Da Lat was spared from heavy bombing in the American war so the are still many French Colonial buildings there, however now these are joined by many flash new hotels to cater for all the weekend visitors who fly in from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, as well as all the foreigners (but not on our budget). When South Vietnam surrendered, land was cheap here and many North Vietnamese bought up fertile plots which are now used for farming (coffee plantations, flower farms, strawberries etc) in the cool, sunny climate.
Our journey to Da Lat was four hours by bus from Mui Ne and it was the bounciest journey ever! First we were sat at the back of the bus but after feeling like being on a pogo stick, and Janet hitting her head on the air-conditioning unit overhead, we decided to move to the front. The Asian tourist who managed to sleep through it all, despite his head repeatedly thumping the window, was a legend! He looked so confused to wake up and wonder why the whole bus was laughing at him (including his mate who’d been videoing him). As you can see, not a great road surface!
We took a day motorbike tour around the sights with local “easy rider” drivers (Titi and Hiep) who have been doing this for 25 years.
We visited Pagodas, waterfalls, factories, a meditation centre by cable car and topped it off with The Crazy House.
Then Elephant Falls….
A coffee plantation which includes the beans being eaten and fermented by ferrets to make “moka coffee”.
A rice wine making factory ….
And yes this is a cobra which ferments for 10 months before making snake wine!!!!
Then a noodle making factory …..
Another pagoda by cable car …….
And then to Datanla waterfalls by luge ride – what great fun!
We completed the full packed tour by visiting a Gaudi-inspired Crazy House (still work in progress) and tested our head for heights as we climbed the twisty, high stair cases to explore.
We got out drivers to drop us at the far end of the 7km round lake and enjoyed an evening walk back to our accommodation.
What a jam packed day!!!!! We could have stayed longer in Da Lat but there is a lot to see in Vietnam, so rucksacks packed again and off to Hue next.
