TRAVEL TIPS FOR PEOPLE COMING TO DALAT (and Vietnam in general)
Restaurants in Dalat:
V Café -1 Bui Thi Xuan - great western and asian food. Best pizzas in Dalat, great Mexican, steaks, soups, French wine, etc. Overall great value. Live music some nights. $$
Le Rabelais - 12 Tran Phu, 5-star restaurant in the Sofitel Palace hotel. Arguably the classiest restaurant in Vietnam. $$$$
Café de la Poste - western food and hot chocolate $$$
Larry’s Bar -12 Tran Phu -good western food, cozy TV room, pool table, games. $$$
Ichi Japanese Restaurant - 1 Hoang Dieu (at intersection with Hai Ba Trung) $$ Tel: 063 3555098
Suggested accommodation in Dalat:
5 Star: Dalat Palace - definitely one of the most beautiful, luxurious hotels in the world. $$$$
12 Tran Phu Street DALAT, VIET NAM
Tel: (+84)63 3825 444 - Fax: (+84)63 3825 666
Palace.Reservations@DalatResorts.com
4 Star: Dalat Hotel Du Parc (Note: Rooms in the back of the hotel are quieter) $$$
Address : 07 Tran Phu Street
Tel : (+84) 63 3825 777
Fax : (+84)63 3825 888
E-mail : Duparc.Reservations@DalatResorts.com
3 Star: Blue Moon Hotel & Spa $$$
04 Phan Boi Chau Street
Dalat, Vietnam
Tel: +84 63 3578 888
Fax: +84 63 3597 777
Email: info.dalat@bluemoonhotel.com.vnTel: (063) 357 8888 (very reasonable rates, great location).
http://www.bluemoonhotel.com.vn/bluemoon2/
1 Star: Dalat Green City Hotel $
Located in the center of Dalat, the Dalat Green City Hotel is the perfect budget hotel in Dalat.
Within 5 minutes of most major attractions in Dalat. Very quiet. Newly refurbished. Beautiful view from the rooftop. 12 rooms total.
Features: Free WIFI in all rooms. Coffee shop downstairs. Airport pickup. Bicycle rental. Tour information. Laundry. Business center.
Guests at the Dalat Green City Hotel will enjoy a 10% discount at the V Café (1/1 Bui Thi Xuan).
174 Phan Dinh Phung Street
Da Lat, VIETNAM
+84 (063) 3827 999
(Delete 0 if calling internationall)
dalatgreencityhotel@gmail.com
http://www.dalatgreencityhotel.com
TRAVEL TO AND FROM DALAT AND VIETNAM
IMPORTANT: People from most countries (except ASEAN passports) need a visa to get into Vietnam. Usually takes a week or so in your home country, through a travel agent. (There is a visa on arrival, but it must be arranged before coming to Vietnam and you must have a proper document before getting on the airplane to Vietnam.)
Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat by taxi or bus is also fun, convenient, and beautiful. (About 7 hours, stunning scenery.) Taxi: about USD100 Bus: about USD10 (The bus leaves almost every hour with Phuong Trang, address 274-276 De Tham, Pham Ngu Lao, Q. 1. (08) 38375570). They will also drop you off via van anywhere you want in Dalat City. There are also two other busses Mai Linh and Sinh Cafe)
From Dalat Airport to Dalat City: Taxis for VND180,000 or if traveling light an airport bus is fine (about VND30,000)
RECOMMENDED TRIPS WITHIN VIETNAM
My favorite to see the best of Vietnamn: 1 WEEK: HCMC > Danang (fly) > Dalat (fly) > HCMC (fly)
Really includes some of the unique attractions of Vietnam. Several flights /week available now between Dalat and Danang. Within 2 hours of Danang you have access to quite a number of amazing places: Hue, My Son (ancient Cham temples), Hoi An, Bana, Bach Ma, Lan Co, etc... All great stuff. A good full 4 - 7 days of adventure.
OTHER POSSIBILITIES:
1 WEEK: HCMC > Dalat by air or taxi > Muine > HCMC by train
(If coming by road to Dalat from HCMC, be sure to see at least one of the waterfalls along the way. The most beautiful is the Dambri Falls, taller than the Niagara Falls! It's about 20km off the the main highway, near Bao Loc. Other beautiful though less dramatic waterfalls are located literally within 100 meters of the highway, but you'll have to look carefully on a map as they are not well marked. Lonely Planet has a pretty good listing of the waterfall locations.)
