Da Lat: A Different Vietnam at 1,500 Meters

A Chinese traveler’s experience in a mountain city of people, stories, and contrasts

Opening

I came to Da Lat after hearing about it from Diego, a traveler I met in Nha Trang.

He said he preferred the mountains over the sea.

So I came.

The Road Up

The journey itself was a transition.

A minibus winding through mountain roads.

The temperature dropped gradually.

Short sleeves became jackets.

By the time I arrived, I was fully dressed for cold weather.

A Different Climate

Da Lat sits at around 1,500 meters.

It’s the highest place I’ve been to in Vietnam.

The air is cool.

Locals are already wearing winter jackets.

It feels completely different from the rest of the country.

The Hostel

The hostel I stayed in was small, almost cramped — a loft above a café.

But it had atmosphere.

For the first time in Vietnam, I saw many Chinese travelers.

Inside, there were all kinds of people:

Cyclists. Artists. Outdoor leaders.

People Who Stay With You

One traveler, Lao Lu, used to work in Africa in trade.

Now he is cycling across Southeast Asia.

His gear is complete — everything you can imagine.

Even a kayak.

He carries it and uses it wherever possible.

I tried it.

It felt incredible.

Another was an artist.

He records daily life through simple drawings and short text.

Ordinary scenes, but full of quiet strength.

I also met a Malaysian Chinese traveler, Xiao An.

We celebrated his birthday together.

He was warm, sincere — the kind of person you remember.

Small Details

My razor, which I ordered earlier, arrived here.

Same chain store, different city.

The staff found it immediately, labeled with my name and number.

A small thing — but very well done.

Food

At this point, I was more than 1000 km away from northern Vietnam.

The taste had completely changed.

Everything felt sweet.

Sometimes too sweet.

Coconuts cost around 7000 VND — about 2 RMB.

Small, but very fresh and sweet.

We ate together:

Chicken hotpot, local dishes, grilled chicken.

The artist also cooked Chinese food — surprisingly good.

Places

Da Lat has interesting places.

The “Crazy House,” designed by a king’s daughter, feels like a surreal playground.

Its structure is complex, almost like a fantasy world.

The “Crazy Bar,” once her residence, is even more intricate.

Dim lights, strange structures — like exploring something unknown.

At Linh Phuoc Pagoda, there is a stone said to move with intention.

It actually worked.

I also drew a fortune stick — a reminder to stay cautious.

There is also a pink church, Maria Monastery.

Quiet, calm, almost soft.

The University

I visited Da Lat University.

Despite being inland, the infrastructure was excellent.

Comparable in many ways to top universities in China.

The campus is green, open, and full of life.

Students were training, even carrying rifles during drills.

Others were rehearsing performances.

It felt alive.

The City

There is a lake in the city — Xuan Huong Lake.

At sunset, locals run along it.

But the infrastructure is not ideal:

• narrow paths
• street vendors occupying space

At one point, four men in suits handed me Apple flyers.

Maybe I looked like a potential customer.

Closing

Da Lat is different.

Not because of one thing.

But because of everything together:

• the people
• the stories
• the atmosphere

It feels like a place where travel slows down — and becomes something else.