Dalat Day 3: Hidden Lake, Cable Car & Night Market Magic 🇻🇳✨ (Must-Do Itinerary
Dalat Day 3… easily one of the most eventful and fulfilling days of our trip 🇻🇳✨
We started the morning early with a visit to Tuyen Lam Lake, also known as Paradise Lake—and honestly, the name fits perfectly. It’s one of the best places in Dalat for kayaking.
We hired an instructor who patiently taught us the basics, and to our surprise, he even helped us film cinematic 4K videos on his iPhone. Not only was he skillful at kayaking, he clearly knew his angles too.
Because it was low season, the entire lake felt like it belonged to us. Just the three of us and our instructor, surrounded by calm waters and fresh mountain air. The weather couldn’t have been better.
After kayaking, we slowed things down with coffee and a simple bowl of noodles right by the lake—one of those quiet, meaningful travel moments that stays with you long after the trip ends.
Our Grab driver then did something we didn’t expect. He offered to wait for us, mentioning that it’s usually difficult to get a ride back from the lake. He didn’t ask for anything extra—it was just pure sincerity. Of course, we made sure to tip him for the gesture.
Next, he brought us to Thang May Em Noi Tho, a beautifully designed café filled with photogenic corners. The place itself is stunning, but the experience was a bit mixed—the coffee and service were average, and there was no food available during our visit due to being understaffed. Also, be prepared for quite a climb with multiple flights of stairs.
After that, we hopped on a Grab bike and made our way to Restaurant Da Quy, a small family-run Vietnamese fusion spot. This place was a gem. Their sizzling bò né (steak and eggs on a hot plate with bread) was absolutely delicious, and the owner spoke good English, which made everything easier.
On a spontaneous note, we decided to take the cable car up to Robin Hill, which led us to the peaceful Truc Lam Zen Monastery. The atmosphere there was incredibly serene—a perfect contrast to the more lively parts of the city.
For dinner, we headed to Quan 33, where we tried grilled snails and pork breast. It was phenomenal—easily one of the most memorable meals of the trip.
We wrapped up the night at the lively Dalat Night Market. From local street snacks to live music, the energy there was infectious. And to top it all off, we even spotted the famous “Michael Jackson Muzan” TikTok guy selling cheese sticks—such a random but fun highlight to end the day.
Pengalaman saya di Dalat pada hari ketiga sangat mengesankan, terutama ketika meneroka Tuyen Lam Lake atau dikenali sebagai Paradise Lake. Lake ini sangat tenang dan sesuai untuk aktiviti kayak, terutama kerana kami hampir mempunyai kawasan ini untuk diri kami sendiri. Jika anda bercadang untuk melakukan kayaking di sini, saya sarankan untuk mendapatkan pengajar tempatan supaya boleh belajar teknik yang betul dan juga dapat merakamkan video menarik sebagai kenangan. Selain itu, perjalanan dengan kereta kabel menuju Robin Hill dan kemudian melawat Truc Lam Zen Monastery memberi ketenangan yang berbeza daripada kesibukan bandar Dalat. Monastery ini menawarkan suasana yang damai dan pemandangan indah, sangat ideal untuk sesi fotografi santai dan bermeditasi. Bagi penggemar makanan, Dalat Night Market adalah tempat wajib singgah. Pelbagai jenis makanan jalanan yang autentik boleh dicuba di sini – daripada ốc nhồi thịt (siput isi daging) hingga pork breast grill, semuanya menyelerakan dan memberikan pengalaman rasa yang unik. Jangan lupa juga nikmati suasana pasar malam yang meriah dengan persembahan muzik hidup untuk menutup hari anda dengan penuh kegembiraan. Satu perkara yang saya hargai ialah keikhlasan pemandu Grab yang sudi menunggu kami tanpa mengenakan bayaran tambahan, yang menunjukkan betapa ramah dan mesranya penduduk tempatan di Dalat. Ini menjadikan perjalanan kami lebih lancar dan penuh kenangan manis. Kesimpulannya, hari ketiga di Dalat adalah gabungan sempurna antara aktiviti luar, keindahan alam semula jadi, budaya lokal dan pengalaman makanan yang tidak dapat dilupakan. Pastikan bawa kamera untuk menangkap detik indah serta kasut yang selesa untuk mendaki banyak tangga terutama jika ingin ke kafe Thang May Em Noi Tho yang terkenal dengan sudut fotogeniknya.