Da Lat sits on the Lam Vien (Lang Biang) Plateau in Lam Dong Province, in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, at about 1,500 m above sea level. The altitude gives it a cool climate all year, with an average annual temperature of around 17.9°C. That is a world away from the heat of Ho Chi Minh City, only about 300 km to the south, and it is the first thing any Da Lat travel guide will tell you: pack a jacket.
The town’s story as a resort begins on 21 June 1893, when the doctor and explorer Alexandre Yersin reached the plateau. The French later planned it as a hill station, leaving behind villas, churches and a railway station that visitors still love to photograph. In 2023, Da Lat joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of music.
One change that confuses many visitors: since July 1, 2025, Da Lat is no longer a city-level administrative unit. The area was reorganized into five wards that all carry the Da Lat name: Xuan Huong, Cam Ly, Lam Vien, Xuan Truong and Lang Biang. When you look up a hotel or restaurant, you will now see addresses such as “Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward” (phường Xuân Hương - Đà Lạt in Vietnamese).
The numbers show how popular the highlands have become. According to CafeF, Lam Dong welcomed nearly 1 million visitors over the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday alone, with tourism revenue of about VND2 trillion. For you, that means peak dates are crowded and room rates climb, so use this Da Lat travel guide to plan early.