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Editor's note: This excerpt first appeared in photographer and author Harold Davis' recent Focal Press book, Photographing Flowers: Exploring Macro Photography with Harold Davis.
The closer you...
Da Lat is a
popular vacation spot for native Vietnamese who are looking for some R&R in a
cool spot. This city was spared during the Vietnam war-- the North Vietnamese
agreed to not attack, in turn for a hands-off policy on their popular vacation
spot in the north. Da Lat is popular due to its crisp mountain air, beautiful
surrounding forests, and California like weather. The weather here is a big issue
-- traveling from 95F/35C in HCMC to Da Lat's 75F/24C is a nice treat. It seems
that for the residents of HCMC though, the weather is a bit of a shock. All over
town the markets sell huge parkas, gloves, and hats. And people all over town are
wearing them! The center of town is a bit congested, so you might want to stay
1Km away if you are looking for peace and solitude.
Where We Stayed
A Dong Hotel - This $15/day communist run hotel features
large rooms and a terrific view of the Da Lat city if placed at the back of the
building. A disadvantage of this hotel, as of February 2002, is the desk people
did not speak English, and were therefore not too helpful. Another disadvantage
is the front rooms are very noisy and will make you crazy, so make sure you stay
in the back. This hotel is a 5min walk from the center of town, along a noisy and
crowded road which is not to relaxing to traverse. For details, see
http://www.vnhotels.net/dalat.htm. 63b Nguyen Van Troi St, Da Lat, Tel: 822
700
Where we Ate
The Artists Cafe is a popular cafi with good food 1 block from the center of
town on Duong Nguyen Chi Thanh Rd. Their ham sandwich and apple pancakes are
terrific. Their apple cake and banana cake are toooo good. So is the coffee!!
What We Did
The Valley of Love features a nicely landscaped forest and lake in which one
can walk and ponder:
The market in the center of town provides a glimpse of how the local live:
Several homes were quite swanky:
Here's an electrical appliance repair shop:
The local cemetary:
A lake near the center of town is a popular boating spot:
Personal Reflections
Amanda: Dalat was incredibly noisy, especially in the town
square. Narrow roads with motorbikes racing down them, the whir of their engines
absolutely piercing and the sound of their horns, if you can believe it, even
worse! Most of my time in Dalat was spent six inches off the ground, as I was
constantly jumping at the sound of those horns! We had to switch hotel rooms,
since the first one we got faced this loud road scene. Since the hotel staff did
not speak English, communicating our wish to switch rooms entailed some serious
sign language. We put our hands together and lay our faces on them to show
sleeping. Then we said VROOM VROOM!! and our faces sprang to live in an
over-exaggerated startled expression. WOW!!!! Then VROOM VROOM! and the facial
expression twists in mock pain and our hands clamp down tight over our ears.
HELP!! They got the picture, and after having a terrific laugh at our antics,
changed out room to a quieter one in the back.
Despite their lack of English, the Staff was very kind to us. On the eve of
Tet, the Lunar New Year, which is a HUGE holiday in Vietnam, like Christmas, New
Years, Thanksgiving and your birthday all rolled into one, there was a knock on
the door at 11:45 pm. It was the young man from the front desk, bearing a plate
full of candy and fruit. He looked very happy, excited and really full of joy as
he gave it to me saying Chuc Mung Na Moi!! (Happy New Year!!) and then mustering
his best English added with such delight as I have never even seen on a child's
face on Christmas Eve, "It's at Midnight!!!" Luckily I had a piece of cake that I
had been given by the girl at the bakery I liked so much - she gave me the cake
because I had brought her flowers for Tet - so I was able to give this fellow a
piece of cake and wish him Happy New Year as well.
One thing I will never forget about Dalat was their famous COFFEE! In Vietnam
they have amazing, delicious coffee. I can even drink it black. If you add sugar
you would easily think you are eating a chocolate bar - it is so rich and smooth
and delicious!! Dalat is in the Central Highlands, and according to the LP they
have the BEST coffee in Vietnam. They grow coffee and tea all over that region in
the mountains (like Folgers, it is Mountain Grown!! mmmmm!!!) and they sell it in
the markets and cafes. You take a cup of it and you will know just exactly how
the Vietnamese were able to defeat the US Military. Holy Cow!!
Here is a great hotel at 15$usd per night. Dreams Hotel, dreams@hcm.vnn.vn and (84-63) 833748. It is family run (so friendly) and they speak english and french. Breakfast is included and I still drool about it. It is about a 10 minute walk from the center of town.
I would recommend finding a motorbike guide (my guide, Joseph, was exceptional, levanthangjoseph@hotmail.com), of which there is no lack in Dalat. Outside of Dalat there are many great day trips including more than one minority village, some great waterfalls and temples. Dalat is a nice small city but get out and see the beautiful countryside.
The coffee kept me up for my stay in Vietnam; I couldn't stop myself even knowing I would not sleep that night!
