Dalat Day 1 🇻🇳 Sleeper Bus, Hidden Forest & Sunset Surprises (Must Visit!)
Dalat Day 1 – A Beautiful Start to the Highlands
We kicked off our journey by taking a sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat—and honestly, it was both comfortable and affordable. The journey took around 7–8 hours, with a few stops along the way for meals and toilet breaks. Most sleeper buses also include hotel transfers, which makes things even more convenient.
We departed in the evening and arrived in Dalat in the early hours of the morning. Our stay at Moon Valley Villas turned out to be a great choice—comfortable, affordable, and with 24-hour check-in. If you’re curious, check out my reels for a more in-depth review of the place.
Dalat is famous for its bánh căn (mini savory rice cakes), so naturally, we headed straight to Banh Can Le, one of the most popular spots in town. We ordered a variety to try, and everything paired beautifully with their sour mango and a bowl of xíu mại in soup—rich, comforting, and packed with flavor.
After breakfast, we made our way to Rừng Giao Hưởng Symphony Forest—a must-visit destination. It’s incredibly scenic and perfect for photos (even wedding shoots!). The cool forest air, peaceful atmosphere, and charming cafés scattered around make it an ideal place to slow down and just soak it all in. We ended up spending a big part of our day here capturing some truly beautiful moments.
Later, we headed back into town for coffee at Phe La. Dalat has no shortage of amazing cafés, and this was a lovely stop to recharge with some authentic Vietnamese coffee.
In the evening, we tried to catch the famous sunset train that passes by Tiệm Nướng Chuyến Tàu Hoàng Hôn. Unfortunately, since it was low season, there weren’t enough passengers for the train to run that night. Still, the restaurant itself is stunning—surrounded by flowers and offering a unique BBQ dining experience. As luck would have it, we were treated to a spontaneous lion dance performance that made the night extra memorable.
To end the day, we chilled at 444 Cocktail, where drinks are crafted based on your personal taste preferences. The view overlooking Dalat at night is absolutely spectacular. Pro tip: bring a jacket—it gets pretty chilly up there. Or just stay cozy near the bonfire.
Perjalanan menggunakan bas sleeper dari Ho Chi Minh City ke Dalat memang pengalaman yang sangat berbaloi. Saya pernah mencuba beberapa jenis bas di Vietnam, tetapi bas sleeper ini memberikan keselesaan luar biasa, terutama pada perjalanan malam yang panjang. Tempat duduk dan tempat tidur disusun rapi, membuatkan badan lebih segar sampai ke Dalat. Tambahan pula, perkhidmatan pengangkutan dari bas ke hotel memudahkan perjalanan tanpa stress. Di Dalat, suasana hutan di Symphony Forest sangat berbeza dengan kesibukan bandar. Udara yang sejuk dan alam yang tenang memang sesuai untuk melepas lelah sambil menikmati keindahan alam sekitar. Bagi saya, kawasan ini sangat photogenik, sesuai untuk penggemar fotografi alam atau sesiapa yang mahu bergambar unik seperti pengantin muda. Mencuba bánh căn di Banh Can Le menjadi satu kemestian. Rasa rangup dan kombinasi dengan mangga masam serta sup xíu mại memberikan keseimbangan rasa yang enak dan mengenyangkan. Ini adalah salah satu cara terbaik untuk merasakan keaslian makanan Vietnam di Dalat. Tiệm Nướng Chuyến Tàu Hoàng Hôn mungkin tidak dapat menikmati kereta api senja pada waktu kunjungan saya kerana musim sepi, tetapi suasana restoran yang dikelilingi bunga dan persembahan tarian singa secara spontan menambah aura magis tempat ini. Ia bagaikan satu kejutan yang menceriakan malam kami. Sebelum pulang ke hotel, saya menikmati minuman di 444 Cocktail yang menyediakan koktel mengikut citarasa pelanggan. Pemandangan malam bandar Dalat dari ketinggian memberikan suasana yang tenang dan mempersonakan, sangat sesuai untuk mengakhiri hari yang penuh aktiviti. Jangan lupa bawa jaket kerana suhu di sini boleh menjadi sangat sejuk, terutama selepas matahari terbenam. Keseluruhannya, hari pertama di Dalat memberikan saya pengalaman yang tidak dapat dilupakan - dari perjalanan dengan bas yang selesa, eksplorasi tempat menarik, makanan tempatan yang lazat, hingga suasana malam yang memukau. Jika anda merancang perjalanan ke Dalat, pastikan untuk memasukkan tempat-tempat ini dalam jadual anda untuk pengalaman yang penuh warna dan bermakna.
