. It's a bit strange, but I ate it all because I was so hungry. I'm going back to the accommodation to prepare for a day of exploring Dalat.
The morning atmosphere saw a light mist over the mountains behind the accommodation. Because today it rained in Dalat (Oh my god, God hurt the black-eyed children) but we were not discouraged because the rain had stopped.
Translation:
Walking out of the hotel, I came across Dalat Hospital. No wonder I saw so many people early in the morning, they were actually waiting in line to see a doctor.
In the morning, there are many restaurants near my accommodation. Even though it is quite far from Dalat Market (about 15 minutes walk), there are still plenty of options.
Translation:
Walking out to cross the street to Dalat Hospital, I found a shop selling Bánh mì, a Vietnamese sandwich. I decided to have a bite to recharge with local food before taking a walk and waiting for the bus to pick me up at 8:30 AM.
On my way back to the accommodation to wait for the bus to pick me up, I came across the king of buns. It has only one filling, but it was delicious. I enjoyed it very much.
Translation:
As I walked into the accommodation, I noticed a pho shop open for business. Eating something hot amidst the drizzle (again) but didn't eat because I was very full.
After a while in the room, I walked out to the living room. Oh my god, the fog has started to come down, the atmosphere is so nice, I'd rather sleep than go out lol.
The first place we visited was the Bao Dai Summer Palace, the residence of the last emperor of Vietnam. Designed and built under the shade of large pine trees, the palace took five years to construct.
The exterior of the Summer Palace on a day after the rain has just stopped, the weather is so nice.
It's a bedroom. Actually, there are many rooms.
Looking down from the second floor, you can see a small garden next to the palace.
Translation:
The side area of the palace for viewing the garden seen from the 2nd floor
As you walk out of the Summer Palace, there will be a path full of pine trees, and you will see the city of Dalat below. Just walk straight ahead and you will find the bathroom. (The bathroom is at the end of the path)
There were also horses available for rent, but I didn't take them because I was afraid of spending money. Hehe. After finishing my visit to the Summer Palace, I prepared to travel to my next destination.
The next place I visited was the Dalat Cathedral, also known as the Chicken Church. In Vietnamese, it is called Nha Tho Chanh Toa Da Lat. There is a rooster on top of the cross (which I couldn't see because it was too high and my camera couldn't zoom in far enough).
This church was built by the French between 1931 and 1942, during a period when France was beginning to exert its influence over Vietnam before it became a full-fledged colony. It is the largest church in the city center and serves as the focal point for Christians in Da Lat.
Walking around the church, you can see the corner of Dalat city below. Now the sun is out, and we can't adjust to it right away.
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Translation:
After admiring the church for a while, it's time to head to our third tourist destination.
The next tourist attraction in Dalat is Truc Lam Pagoda. To get there, you can take the cable car. It's a great experience.
The stairs leading up to the cable car. Da Lat is all about walking uphill, haha. We'll definitely be slim and trim.
The atmosphere in Da Lat city in the late morning is very foggy, as I mentioned earlier. It rained last night and it is still drizzling today, making the weather in Da Lat today cloudy, alternating with sunshine, alternating with cool air, alternating with rain (many seasons in one day, we will definitely get sick).
The cable car can accommodate 4 people. There is only one type, which is the standard type. There is no crystal type. However, the disadvantage is that the glass has bird droppings and some cracks, which slightly reduces the visibility of the view.
The atmosphere on the cable car is amazing. You can see the city of Dalat below, the trees, and the forest. The last picture is of a bird flying, which adds to the atmosphere. Life is full of risks. I just came back from Hong Kong in August and now I'm riding the cable car in Dalat. I'm really ambitious.
The stairs leading up to the Truc Lam Pagoda, another uphill climb.
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The stairs leading up to the temple (there are only stairs)
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Along the way around the temple, there are also gardens with a variety of colorful flowers.
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When you walk with your back to the flower garden and walk straight ahead, you will find a golden pagoda. There is a statue that looks like a young Siddhartha (I think). After walking around and enjoying the atmosphere for a while, let's prepare to pay our respects to the Buddha statue.
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The atmosphere inside and outside the temple is sunny, cloudy and sunny alternately. But later, the sky is closed and there is no sun. Let's prepare for the rain.
Walking to the parking lot to wait for the van to pick me up to the next location, I stumbled upon a cute statue (or not). The place I'm going to is another highlight of Dalat, like if you don't experience this, it's like you didn't really come here.
