Da Lat

File:Petit Guide illustré de Dalat (Coat of Arms).svg

According to some sources, the name is derived from the acronym of the Latin phrase 'Dat Aliis Laetitiam Aliis Temperiem' ("It Gives Pleasure to Some, Freshness to Others"), which the French colonial government used in their official emblem of Da Lat. In reality, however, the name {{lang|vi|Đà Lạt}} is derived from the language of the local ethnic group Lạt and its original meaning is "Stream of the Lạt", and the above acronym is in fact a backcronym. {{lang|vi|Đà Lạt}} or Đạ Lạch got its name from Koho daa (“water”) + Laac (the indigenous people of Da Lat).

{{Main|History of Da Lat}}

File:Da Lat ca. 1925 (1).jpg

File:Emplacement de l'hotel du Lang Biang 1920s.jpg.]]

File:Itinéraires touristiques autour de Dalat.jpg

During the 1890s, explorers in the area (including the noted bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin, protégé of the French chemist Louis Pasteur), which was then part of the French colony of Cochinchina, asked the French governor-general, Paul Doumer, to create a resort center in the highlands, and the governor agreed. The original intended site for the hill station was Dankia, but Étienne Tardif, a member of the road-building expedition of 1898–99, proposed the current site instead. In 1907, the first hotel was built. Urban planning was carried out by Ernest Hébrard.Crossette, Barbarạ The Great Hill Stations of Asia. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1998. pp 207-219.

File:A street of Da Lat ca. 1925.jpg

Many Europeans used to travel up to Da Lat to escape the heat of the lower coastal areas and Mekong delta.

The French endowed the city with villas and boulevards, and its Swiss charms remain today. Hébrard included the requisite health complex, golf course, parks, schools, and homes but no industry. The legacy of boarding schools where children from the whole of Indochina were taught by French priests, nuns, and expatriates still existed as late as 1969. In 1929, the Christian and Missionary Alliance established a school which later shortly relocated to Bangkok, Thailand, due to the Vietnam War and has been located in Penang, Malaysia, since the 1970s. There were seminaries of Jesuits (such as Pius X Pontifical College) as well as other orders.

In the 1920s and 1930s, there were ideas of making Da Lat the 'summer capital', 'administrative capital', and 'federal capital' of French Indochina. During the World War II, Governor-general Jean Decoux (r. 1940–1945) supported this project.{{sfnp|Jennings|2011|page=228–230}}

{{Further|Battle of Da Lat}}

The South Vietnamese National Military Academy graduated its first class of future leaders in 1950. There was also an aviation school at Cam Ly Airport.

In the mid-1950s, the Vietnamese Scout Association established their national training grounds at Da Lat.

The only major involvement Da Lat had during the Vietnam War was during the 1968 Tet Offensive. Fierce battles raged from January 31 to February 9, 1968. Most of the fighting took place between the South Vietnamese/American MP units stationed in Da Lat and the Việt Cộng (VC) forces. Defeats and victories alternated between the two during the sporadic-yet-intense battles.

File:Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute 01.JPG

South Vietnam eventually fell under communist rule and was merged with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, where the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was constructed and also experienced the Đổi Mới reforms along with the rest of the country.

During the communist era of Vietnam (the Socialist Republic of Vietnam), places like Da Lat as well as Hoi An and Da Nang were regularly regarded as amongst the most romantic tourist places in Vietnam.{{Cite news|last=VnExpress|title=Da Lat, Hoi An among Vietnam's most romantic places for Valentine's Day |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/places/da-lat-hoi-an-among-vietnams-most-romantic-places-for-valentines-day-4426803.html|access-date=2022-02-19|newspaper=VnExpress International|language=en}} Da Lat has also become a hub for nuclear research and biotechnology.

Da Lat is located {{convert|1500|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level on the Langbian Plateau in the southern parts of the Central Highlands (in Vietnamese: Tây Nguyên).

