Canyoning Da Lat

Hotel pickup at 8.30am ready for a day of canyoning around Datanla Falls just south of Da Lat. We got kitted up and started the session with a briefing and straight into the first activity - abseiling to a zipline point with a water slide landing. We then did an 18m abseil, a short jungle trek, water sliding, cliff jumping, a 25m waterfall abseil and the finale - the ‘washing machine’. Health and safety wasn’t quite up to UK standards but we made it through. The highlight was the 25m waterfall abseil consisting of three parts. The first a very slippery but slow abseil down, followed by the middle high flow zone until the final drop into the plunge pool, great fun! The last activity named the washing machine was also interesting. Starting as a small abseil until the cliff overhangs you then lower yourself into the water flow and drop off the line. The water flow pulls you down into a turbulent pool and spits you out. “During this time, there will be about 3-4 seconds where the tourists are completely plunged underwater and cannot recognise direction. Physiological preparation and breath holding should be made necessary” as kindly written at the top. Overall a great excursion!

Evening dinner was a BBQ which was delicious. We ventured out a little further this time wanting to try some Da Lat specialties but really struggled with the language barrier. It turned out the BBQ we wanted was finished for the night but google translate wasn’t on our side this time. I can’t remember the full conversation and wish google translate had saved it but we did remember one of the literal translations from the lady serving us ‘turn the corner and tickle the cows ass tonight’. Desperately trying not to laugh we both figured we couldn’t get the BBQ and left but did enjoy the same dish elsewhere.

The following morning we left to visit the Crazy House in Da Lat. Now mostly a tourist attraction with accommodation this started as an architectural project and grew. Difficult to describe but the buildings consist of organic structures and look like something from a cartoon. We had hoped to finish with a pedalo on the lake before departure but struggled with airport transfers. The airport shuttle bus ‘may arrive 2 hours before every flight’ at a stop outside a hotel. Speaking to reception of said hotel they suggested the shuttle bus stop had moved to an unknown location, thanks.

Da Lat is Vietnams answer to a French alps community. It’s surrounded by mountainous views, filled with colourful French inspired buildings and even has an amazing bakery. I’d recommend Da Lat to anyone visiting Vietnam and would stay longer if we could but our next stop is Ho Chi Minh, Vietnams biggest city!Baca selengkapnya