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EN
I'm a person from a distant hometown, having lived and studied in Da Lat for almost ten years. There have been many ups and downs during that time, but thankfully, I've always had lovely companions, including an adorable dog named Mino… For me, whenever I have some free time or feel stressed, I choose to wander around to unwind, sometimes near, sometimes far. Each trip is a memorable experience, making my youth more fulfilling and meaningful. However, one of the places most deeply etched in my memory is Da Phu Hill – a place to watch the sunrise, sunset, and admire Da Lat from above in a truly breathtaking way.
Located about 12 km from the center of Da Lat city, you just need to go straight along Ankoret road, then turn right towards A Duc Vuong Pagoda and follow the trail for about 1 km to reach the hill. Note that the road up the hill is very steep and quite slippery, especially after rainy days, so you need to be a confident driver. You might be thinking that going to this place to chase clouds is extremely difficult? It's a little challenging, but the beautiful scenery at Da Phu Hill will definitely make your efforts worthwhile.
Camping overnight on Da Phu Hill allows you to admire the twinkling lights from the greenhouses of the farms. Around 3 to 4 AM is the best time to open your tent and stargaze, and 5 to 6 AM is the perfect time to watch the sunrise. I usually arrange with my group to wake up at 3 AM, pack our tents, a few supplies, and some food we prepared the night before, hop on my beloved motorbike, and go. Because I'm not a very skilled driver, I usually leave my motorbike at a local's house near the temple and then hike up the hill.
After a rather difficult climb to the hilltop, everyone was overwhelmed by the breathtaking scenery, as if they had wandered into some kind of heavenly paradise. Within just 5 minutes, everyone had found their ideal spot to watch the sunrise from the hill. Da Phu Hill is very picturesque; you can take beautiful photos everywhere, beautiful from every angle. I was particularly impressed by the moment the sun rose above the fluffy clouds, interspersed among the lush green pine trees, then suddenly turned a golden hue under the early morning sunlight.
On that chilly day, we watched the sunrise while sipping warm artichoke tea, then slurped up instant noodles – never before had instant noodles tasted so unusually delicious. After refueling, we all started exploring the beautiful scenery on the hill. We enjoyed playing with our dog Mino and filming videos on the long, winding, enchanting trails, and posing for photos together.
After a morning wandering around Da Phu Hill, we had a whole collection of adorable photos and videos to cherish forever. Looking back at the pictures together, everyone giggled and enjoyed the trip, especially the scene of us eating instant noodles in the forest – it felt so different, so much tastier. That's when I suddenly realized that the most important thing in my life – more important than health or happiness – is peace of mind. The peace I "brought back" from my trip to Da Phu Hill.
