Da Lat and its seasons of love

There's something peaceful about Da Lat that beckons kindred spirits to come together to this mountain town. Each time I go, I take a late-night bus from Saigon to Da Lat, arriving early in the morning. I wander through the still-sleeping streets, waiting for the banh can (rice pancake) stall at 14 Tang Bat Ho or the banh mi xiu mai (steamed pork bun) stall at 47 Hoang Dieu to wake up, then grab a quick bite to warm myself up. Afterward, as usual, I hop on my motorbike and head to the outskirts of Da Lat to explore everything around me.

How many times have I been to Da Lat? I've lost count. But I remember most vividly my first visit in 2008, when I was newly in love. Nine years have passed, and I've been to Da Lat at least three times a year. I've experienced the strange seasons of love in Da Lat. The people I've been with, the places I've visited, have all been different, so perhaps no season has the same feeling. Going to Da Lat to love like it's the first time, because the cool air here makes my heart yearn for warm lips. Coming to Da Lat isn't just about the mountain town; it's about finding a place to escape the noisy crowds with your loved one.

Go to Da Lat to fall in love like it's the first time. The people you travel with, the places you visit may be different, so perhaps no season will have the same feeling.

Therefore, don't just go to Da Lat to stay within the city limits. Because if you're willing to venture a little further, hop on a motorbike and feel the cool highland breeze, you'll discover many unimaginable beauties that this place has to offer.

I still enjoy strolling around Xuan Huong Lake and visiting Da Lat Market. But of course, I don't want to do the same things 100 times out of 100. Perhaps it's precisely because I'm willing to "go a little further" that I can fill my heart with such unique feelings for Da Lat each time I visit.

Ta Nung Commune

Located about 15km west of Da Lat city center, Ta Nung is a small commune, but it offered the most enchanting moments of my trip. It was a delightful feeling to cruise along the DT725 road, passing rows of blooming wild sunflowers at the end of the year, and then entering a land of flower fields with many varieties such as buckwheat, purple heather, and endless coffee plantations.

Hydrangea flower field in Xuan Tho commune

Hydrangeas are very famous in Da Lat and can be found everywhere, in every season, throughout the city. However, to have an area of ​​over 20 hectares covered with such a vast expanse of this flower is truly rare, as is the case in Xuan Tho. Many couples are also starting to come here for stunning wedding photos. But for me, the feeling of letting my soul drift along with the tiny petals clustered together like that is truly magical. It's like living in Alice in Wonderland, walking among giant flowers while my own body is shrunk.

Because it's a privately owned flower garden, with an entrance fee or flowers sold on-site, the field is well-maintained and free of litter. From Da Lat city, take National Highway 20 for about 11 km to Trai Mat train station. From there, go another 500m and look to your left; you'll see a sign directing you to the flower garden.

"For me, the feeling of letting my mind wander among those tiny flower petals clustered together like that is magical, like being in Alice in Wonderland."

Hunt for "snow" in Da Lat!

"Dalat's 'snow' is actually a layer of morning mist covering withered grass, and under the effect of sunlight, it sparkles white when viewed against the light. That day we were quite lucky because there was no wind, no rain, and the sun rose at 7 am, making the whole field glow white. My friend who gave us directions laughed and said, "I'm a local, and I've been here ten times before and only once have I seen such beautiful white mist!"

The prerequisite for "snow hunting" is to wake up early, accepting the sacrifice of sleep to catch the dew before it melts completely around 8 a.m. When the sun rises high, the snowfields completely disappear, keeping their beauty hidden from those who arrive late.

Additional information:

From the city center, head towards the Golden Valley along Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh road. When you see the Central Highlands Science Institute, turn left at the intersection ahead. Continue for another 4km. About 3km before reaching the Golden Valley, look to your right for a path leading uphill. This section is quite dangerous, so be careful. After 1km, you will see this field.

Sunflower fields in Luoyang County

The flower field is located within the grounds of the Dalat Milk dairy factory. To enter, you just need to show your ID and park your car outside. They don't charge an entrance fee, but I bought a carton of milk as a thank you for the factory's hospitality.

The inside of the park wasn't actually as crowded and chaotic as many articles described. There were trash cans placed everywhere, and people moved in an orderly fashion, because even if it were very crowded, the space was still very large, so there was no pushing or shoving. The way people moved reminded me of my trip to Owakudani in Hakone Prefecture, Japan. Many people came, but they were incredibly orderly.

Additional information:

From Da Lat city, follow National Highway 20 towards Duc Trong, passing the Finom intersection. When you reach the Bong Lai intersection, turn left and go another 5km to see the factory and visit the sunflower fields.

There are warm homes…

Da Lat always gives me a wonderful feeling of warmth, where you don't need to go inside luxurious resorts or hotels to stay. I always seek out places that feel most "home" to me and my travel companions.

The Shelter Homestay

Breakfast at Poshtel Homestay Dalat

Every time I come here, I stay in a new place and eat "home-cooked meals" as if it were my first time. I've stayed at Été – a small, cozy hostel in the city center – warm and welcoming. I also visited Poshtel – a house in the clouds with its white walls and green garden. Or I went to The Shelter Homestay to experience the feeling of hiding in my own private camping tent.

Été Homestay

The Shelter Homestay

Every time I come here, each place I stay gives me a different feeling of "home," but they all share one common warmth. When I come here with my loved one, I will still choose these houses, to sit together for meals, chat with the owners about the strange things in life, and experience different seasons of love in this mountain town of a thousand flowers.

…And warm cups of coffee with the one you love.

Want to have a romantic time with your loved one? When you're exhausted from traveling to the districts, communes, and towns out there, just come back to the city. That's what I often do.

I'd spend my mornings far from home, and my afternoons leisurely strolling through city cafes, enjoying a warm cappuccino. Bringing along a book, I'd open it and remain silent, lost in my own world.

For me, when two people love each other, they don't need a lot of sweet words or flattering gestures. Just moments of silence are enough to understand each other's hearts. And Da Lat, with the cafes I visited like An Coffee, Bi.cycle.up, and La Viet Cafe, gave me two things: warmth and delicious coffee. Now, all I need is someone who understands me!

Text and photos: Ly Thanh Co

The Thanh