"She gives pleasure to some, freshness to others." Or in Latin, dat alias laetitiam, alias temperiem. These were the words used by Alexandre John Emile Yersin to describe Da Lat when he discovered it over 100 years ago. Despite the odd fact that the initials of the Latin phrase make up the word "Da Lat," the fairyland town actually gets its name from the words dak, meaning water or stream, and Lat, from the local M’lates tribe. Therefore Da Lat means the of the Stream of Lat. And today, Da Lat is the most popular tourist destination in the Southern Highlands, attracting hundred of thousands of tourists every year.

     The city is well known for its cool, green, park-like environment, wonderful landscapes and hospitable people. But over the past century it has become even fascinating and beguiling. Due to economic boom and the rapidly increasing pace of life, Da Lat is changing, although not as quickly as other tourist spots around the country. The once rough, zigzagging roads which ran into the city's centre have been replaced by long, broad avenues lined with mimosa and cherry-blossom trees, the symbols of Da Lat, which bloom from November right through to February. Definitely worth a visit for its own sake, Da Lat also provides the perfect base for trips into the tranquil surrounding highlands.

     Da Lat boasts many natural and artificial lakes and stands of tall pines, a feature of the area. No trip to the city is complete without a visit to the Da Lat Flower Gardens. The region's temperate climate is ideal for flowers, and the city is resplendent with a vast variety of blooms. Rhododendron, cherry, mimosa, hydrangea, rose, daisy, orchid, lily and dahlia all grow here. There are a number of pleasant walks or rides (on horseback or bike) in the countryside around the city, but foreigners should be aware that areas signposted with a 'C' are off-limits.

     Tourists certainly don't need to limit themselves to Da Lat. They can also visit the Lang Bian highland area with its ethnic minorities, and see places like Lat village and the Chicken village (complete with a huge statue of the fowl). Further out, the 2,165 metre peak of Lang Bian mountain is a very tempting target for climbers. From another prominent peak, Lom Bieng Klo, one can see endless green mountains reflecting the silver rays of the sun.

     In the city, coffee shops are extremely popular with tourists and honeymooners alike. Da Lat by night can be as noisy as Saigon, with various games and entertainments surrounding the city market. The food centre in the market at night is another magnet for tourists, with the delicious flavours of the highland cuisine proving especially tempting.

      There's plenty of accommodation, most of it conveniently located and reasonably priced. However, during Tet and the Christmas holidays this can all change virtually overnight. Prices skyrocket as waves of Saigonese flock into the city.

     You can fly to Da Lat from Ho Chi Minh City, but the airport is 30 kilometres from town. Express buses also link the two cities. Da Lat bus station is located on 3/2 road, 1.5 kilometres from the city's centre.

Fast facts

     Da Lat is the main town in the province of Lam Dong, situated 300 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City and 200 kilometres from Nha Trang. At 1,500 metres above sea level, the area has a generally cool climate - the annual average temperature is 18 degrees celsius. The population is mainly comprised of people belonging to the majority Kinh people, along with Kho Mu, Ma, Hoa, Nung, Tay, and Chu Ru ethnic minorities.

 By DUC HANH 
(The Guide, VET)