{{wide image|Ho Xuan Huong - Huy Phuong 2.jpg|1000px|Xuan Huong Lake in the morning}}

{{clr}}

Da Lat is a source area for pyroxene from meteorites from the Australasian strewnfield.{{cite journal | doi=10.1016/j.gca.2004.03.026 | bibcode=2004GeCoA..68.3883M | volume=68 | issue=19 | title=Beryllium-10 in Australasian tektites: Constraints on the location of the source crater | journal=Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta | pages=3883–3896| year=2004 | last1=Ma | first1=P. | last2=Aggrey | first2=K. | last3=Tonzola | first3=C. | last4=Schnabel | first4=C. | last5=De Nicola | first5=P. | last6=Herzog | first6=G.F. | last7=Wasson | first7=J.T. | last8=Glass | first8=B.P. | last9=Brown | first9=L. | last10=Tera | first10=F. | last11=Middleton | first11=R. | last12=Klein | first12=J. }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Da Lat is divided into 11 wards numbered from 1 to 11, and 4 communes: Tà Nung, Xuân Trường, Xuân Thọ and Trạm Hành.Da Lat Travel Guide [http://vietnamtravelgo.com/da-lat/ VietnamTravelGo]

{{climate chart

| Da Lat

| 11 | 22 | 9

| 11 | 23 | 20

| 13 | 25 | 64

| 14 | 25 | 170

| 16 | 24 | 212

| 16 | 23 | 203

| 16 | 23 | 232

| 16 | 22 | 238

| 16 | 22 | 283

| 15 | 22 | 244

| 14 | 21 | 93

| 13 | 21 | 36

| float = left

| clear = none

| source = Vietnam Meteorological Administration }}

Da Lat features a subtropical highland climate under the Köppen climate classification (Cwb) and is mostly mild year round.

Da Lat's year-round temperate weather, standing in contrast to central & southern Vietnam's otherwise-tropical climate, has led it to be nicknamed the “City of Eternal Spring”.Lonely Planet Vietnam, (Lonely Planet, 2007), {{ISBN|1-74059-677-3}}, pp. 290–305. The average temperature is {{convert|14|to|23|C|F}}. The highest temperature ever in Da Lat was {{convert|31.5|C|F}}, and the lowest was {{convert|-0.6|C|F}}. Mist covers the adjoining valleys almost year-round. Its temperate climate also makes it ideal for agriculture. Indeed, Da Lat is renowned for its orchids, roses, vegetables, and fruits. There are nascent wine-making and flower-growing industries in the region.

There are two separate seasons in Da Lat. The rainy season lasts from May to October, and the dry season lasts from November through April of the next year. The average annual precipitation is 1,750 mm.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Da Lat|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/149338/Da-Lat|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=22 September 2012|year=2012}}{{Cite web|title=Nature|url=http://www.lamdong.gov.vn/en-US/home/DaLatcity/Pages/Nature.aspx|access-date=2020-07-22|website=www.lamdong.gov.vn}}

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|location = Da Lat, elevation {{convert|1513|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|Jan record high C = 30.0

