Da Lat
Da Lat is the capital of Lâm Đồng Province in Vietnam. The town is located 1500 m (4,920 ft) above sea level on the Langbiang Plateau in the southern parts of the Central Highlands (in Vietnamese – Tây Nguyên). According to a myth from the French colonial era, the name derives from the acronym of the Latin phrase ‘Dat Aliis Laetitiam Aliis Temperiem’ (“Giving Pleasure to Some, Freshness to Others”), which the French colonial government used in their official emblem of Đà Lạt. In reality, the name derives from the language of the local ethnic group Lạt and its original meaning is “Stream of the Lạt,” and the acronym above is in fact a backcronym. In Vietnam, Đà Lạt is a popular tourist destination – highly appreciated for its temperate climate, beautiful sights such as waterfalls and lakes and its abundance of flowers and vegetables. It is the location of the Novotel Dalat (formerly Dalat Hotel) and Sofitel Dalat Palace (formerly Dalat Palace built in 1922).
Da Lat’s specific sights are pine wood (forming the name: “City of thousands of pine tree”) with roads twists and turns and tree marigold (Vietnamese: dã quỳ) blossom in the winter. This city has a unique temperate weather in such a tropical country like Vietnam. Mist cover valleys almost the year leads to its name “City of eternal spring”. Under trees, near lakes and on valleys, many faithful romantic loves have been started and these loves resulted in some place names such as “Valley of Love” or “Pair of Tomb pine hill”. That is why Da Lat is regarded as “City of love” where many Vietnamese couples choose it for their honeymoons.
Tourists who visit Da Lat encounter the members of the Easy Rider group. This group consists of local Vietnamese who guide tourists to Da Lat’s sights. The main language is English but if desired there are also French or German speaking guides available. In most occasions the means of transportation is a 250 cc motorcycle. In case a larger tourist group or a family desires guidance they will be transported by van (Happy Dalat Easy Driver). After touring Da Lat with the Easy Rider group many tourists opt for a longer customized tour of the breath taking Central Highlands, South and/or North Vietnam where they experience the real daily Vietnamese life, culture, tradition and history.
Da Lat also has an ideal space which is quiet, clear and fresh for science research. The biotechnology and nuclear physics are two most developed branches. These high- knowledged people influence deeply on Da Lat’s lifestyle making almost Da Lat’s people courteous and elegant.
With its coolness in the whole year, Da Lat is the area that supplies temperate agriculture products for all over Vietnam, for example, cabbage and cauliflower. Its famous flower industry produces two typical flowers which are hydrangea (Vietnamese: cẩm tú cầu) and golden everlasting (Vietnamese: hoa bất tử) which represents for endless loves. Confectionary industry also offer a wide range of mứt- a kind of fruit preserves made from strawberry, mulberry, sweet potato, rose…Hot foods such as hot soy milk, grilled corn with green onion or grilled sweet potato are some of highlights in the cold night.
Vietnam destinations
Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hai Phong – Ha Long Bay – Hoa Binh – Sapa
Phong Nha – Ke Bang – Hue – Danang – Hoi An – Nha Trang -Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh city (Sai gon) – Vung Tau – Mekong delta