Dalat!

Overland to Dalat today, wound up the mountains to a beautiful town where the downtown has many examples of French architecture, including Art Deco and French colonial alongside traditional Vietnamese design. The natural landscape and temperature reminded me a lot of Big Bear...started seeing pine trees and the air was definitely cooler. Lots of waterfalls on the way. Outside of Dalat, we started seeing the greenhouses.

Located in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Dalat was founded by the French in the late 19th century during the colonial period. Historically, Dalat served as a retreat and summer resort for the French colonialists due to its cooler climate and picturesque landscapes. The city was meticulously designed and constructed to resemble a French town, with villas, gardens, and boulevards. It became a popular destination for both the French settlers and the Vietnamese elite during the colonial era.

After a 4-hour bus ride including the stops, we had a very civilized lunch with a wine list which was a big bonus for many in the group. A local tribal family came to talk to us, played some local instruments, and got us all up to dance. Then we headed to the hotel, dropped our bags, and hit the streets.Leggi altro