1 WEEK: HCMC > Dalat by air or taxi > Nha Trang >HCMC by air
(The road between Dalat and Nhatrang is particularly stunning, cutting through virgin rain forest. Dozens of small waterfalls. The beach in Nhatrang is often voted one of the most beautiful in the world.)
OTHER INFORMATION FOR VISITORS COMING TO DALAT
(Recommended reading: Lonely Planet Vietnam - for full information on Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat and surrounding area)
Weather in Dalat can get cold/damp. Bring a light jacket/sweater. Weather in Ho Chi Minh City hot. Weather in Hanoi: unpredictable. Some chance of rain in all 3 cities.
SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES IN DALAT:
Phat Tire Ventures -73 Truong Cong Dinh -Email – www.phattireventures.com -quality adventure tours
(see LINKS page)
Lang Bian Mountain: great view from the top, nice pine forest views going up
Dalat Palace Golf Club -Phu Dong Thien Vuong -nicest golf course in Vietnam - golf packages available for guests, ask at Novotel or Palace
Cable Car -a cable car ride over the farming area to a pagoda and gardens -take a walk down over the hill to the lake where there is shopping -can also rent a boat to go to the other side of lake where minorities live -you can ride an elephant through the woods, eat food, and see animals
Waterfalls - Tiger Den Falls or Elephant Falls are the ones worth seeing that are relatively nearby. (Dambri Falls, near Bao Loc in Lam Dong, is a "must see" for people who are traveling by rented car to or from Saigon.)
Xuan Huong Lake -city center -tandem (2-seater) bicycles for rent -paddleboat rentals and carriage rides
Dalat Train Station - for train enthusiasts, a must see. (ask Curtis for the whole train story - lots of hiking possibilities!)
MONEY AND CURRENCY: US Dollars are widely accepted. Current exchange rate is about 18,500 Vietnam Dong to 1 USD.
TELEPHONE NUMBERS IN DALAT:
Police: 113
Vietnam Airlines: 063 3833499
GENERAL INFORMATION ON OTHER CITIES IN VIETNAM
HANOI
Suggested Hotels in Hanoi: ( Many other hotels are listed in Lonely Planet.) Metropole Hanoi (old-style luxury) +84 (0) 4 38266919 res@sofitelhanoi.vnn.vn Sofitel Plaza (Modern luxury) +84 (0) 4 38238888 resmgr@sofitelplazahn.com Easiest access to Dalat is by air from either Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), or from Hanoi. Flights sometimes get full so book your air ticket in advance through your travel agent.
Suggested itineraries from Hanoi: Sapa (great mountain landscapes and old French hilltop architecture, lots of minority culture). Ha Long Bay (strongly suggest an overnight on a decent boat... it's a long drive from Hanoi, and going there and back in one day really is too strenuous. Beware of thieves, usually children, that can get on the boat without your seeing them, usually when you stop for lunch or "cultural exchange" Petty theft of small items/cash/wallets is common on these boats, though usually avoidable if you lock your bags properly.)
Night life in Hanoi: Sofitel Metropole occasionally has jazz. 17 Saloon decent but standard Philippines music. Check the Word Magazine for listings and events. Rock and Roll Tavern (R&R Tavern) - good fun, live blues/rock music on weekends.
HO CHI MINH CITY ("HCMC" OR "SAIGON"):
Suggested Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City: (both hotels about 30-45 minutes from airport, insist that driver use meter, about VND80-100,000, or about 5 or 6 USD). Many other hotels are listed in Lonely Planet. Sofitel Plaza Saigon (Modern luxury) +84 (0) 8 38291555 sofitelsgn@sofitelsaigon.com.vn Medal Hotel (Budget) 8A Thai Van Lung, District1 +84 (0) 8 38238765 medal_hotel@hotmail.com
ARRIVAL IN HCMC
Change at least $100 at the airport arrival so you have money to get to hotel etc. Store it safely, lots of crowds outside, easy to lose stuff.
