Dalat’s Beautiful Pine Forests – A Perfect Winter Trip

Dalat is clearly one of the highlights of Vietnam, especially if you like adrenaline. Dalat is completely different from any other place in Vietnam. The weather is spring-like cool instead of tropical hot, the city is littered with elegant French-colonial villas instead of grim socialist architecture, and the farms around are littered with strawberries and flowers instead of rice.

No one knows when the first pine trees grew, but pine trees have taken root in Lam Vien plateau since before Da Lat was formed in 1893; and since then, pine forests are everywhere in Da Lat, becoming an important part of people’s lives here, and unforgettable pieces of memory in every tourist’s heart.

1. Prenn Pass Pine Forest (Rung Thong Deo Prenn)

Photo: moitruongvadothi

For those who enjoy exploring and trekking to new places, Prenn Pass, a mountain pass with a length of more than 11km located at the southern gateway of Da Lat city, is one of the most famous destinations among travelers. It is known as the most beautiful pass in Da Lat, with a winding road, and pristine pine forests on two sides.

The best time to visit Prenn Pass is during the afternoon when the weather is not too hot, and the sun gently shines through the tall pine trees, making the surrounding landscape become more shimmering and alluring than ever. In order to reach the place, you will have to park your vehicle and walk to the forest. Do not forget to carry a map so you will not get lost.

2. Than Tho Lake Pine Forest (Rung Thong Ho Than Tho)

Photo: Klook

Than Tho Lake is a famous natural landscape in Dalat, located on a high hill and “hidden” in the middle of a large pine forest. Different from the youthful look of Tuyen Lam lake, the atmosphere surrounding Than Tho Lake is much quieter and tinged with solitude, especially since there are two historical tombs nearby associated with a sad love story and a pair of intertwined pine trees in an unusual way. If you visit the pine forest here in the early morning when the fog still covers the place, its mysterious beauty will immediately capture your heart and draw you in. n the afternoon, you will also get a chance to see a herd of horses lazily grazing on the hill.

3. Golden Valley Pine Forest (Rung Thong Thung Lung Vang)

Photo: Vietnamtourism

Golden Valley is an eco-tourism area located on Dankia Lake – Golden Stream with thousands of green pine trees, flowers, and bonsai stones that will make you fall in love at first sight. Coming to the Golden Valley, you will see special pine species from 5m – 15m high, covering a hillside next to green meadows, and tourists can smell the sweet scent of pines in the air. A lot of tourists come to Dankia lake to enjoy their camping time and relax.

4. Pine forest on Khoi Nghia Bac Son street (Rung Thong Duong Khoi Nghia Bac Son)

Photo: Vedatlat

Khoi Nghia Bac Son is only a small road, but it is famous among young adventurous travelers because of the lines of tall pine trees that stand close to each other, making the whole scene look like a gate leading to a wonderland. The best time to visit the forest here is in the early morning, when the sunlight crept through the trees, gently shining on the ground, forming a beautiful dreamy picture. Besides, Khoi Nghia Bac Son street also has small and beautiful trails, which create a lovely background for tourists to take Instagram pictures.

How to get to Dalat

Photo: dinh1dalat

Flights to Dalat

There are regular flights with Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Jetstar, including a daily service to Danang (1¼ hour), four daily to Hanoi (1¾ hour) and HCMC (45 minutes), and twice a week to Can Tho (1¼ hour) ).

Busses to Dalat

Dalat is an important bus stop for open bus tickets. The Sinh Tourist has daily buses to Mui Ne, Nha Trang, and HCMC.

Dalat’s long-distance bus station is 1.5 km south of Xuan Huong Lake and is dominated by Phuong Trang buses that offer free hotel pick-ups and drop-offs and buses to all major regional destinations.

Where to stay

Photo: Zingnews

Staying in the center – Located near the Dalat night market, suitable for shopping, eating, and relaxing, most means of transport (taxi, motorcycle, bicycle) are available, with many beautiful views that are worth seeing, including Xuan Huong Lake, the flower garden of the city of Dalat.

Hotels outside the city of Dalat – Staying further away from the city center also has some unique advantages: a peaceful and quiet atmosphere, less touristy and a cheaper price. Although it takes you more time to travel to the market or other highlights of the city, in return you get a beautiful landscape to enjoy, as well as more private space to relax.