The next place, you probably know where it is just by the name, right? It's Datanla Waterfall. When I arrived, I went to buy a ticket to ride the Roller Coaster. Many people ask if they have to ride the cable car. Let's see how to get to Datanla Waterfall and what options are available.
1. Walk down to the waterfall and walk up the waterfall
2. The most popular way to get down and up the waterfall is by cable car or roller coaster (which many people use, including myself. I came all the way here, so I might as well play to my heart's content!).
Purchase tickets at the ticket booth. The round-trip price is 50,000 dong, which is about 75 baht.
Please translate:
I apologize if the image is offensive because it shows feet. This tram can seat two people, one driving and the other taking pictures. It's more fun to ride alone.
Translation:
The gameplay is not difficult. Tilt the control lever forward to accelerate, and tilt it towards you to slow down or stop. It's simple, and the fun depends on the person in front of you. If they're not busy taking selfies or driving slowly, it can be a lot of fun. In my case, the person in front of me was too busy taking selfies, so I couldn't really pick up much speed.
As we reached the bottom of the stairs, we were greeted by the sight of the Dalanda Waterfall. The place was crowded, and the sky was overcast once again.
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Sitting in a circle eating snacks and civet coffee, hehe
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At this shop, the tour will arrange for you to eat and try for free. Yes, it's free. At first, all the foreigners didn't dare to eat because they were afraid of spending money. But after a while, the Vietnamese man sitting next to me said "Free", so everyone ate with gusto. However, it's not free if you want to buy souvenirs, you can buy them directly. It's like a souvenir shop, including civet coffee.
Please translate:
The next place to visit after strolling through the souvenir shops and enjoying tea and coffee is a landmark of Dalat, the Valley of Love.
The atmosphere of the Valley of Love when I went there was almost 3 pm. As I said, the closer it gets to the evening, the more the atmosphere becomes gloomy and rainy. Also, there weren't many people, so I could walk around comfortably.
Translation:
From above, you can see the flower garden, the lake, and the mountains in the background. There are clouds passing over the mountains. It's so cool, isn't it?
Please translate:
After visiting the Valley of Love, I traveled to the final destination of this trip, which was a temple I can't remember the name of. Let me Google it for a moment.
The last stop of the whole day trip to Da Lat is Thien Vien Van Hanh Pagoda (Da Lat). I copied the name from the internet (Wikipedia).
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The atmosphere inside the temple is serene. Then come to pay homage to the Buddha statue for good luck on your journey.
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After walking around the temple for a while, it was time to return to the place where the guide called to send me to the accommodation. On the way back, the lovely guide asked me if I would like to get off at the market or the hotel. I said the hotel would be better (too lazy to walk from the market to the hotel). I'll save my energy first. I'll go to the market later at night after I get back from the hotel and take a shower. I'll rest for a while and then go out in the evening. After arriving at the accommodation for a while, I went for a walk to see the atmosphere in Da Lat. The atmosphere is good all the time. The accommodation and houses in Da Lat do not have air conditioning or fans because the weather is cool all the time. It's really cold at night.
Translation:
While exploring Dalat, I came across a bakery opposite the Tulip Hotel, which many Thai people may know when visiting Dalat. It's called LIEN HOA. I decided to pick up some bread to enjoy as a snack before bed.
While walking around hungry, I grabbed a chicken drumstick snack and ate it. It tasted just like a real chicken drumstick, but the flavor was ordinary and not very strong. I'd give it a 3/5.
I walked around in circles for several rounds. I realized that since I've been here, I haven't been to a cafe in Dalat yet. I looked around for a while and decided on this shop. Wildmills is located right on the corner of a three-way intersection, diagonally opposite the Tulip Hotel.
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The atmosphere inside the shop is great. It's a cute cafe that's perfect for working while sipping tea or coffee. Besides sitting inside, you can also sit on the balcony. You can see the view of the street and people walking by. But it was full so I had to sit inside, haha. The price is affordable, to put it simply, it's about the same price as a cafe like Amazon. After that, I found something to eat and went back to the hotel. Because it was raining and it was expected to rain heavily, I decided to run away. See you in the morning.
Good morning on the last day in Da Lat. Let's walk from the hotel to Da Lat Market. If you want to know how people in the area live, besides eating local food, you can visit the morning market or the night market. But on the way, I came across this brand. It looks familiar, like I've seen it in Bangkok before.