Take regular taxi that pulls up to the curb outside Arrivals. INSIST ON THE METER. (Point to it, and say "METER". Act like you know that you are aware that they are all complete scammers there. They often insist on 200,000VND or more... Total scam. Do not lose your temper, and do not curse in any language - that can get ugly. )
There will be traffic! Enjoy the ride, keep doors locked and windows somewhat rolled up, especially if you're on your phone. Lots of motorbike "gangsters" who will snatch stuff and take off on their bikes.
HCMC LUNCH RECOMMENDATIONS (look on the net or in local magazines for addresses etc...… “The Word” or “AsiaLife” or any other guidebook,… lots of info at www.wordhcmc.com )
Temple Club – Vietnamese
Refinery – mixed menu, cool location (old opium den)
Pacharan - spanish
Bernie’s – nice café, chilled
HCMC WINE / DRINK RECOMMENDATIONS
Qing
Bernies
Xu
Pacharan – Spanish
Refinery
O’ Briens – Irish/international
Cepage
HCMC DINNER RECOMMENDATIONS
Temple Club - nice Vietnamese cuisine
Xu- classy Vietnamese/fushion
Pacharan - Spanish tapas bar/restaurant
Tandoor - Indian
O’ Briens – Irish/international
Cepage
HCMC MUSIC / LATE NIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS
Sax n Art – jazz, beware cover charge
Acoustic – acoustic / rock music – local crowd
Apocolypse Now – disco, local scene
Sheridan’s – Irish, nightly live music
HCMC LATE LATE NIGHT….
Late night Noodles (Nguyen Trai street….) or Cho Benh Thanh
HCMC DAYTIME PLACES TO CHECK OUT
Ben Thanh Market – watchout for scammers/ pickpockets but of some interest
Reunification Palace
War Remnants Museum - must see
Walk around Cathedral / Post Office area
Walk to the River (nice view of the river scene from rooftops of Sheraton, Renaissance, Majestic)
City Theatre
District 5 – Chinatown, not particularly interesting
HCMC - PLACES THAT ARE NOT WORTH THE EFFORT
District 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 – with all the traffic, they become a waste of time from a tourist point of view unless you have specific interests
HCMC - MY PERSONAL LIST OF “SO SO” PLACES
Cu Chi Tunnels – far, lots of traffic, of medium interest, much cooler war-related stuff in other parts of the country (unless you want to shoot the AK47 rifle they have there… about USD1/bullet…)
HCMC - EASY DAY TRIPS
None worth the effort. Traffic getting out of HCMC and getting back to the city will kill the fun
EASY 1 NIGHT TRIPS FROM HCMC
Vungtau – relaxing beach town, decent seafood… somewhat of a Vietnam experience. Boats to Vungtau leave from the pier on Ton Duc Thang street in District 1 HCMC. Sunshine, swimming pools, decent night life. Optional place near Vungtau - Long Hai - the Anoasis Beach Resort. Ride from Vungtau to Muine has some stunning scenery.)
Anoasis Beach Resort Domain Ky Van, Long Hai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Vietnam
Tel: (84-64) 3868227 - Fax: (84-64) 3868229 www.anoasisresort.com.vn
EASY 2 / 3 NIGHT TRIPS FROM HCMC
Mekong Delta (bus/taxi to My Tho is decent, Can Tho a bit further, also cool), Muine (beach, go by bus, taxi, or train), Nhatrang (fly). Check Lonely Planet for details.
GENERAL "DO'S AND DON'TS" IN VIETNAM
Tipping - a dollar here or there for good service is always appreciated, even if there's a service charge included in your bill.
Theft - generally, be careful with bags, cameras, etc. Small things (ipods, phones, cameras) tend to disappear easier than big things.
Scams - as always, careful with pimps, karaokes, "boom boom", drugs, and other things that you would probably not do in your home country.
Always at least try to smile, even in strange or uncomfortable situations. Never yell or raise your voice. And absolutely never hit, slap, or aggressively point to a local person.
WONDERFUL PLACES TO VISIT NEAR VIETNAM
CAMBODIA - Truly a magical kingdom. Be sure to check out the temples at Angkor Wat (near Siem Reap City). Also, Phnom Penh is a must see - a charming city on the Mekong River, with temples, palaces, colonial architecture, and an amazing nightlife.
If you're in Phnom Penh, be sure to stop by Sharky Bar (#126 Street 130) - great live music, Mexican food, drinks, and fun fun fun.