Da Lat
General information:
Area: 390.5 sq. km
Population: 197 thousand habitants (2007)
Administrative divisions:
-Wards:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
-Communes:Xuan Tho, Xuan Truong, Ta Nung, Tram Hanh
Ethnic groups: Kinh, M’nong, Ma, Co Ho, Kho Mu, Hoa, Tay, Nung, Chu Ru
Location:
Da Lat is the capital of Lam Dong Province in Central Highland region, 300 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 200 km from Nha Trang. At an elevation of 1,500 m, Da Lat bears the look of an Old French city. It was founded in 1897 when Doctor Alexandre Yersin recommended that the area be developed as a resort town
Weather and climate:
Situated at 1,500 m above sea level, Da Lat has a cool climate. The annual average temperature is 18oC. The climate Da Lat boasts is that of a temperate zone. Few places in the tropical Vietnam have been endowed with that gift. Wonderful weather and beautiful landscapes make Da lat an ideal resort town for a holiday in Vietnam.
Getting to Da Lat:
- Airways: Vietnam Airlines has daily services that connect Da Lat to HCMC and Hanoi. Lien Khuong Air port is located 30 km south of the city.
- Roads: The total road length of the whole province is 1,744 km, of which about 459 km are asphalted roads, the rest are macadam roads and pathways. The road system is distributed rather properly, connecting the provincial center with the district and commune centers and other population areas. Travel to Da Lat by bus, car taxi and other means of transport can be done easily.
- Railway: The railway of 84 km long running through the provincial area built since the French colonization has been reconstructed only 7 km from Dalat to Trai Mat to serve tourists.
Tourism:
Da Lat city is decorated with a vast variety of flowers. Beautiful flowers such as rhododendron, cherry, mimosa, hydrangea, rose, daisy, and dahlia are all grown here. Thanks to the warm weather the whole city of Da Lat is a great garden of flower in blossom the year round. Thus, Da Lat offers an harmonious combination of natural scenery and historical sites.
Da Lat has many beautiful natural sights such as Da Lat Flower Park, Xuan Huong Lake, Than Tho Lake (Lake of Sighs), Love Valley ans some other ones nearby as Dambri Waterfall, Prenn Waterfall, Elephant Waterfall, Pongour Waterfall and Lang Bian Muontain. Love valley and Than Tho Lake have been surrounded with many love stories and legends with sorrowful endings when the heroines always drowned themselves in the lake to keep forever their true love they had once enjoyed.
Besides, the city also famous for its historical sites and vestiges including Da Lat Cathedral, Truc Lam Pagoda, Linh Son Pagoda. Da Lat has three magnificent and big palaces which are always referred to as Palace 1, Palace 2 and Palace 3. The architectural designs for the three places are made to French design. They were built on top of the hills which are located in beautiful natural surroundings. The places are accessible through long flights of brick steps for walk and gently descending paths for cars. The path is completely covered with broad canopy of pine trees. Palace 1 and Palace 2 were owned by French high ranking officials during the French domination of Vietnam more than 40 years ago. The third and last palace was owned by the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty, Bao Dai, also called Bao Dai Palace.
Come to Da Lat, visitors not only can enjoy the natural beauties but also join some traditional festival of the ethnic minorities here as well as take part in a Golf course at Da Lat Palace Golf Club.
