48 Hours in Da Lat

I’ve been trying to make the most of this stage of life: saying yes more often, exploring new places, and finding joy in the small things. So when I saw cheap flights to Da Lat, I booked one without a second thought.

It’s funny, so many people here don’t actually leave Saigon much. One of my colleagues told me he hasn’t left the city since moving here nine months ago, which to me sounds wild. I moved here because I wanted to explore this part of the world, not just teach English in a different time zone.

It’s so easy to fall into Saigon’s rhythm. You blink, and suddenly two months have passed, and all you’ve done is move between your flat, your job, and your local coffee spot. It’s totally normal, this city has a way of keeping you busy without you even realising it. But when you live in a place surrounded by some of the most beautiful spots in Asia, it feels like a waste not to take advantage of that.

So I’ve made it my little mission to spend my “weekends” (Sunday to Tuesday) exploring the south, quick trips, spontaneous plans, and as many mini adventures as I can squeeze in before my contract’s up. Da Lat was the first of many.

The Journey

My weekend officially starts at midday on Sunday, and I don’t have to be back at work until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, which gives me just enough time for a quick escape. The flight from Saigon to Da Lat is only 50 minutes, and because it’s domestic, there are no long queues or border checks. I caught the 6:30 p.m. flight and landed an hour later, feeling pleased with myself for how easy it all was, right up until I realised I’d put zero thought into anything that came after.

I’ve kind of become the traveller I always hated, the one who never plans anything. It’s been like that since I moved here, just figuring things out as I go. If I’d actually planned ahead, I would have known the airport is a 45-minute drive from the city. Instead, I landed, tried to order a Grab (unsuccessfully, because we were in the middle of nowhere), so I had to take out what felt like a small loan, 400,000 VND, from the airport ATM just to get to my hostel. Painful, but a good reminder that “going with the flow” sometimes costs more than it should.

Walking out of the airport made up for it, though. The cold air hit me and instantly reminded me of England. The pine trees, the dark green hills, even the layout of the main road, it all felt familiar. The crisp air and smell of damp earth made me a little emotional; it felt like winter back home.

That night I was too tired to socialise, so I checked in, booked a tour for the next day, and wandered down to the night market for a bowl of pho and a chocolate roti before heading to bed.

I stayed at Da Lat Family Hostel, which I can’t recommend enough. It was super cheap, the beds were surprisingly comfy, and every bunk had curtains. There were only four people in my room, which made it feel a bit more personal, and they welcomed us with hot tea while explaining the tours, dinners, and other things they had going on.

I’d picked it because it looked sociable, family dinners, happy hour, bar crawl etc… but it wasn’t one of those full-on party hostels (which, at this point, I’m definitely too old for). It was the perfect balance. They left you alone if you wanted space but also made it easy to join in if you felt like being social.

A Day in the Waterfalls

I had a choice between canyoning and Da Lat’s famous real life Mario Kart ride. I went with canyoning this time, Mario Kart can wait. After a quick breakfast and my first hot coffee since moving to Vietnam, five of us from the hostel climbed into a minibus headed for the canyoning site, where we joined about ten other travellers from nearby hostels.

The day was full of climbing, slipping, sliding, and laughing with people I’d only just met. We spent hours abseiling down waterfalls, floating through cold streams, and cheering each other on. Lunch was a simple, but perfect picnic, we made our own bánh mì, ate fresh fruit and cakes, and warmed up with hot chocolate.

Back at the hostel later, I took a quick nap, went for a short walk around town, and joined the family dinner in the evening. More travellers, more stories, and the kind of atmosphere that makes hostels special. After dinner came happy hour, and we ended up drinking strong cocktails and playing cards and pool until late.

That night, sleeping under a thick duvet without sweating felt like such a luxury. It sounds ridiculous, but when you live in a city as humid as Saigon, being able to curl up under a blanket and feel cold is a small but glorious treat.

(Some piccies from the day, more on my insta!)

Home Time

The next morning started early again. I had breakfast, went for one last walk, and, having learned my lesson, actually booked a transfer to the airport in advance this time. The journey was much smoother and cheaper, and since Da Lat’s airport is tiny, arriving an hour early felt almost excessive.

I landed back in Saigon by 12:30, just in time to make it to my 5 p.m. class. I was tired, but it was the good kind of tired, the kind that comes with feeling like you’ve actually made the most of your time.

Sometimes people forget how much you can do in just a couple of days. You don’t need a full week off or a huge budget, just a cheap domestic flight and a bit of effort. My return ticket was £40, my hostel £1 a night, and it’s now become my new go to escape from Saigon sweat.

Da Lat gave me cold air, good food, and the very underrated joy of wearing a jumper without sweating through it.

With love from Saigon (and Da Lat),

Anaïs