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Let's go to Dalat Morning Market. If you don't go, it's like you haven't been there, right?
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The morning atmosphere at Dalat Market. In addition to selling winter clothes, food, and fruits similar to Thailand, there are also stalls selling flowers and plants from cold climates. It opens very early (when I arrived, it was already around 7 am).
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Translation:
After finishing my walk, I got ready to return to the hotel to pack my things and check out. While walking, I forgot that I hadn't eaten yet. What should I do? Never mind, I'll just find something to eat in front of the hotel. After coming so far, I ended up dying at the pho restaurant in front of the hotel.
This is the pho in front of the hotel (finally came back to the nest). With this kind of weather, having something hot to eat with hot soup is a joy. After eating, I packed my things and went to chat with the son of the hotel owner. The atmosphere was very quiet at first, so I said "Quiet" briefly. As a result, the son of the owner came over and started chatting. We talked for a long time, about where we went yesterday, how it was compared to Thailand, and whether Dalat is similar to Chiang Mai. I promoted Thailand to the fullest because he said he had only been to Siam Terminal 21, which is basically the city center. So I suggested going north to Chiang Mai and Nan. He also said he loves Pad Thai. I have to say, my grammar and English speaking skills were very poor during the conversation, but I just kept talking without caring. 555 While I was talking to the son, his mother came and sat with us, so we chatted while waiting for the car to pick us up to go to the Dalat bus station. After a while, the father and younger brother of the owner where I was staying came and introduced themselves. I was so happy, the atmosphere was so friendly. It's a pity that I was too shy to ask for a photo before the car came to pick us up, so I missed out. ???
Please translate:
We have arrived at Da Lat bus station. From here, there are buses to Nha Trang, which is further north than Da Lat, to Ho Chi Minh City, to Hue, and to Da Nang. However, there are no buses to Hanoi. I guess if you want to go to Hanoi, you might have to change buses in Hue or Da Nang instead. That's because it's from the southernmost to the northernmost point, how many hours would it take???
Since I contacted Vietseatour from the first day I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, the bus back from Dalat to Saigon, the guide who took me on a tour of Dalat all day gave me a Futa bus ticket yesterday when I met him when he picked me up at the hotel. Then when I arrived at the station, I was confused again about which bus to take. I walked to the counter and showed the staff. The staff will write the bus registration for us. We get on the bus that they wrote.
My journey from Dalat to Ho Chi Minh City took about 7-8 hours. My car left at 10:00 am and arrived around 4:00 or 5:00 pm. See you in Ho Chi Minh City!
For now, the journey in Dalat, the city in the mountains, has come to an end. It's sadder than leaving Mui Ne, perhaps because of the peaceful atmosphere and the cool weather that makes it feel a bit depressing to travel to Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, as it means that the journey in southern Vietnam is coming to an end. Thank you for every opportunity, thank you for every step, thank you for everything good that has come along the way in this city.
The impression that occurred in Dalat1. Thank you to the security guard at the front of the hotel (I don't remember which one) who helped me find a place to stay because I couldn't find it.
2. I would like to thank the son of the hotel owner where I stayed. He was very friendly, chatted with me as a friend on the day I left, and always greeted the guests.
3. Thanks to the Vietnamese and Chinese women who made friends on the Dalat trip.
4. Thank you to the Thai people I met at the accommodation who came to sit and talk with me, and who wished me well when I left.
5. On the day I was leaving, a foreign couple was looking for a place to stay and came to the place I was staying. While waiting to check in, she turned to greet me with "Good morning". It was just a simple greeting, but it was so heartwarming. Actually, she didn't have to greet me because I had already checked out. 555 Dislike
The rain made the atmosphere gloomy all the time, but it also gave a different kind of good feeling. The only downside to the accommodation is that the dorm-style rooms should have separate bathrooms and toilets. In this case, there is only one room. If 12 people come to stay (think hard), including toilet paper should be available all the time. The accommodation should be checked regularly.
Summary of the trip in Dalat (excluding food and personal expenses)
2. Full-day Da Lat tour costs 12 USD
3. Accommodation fee 10 USD
4. Travel expenses from Dalat to Saigon 13 USD
Total 45 USD
Next episode, Wandering Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) The end
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Friday, September 27, 2024 9:57 AM
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