Fast and Furious Da Lat

Our journey to Da Lat wasn’t just another travel day — it was an action movie, a comedy, and a small miracle all rolled into one.
It all started in Nha Trang, when the bus organization casually texted us that the transfer bus to Da Lat couldn’t wait for us anymore. We were already running late, and their genius plan? “Get off your bus and take a taxi to catch up with the Da Lat-bound bus on the highway“ Right.
So basically, Fast & Furious: Vietnam Edition kicked off there. We jumped into a random cab, used Google Translate to explain our ridiculous situation to the driver (because of course, no English), and hoped for the best. Imagine: some foreigners telling you they need to chase a bus down and no, they’re not paying for the ride because some bus company with only a WhatsApp number is supposedly covering it.
And somehow—somehow—it worked. The taxi driver called the bus company, they yelled at each other over the phone for a bit, and 10 minutes later we were sitting safely in the Da Lat bus like nothing ever happened.
When we finally arrived in Da Lat, cold and starving, we went for bun bo and I impulse-bought a hoodie at the market because I was freezing. Turns out, that hoodie is now my favorite thing ever. Cozy, cute, and will forever remind me of that wild entrance into Da Lat.
After food, we went to a coffee farm where they showed us how to make that delicious Vietnamese drip coffee Jasper and I are obsessed with. We're still trying to crack the code to recreate it at home—some combination of patience, technique, and magic, I think.
Dinner was early-ish, and we went to bed exhausted but excited for the next day.
And what a next day it was. Before breakfast, we headed to a waterfall adventure park at 7 a.m., did an alpine roller coaster and ziplining—all while being the first visitors of the day, which meant we got the waterfall views all to ourselves. Total VIP vibes.
After that adrenaline kick, we scooted to town to meet Ladina for breakfast (best smoothie bowl with gluten-free granola ever, no exaggeration - i even vought some to bring with me from now on). Then it was off to the famous Mario Kart racing track. We each raced against each other wearing funny helmets to film the race and yes, I won the second lap against both Ladina and Jasper, thank you very much. After that, we rode our scooters back into town, jasper driving and me doing my best Google Maps voice from the back: “Turn left in... never mind, missed it.”
That evening, we met up with Ladina for Indian food, then wandered into Maze Bar—a bar that is literally a maze, designed by the daughter of Vietnam’s first president (who also designed the famous Crazy House we visited earlier that day).
Next day = new adventure: canyoning! Aside from a brief shoe-size crisis (jasper vs vietnamese feet), it was pure fun—waterfalls, rappelling, slides... the whole. Afterward, we visited the Da Lat winery, the biggest in Vietnam. The wines were, let’s say, charming but humble, but the experience was great regardless.
The scooter ride back from the winery, though? Monsoon level. It rained like mad. My socks were so wet I’m honestly considering throwing them out instead of letting them continue their sad, soggy existence.ä
And now, here we are. After our second round of that same amazing Indian food (yes, same restaurant, no regrets), we’re hopping on the sleeper bus to Can Tho. Bye-bye mountainy Da Lat, hello hot and humid Mekong Delta!Read more