|Feb record high C = 31.0

|Mar record high C = 31.5

|Apr record high C = 31.2

|May record high C = 30.6

|Jun record high C = 30.0

|Jul record high C = 29.2

|Aug record high C = 29.3

|Sep record high C = 29.7

|Oct record high C = 30.0

|Nov record high C = 29.2

|Dec record high C = 29.4

|year record high C = 31.5

|Jan high C = 22.3

|Feb high C = 23.9

|Mar high C = 25.1

|Apr high C = 25.3

|May high C = 24.7

|Jun high C = 23.6

|Jul high C = 23.0

|Aug high C = 22.7

|Sep high C = 22.9

|Oct high C = 22.8

|Nov high C = 21.7

|Dec high C = 21.4

|year high C = 23.3

|Jan mean C = 15.9

|Feb mean C = 16.9

|Mar mean C = 18.1

|Apr mean C = 19.0

|May mean C = 19.5

|Jun mean C = 19.2

|Jul mean C = 18.8

|Aug mean C = 18.6

|Sep mean C = 18.5

|Oct mean C = 18.2

|Nov mean C = 17.5

|Dec mean C = 16.4

|year mean C = 18.0

|Jan low C = 11.7

|Feb low C = 11.9

|Mar low C = 13.0

|Apr low C = 14.7

|May low C = 16.2

|Jun low C = 16.4

|Jul low C = 16.2

|Aug low C = 16.2

|Sep low C = 16.0

|Oct low C = 15.3

|Nov low C = 14.6

|Dec low C = 13.2

|year low C = 14.6

|Jan record low C = -0.1

|Feb record low C = -0.6

|Mar record low C = 4.2

|Apr record low C = 4.0

|May record low C = 10.0

|Jun record low C = 10.9

|Jul record low C = 10.0

|Aug record low C = 10.6

|Sep record low C = 10.0

|Oct record low C = 8.1

|Nov record low C = 4.4

|Dec record low C = 2.6

|year record low C = -0.6

|Jan rain mm = 9.1

|Feb rain mm = 20.5

|Mar rain mm = 64.1

|Apr rain mm = 170.3

|May rain mm = 212.3

|Jun rain mm = 203.5

|Jul rain mm = 232.7

|Aug rain mm = 238.3

|Sep rain mm = 283.4

|Oct rain mm = 244.7

|Nov rain mm = 93.5

|Dec rain mm = 36.2

|rain colour = green

|year precipitation mm = 1814.9

|Jan humidity = 81.2

|Feb humidity = 77.7

|Mar humidity = 78.1

|Apr humidity = 83.3

|May humidity = 87.2

|Jun humidity = 88.8

|Jul humidity = 89.7

|Aug humidity = 90.4

|Sep humidity = 90.2

|Oct humidity = 88.6

|Nov humidity = 85.4

|Dec humidity = 84.2

|year humidity = 85.5

|Jan rain days = 2.2

|Feb rain days = 2.5

|Mar rain days = 5.8

|Apr rain days = 12.8

|May rain days = 20.5

|Jun rain days = 21.2

|Jul rain days = 23.8

|Aug rain days = 23.1

|Sep rain days = 24.0

|Oct rain days = 20.0

|Nov rain days = 11.5

|Dec rain days = 5.9

|year rain days = 176.8

|Jan sun = 237.4

|Feb sun = 231.1

|Mar sun = 240.2

|Apr sun = 199.2

|May sun = 195.5

|Jun sun = 150.3

|Jul sun = 146.9

|Aug sun = 134.4

|Sep sun = 126.5

|Oct sun = 139.8

|Nov sun = 168.5

|Dec sun = 198.7

|year sun = 2147.8

|source 1 = Địa chí Đà Lạt (extremes 1918–1940, and 1964–1998){{cite web

| url = http://www.dalat.gov.vn/web/books/diachidalat/phan2/C1-6.htm

| title = KHÍ HẬU

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130302052005/http://www.dalat.gov.vn/web/books/diachidalat/phan2/C1-6.htm

| archive-date = 2 March 2013

| publisher = City Of Da Lat

| language = vi

| access-date = 26 January 2015}}

|source 2 = Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology,{{cite web|title=Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology|url=https://datafiles.chinhphu.vn/cpp/files/vbpq/2022/10/02-bxd.pdf |lang=en}} The Yearbook of Indochina (1932-1933)[https://seadelt.net/Asset/Source/Document_ID-247_No-01.PDF The Yearbook of Indochina (1932-1933)]

}}

• Dalat University (Trường Đại học Đà Lạt)
• Yersin University (Trường Đại học Yersin Đà Lạt)
• The Pedagogical College of Da Lat (Trường Cao đẳng Sư phạm Đà Lạt)
• Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture – Đà Lạt Campus (Trường Đại học Kiến trúc TP.HCM – Phân hiệu Đà Lạt)

• Da Lat station is the city's main railway station along the Da Lat–Thap Cham railway line. There are also direct services to and from Ho Chi Minh City.
• Lien Khuong International Airport is located {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of the city. The airport provides daily direct domestic flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi operated by Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Pacific Airlines. There is also a direct international flight to Kuala Lumpur from the airport which is operated by AirAsia. File:Lien Khuong Airport 01.jpg

{{split section|Architecture of Da Lat|date=April 2019|discuss=Talk:Da Lat#Architecture article split request}}

File:Rock garden at Da Lat Station.jpg in front of the Art Deco-influenced Da Lat Railway Station of vernacular French architecture.]]

The architecture of Da Lat was mostly influenced by the style of the French during colonial period. Da Lat Railway Station, built in 1938, was designed in the Art Deco architectural style by French architects Moncet and Reveron, although it incorporates the high, pointed roofs characteristic of the Cao Nguyen communal buildings of Vietnam's Central Highlands. The three gables represent an art deco version of Normandy's Trouville-Deauville Station.{{cite web|title=Paradise by the Dashboard Light|url=http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/articles/paradise-by-the-dashboard-light|work=Air Canada enroute|access-date=22 September 2012|author=Samantha Coomber|date=1 January 2008|archive-date=28 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228194417/http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/articles/paradise-by-the-dashboard-light|url-status=dead}} The station's unique design — with its roofs, arching ceiling, and colored glass windows — earned it recognition as a national historical monument in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?sec=10&id=4134|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615153924/http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?sec=10&id=4134|url-status=usurped|archive-date=2011-06-15|publisher=Asia News Network|author=Minh Thu|title=Little Paris charms visitors|date=2009-02-22|access-date=2010-07-16}}{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/vietnamhandbook00cole|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/vietnamhandbook00cole/page/252 252]|title=Vietnam handbook|publisher=Footprint Travel Guides|year=2002|isbn=978-1-903471-31-9|author=John Colet, Joshua Eliot|access-date=2010-07-28}}

They designed the Lycée Yersin, which opened in 1927.{{cite web|url=http://saigon-vietnam.fr/dalat_fr.php |title=Dalat (Da Lat)|work=Saigon Vietnam|language=fr|access-date=2015-11-07}}

The Dominion of Mary Church and Convent, home to Roman Catholic nuns of the Mission of Charity, were built in 1938 with a similar pointed-roof style.

File:HangNgaCrazyHouse1.jpg is decorated with twisting organic forms.]]

Of particular note is the unconventional architecture of the Hằng Nga guesthouse, popularly known as the “Crazy House”. Described as a “fairy tale house”, its overall design resembles a giant banyan tree, incorporating sculptured design elements representing natural forms such as animals, mushrooms, spider webs and caves. Its architecture, consisting of complex, organic, non-rectilinear shapes, has been described as expressionist. Its creator, Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga (also known as Hằng Nga), who holds a PhD in architecture from Moscow State University, has acknowledged the inspiration of Catalan Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí in the building's design. Visitors have variously drawn parallels between the guesthouse and the works of artists such as Salvador Dalí and Walt Disney.{{cite web|title=The Crazy House|url=http://www.unusual-travel-destinations.com/Crazy_House.html|work=Unusual Travel Destinations|publisher=Unusual-Travel-Destinations.com|access-date=24 September 2012|author=Fida Wild|year=2009–2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626161621/http://www.unusual-travel-destinations.com/Crazy_House.html|archive-date=26 June 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article639415.ece Madame Hang Nga's Crazy House]. Maggie Huff-Rousselle. The Globe and Mail. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707031743/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article639415.ece |date=July 7, 2011 }} Since its opening in 1990, the building has gained recognition for its unique architecture, having been highlighted in numerous guidebooks and listed as one of the world's ten most “bizarre” buildings in the Chinese People's Daily.{{cite news|title=Da Lat 'Crazy House' joins bizarre global list|url=http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Da-Lat-Crazy-House-joins-bizarre-global-list/20099/2693.vnplus|access-date=24 September 2012|newspaper=Vietnam Plus|date=22 September 2009|agency=Vietnam News Agency (VNA)}}{{Cite web|url=http://english.vietnamnet.vn/travel/2006/07/596670/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612131041/http://english.vietnamnet.vn/travel/2006/07/596670/|url-status=dead|title=Da Lat's "Crazy House"|archive-date=June 12, 2008}}

File:Dinh Bảo Đại, Đà Lạt (3).JPG

Da Lat is also well known for a series of three Mansions of the Vietnamese Last Emperor. The First Mansion was built in 1940 by the French millionaire Robert Clément Bourgery and was bought by Emperor Bao Dai in 1949. It was used as a summer mansion for President Ngo Dinh Diem and following presidents of the Republic of Vietnam until 1975. The Second Mansion was built in 1933 as the summer mansion for the Governor of French Indochina Jean Decoux. Built in 1933–1938, the Third Mansion was the residence of Emperor Bao Dai; his wife, Queen Nam Phuong; and his family. The mansion, now a museum for tourists, has attributes typical European style since both its front and backyard have flower gardens.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lamdong.gov.vn/vi-VN/dukhach/danh-lam-thang-canh/Pages/dinh-1-2-3.aspx|title=Các Dinh I, II, III|website=www.lamdong.gov.vn|access-date=2019-02-10|archive-date=2019-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011234/http://www.lamdong.gov.vn/vi-VN/dukhach/danh-lam-thang-canh/Pages/dinh-1-2-3.aspx|url-status=dead}}

• Dalat Flower Festival (Festival Hoa Đà Lạt)
• Dalat Tea Culture Week (Tuần lễ văn hóa Trà Đà Lạt)
• Cherry Blossom Festival (Lễ hội Hoa Anh Đào)
• "Đồi cỏ hồng" Festival
• Rain Festival (Lễ hội Mưa)
• Gong Festival (Lễ hội Cồng chiêng)

File:Dalat market, Vietnam.jpg

Da Lat is one of the famous tourist cities of Vietnam and was included in the list of Asia's most overlooked places by CNN in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/asia-underrated-attractions/index.html|title=Asia's overlooked places: 9 for your travel list.|website=CNN|date=9 May 2016 |access-date=21 January 2019}} Da Lat attracts both domestic tourists and foreign tourists, with more than 1,500,000 tourists and about 300,000 foreign tourists visiting the city every year. It is also the most favorite honeymoon location in Vietnam.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dalat-info.vn/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070504032006/http://www.dalat-info.vn/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2007|title=DALAT TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER|access-date=2019-04-16}}

Hoa Binh Area is in the center downtown of Da Lat and attracts numerous visitors. Some popular sites located in the Hoa Binh Area are Coi Xay Gio bakery, Lien Hoa bakery, Windmills coffeehouse and Tung coffeehouse. Coi Xay Gio was known as a perfect selfie spot thanks to its remarkable yellow wall, though in 2021 the wall was repainted to discourage selfies due to danger from road vehicles.{{Cite web|url=https://m.kenh14.vn/buc-tuong-vang-nay-chinh-la-dia-diem-check-in-hot-nhat-da-lat-hien-tai-20170728031319577.chn|title=This yellow wall is the hottest check-in location of Da Lat right now (Vietnamese)|website=Kenh14|date=28 July 2017 }}

{{colbegin}}

• Xuan Huong Lake
• Lam Vien Square
• Hoa Binh Walking Town (Hoa Binh Area)
• The Pedagogical College of Da Lat
• Dalat Center Market
• Da Lat Railway Station
• The Palace of Bao Dai King
• Clay Tunnel of Da Lat
• Tuyen Lam Lake
• Smurf Village (Làng Xì Trum)
• Truc Lam Monastery
• Hang Nga guesthouse
• Linh Sơn Pagoda
• Dalat Flowers Garden
• Dalat Cathedral (Chicken Church)
• Domaine de Marie
• Valley of Love
• Dreamlike Hill (Mộng Mơ Hill)
• Langbiang Peak
• Prenn Waterfall
• Golden Stream Lake (Suối Vàng)
• The Maze Bar
• Vuon Yen Coffee
• Vinh Tien Tea & Wine Company
• Vu Thi Village
• Dalat Heaven Gate
• Linh Quy Phap An Pagoda
• Infinite Lake (Vô Cực Lake)
• Zoodoo Garden
• Flowers Garden and Coffee (F. Garden)
• Minions Themed Village

{{colend}}

{{Gallery

|File:javatuan_dalat_golf.jpg|A golf course in Da Lat

|File:Golden Valley in morning fog.jpg|Golden Valley in the morning mist

|File:HangNgaCrazyHouse3.jpg|Hang Nga guesthouse

|File:Dalatvila.JPG|A villa in Dalat's pine forest

|File:Hydrangea in Dalat, Vietnam (Tú cầu Đà Lạt).jpg| A hydrangea flower in Da Lat

|File:Terraced Coffee Plants in Vietnam.jpg| Coffee terrace near Da Lat

|File:Artichoketea.jpg|Artichoke tea, a product of Dalat

|File:Da Lat night.jpg|Da Lat Center Market during nighttime

|File: View_of_Da_Lat_02.jpg|View of Da Lat|Lam_Dong_Library_02.jpg|Lam Dong Library

|File: Truong_Cao_dang_Su_pham_Da_Lat_-_Tran_Huy_Phuong_1.jpg|Dalat Teacher's College}}

• Da Lat–Thap Cham Railway
• Dalat Palace Hotel

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Jennings |first1=Eric T. |title=Imperial Heights: Dalat and the Making and Undoing of French Indochina |date=2011 |publisher=University of California Press |url=https://www.ucpress.edu/ebook/9780520948440/imperial-heights |isbn=9780520948440 }}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite report |last=Fleming |first=Tom |date=2021 |title=Việt Nam |chapter=Đà Lạt |pages=136–159 |url=https://www.britishcouncil.vn/sites/default/files/city_profile_vietnam.pdf |series=Cultural Cities Profile East Asia |location=Hà Nội |publisher=British Council Vietnam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428111540/https://www.britishcouncil.vn/sites/default/files/city_profile_vietnam.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2024 |access-date=19 April 2025}}

{{refend}}

{{Spoken Wikipedia|Alivetexttospeech.ogg|date=2009-10-02}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{Wikivoyage-inline}}
• [https://dalat.lamdong.gov.vn/ Official website of the provincial government] (Vietnamese)

{{Navboxes

|list =

{{Cities in Viet Nam}}

{{Districts of Central Highlands}}

{{Most populous cities in Vietnam}}

{{Largest cities of Vietnam}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Vietnam

Category:Hills of Vietnam

Category:Landforms of Lâm Đồng province

Category:Districts of Lâm Đồng province

Category:Populated places in Lâm Đồng province

Category:Provincial capitals in Vietnam