Dalat.
- horace
- I can not turn my computer off ...
- Reactions: 307
- Posts: 5484
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:27 pm
- Location: different planet
Dalat.
Good afternoon gentlemen,
At some point over the next two weeks I shall be hitting Dalat and I have a question or two that hopefully one of you can answer.
1. Is it better,easier ( I am on bicycle , remember ) to go to Dalat from Nha Trang or Cam Rang Bay?
2. Is there anything worth seeing going north west from Dalat to Buon Ma Thout, or should I just circle back around to the coast?
Cheers
At some point over the next two weeks I shall be hitting Dalat and I have a question or two that hopefully one of you can answer.
1. Is it better,easier ( I am on bicycle , remember ) to go to Dalat from Nha Trang or Cam Rang Bay?
2. Is there anything worth seeing going north west from Dalat to Buon Ma Thout, or should I just circle back around to the coast?
Cheers
k440, something to do when you're pissed.
- Hanno
- I am a Special Snowflake !!?!
- Reactions: 206
- Posts: 8103
- Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 4:07 pm
- Location: Siem Reap
- Contact:
I have gone up to Da Lat by bike before and it was a tough grind, especially the last 30 or so kilometers. I think it does not matter from where you come.
I like the central highlands and BMT but it could be pretty wet and muddy up there at the moment.
I like the central highlands and BMT but it could be pretty wet and muddy up there at the moment.
"I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes."
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Do you know about the new road Horace? Its about 6 or so years old now and comes down from Da Lat to just outside Nha Trang (30mins to Nha Trang once you hit the bottom). So new, they still hadn't included it in the hard back edition of the 2013 Vietnam road atlas (available from good books shops in HCM). Ask the locals for directions to it as there are a few roads that link the coast with Da Lat. Just about the most beautiful journey in Vietnam.
If you decide to take it, I would do it from Da Lat as it would require some heavy up-hill pedaling the other way round. Also, take some supplies with you - water, (spare brake shoes) etc, as there are not a lot of shops around. Which is one of the reasons why it is so nice. You'll never forget it. Truly spectacular. Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in the world IMO and this is it at it's finest.
Going up - are you coming from HCM? I took the main road up into the mountains. Once you get to the hills its very nice as well, First little village I got a Cafe Den for 2,000 VND. No bargaining required, that is what he asked for it. That's like getting a black coffee in Cambodia and being asked for 500 riel.
As far as going on further up along the ridge so to speak from Da Lat, I don't know as it got far too wet and cold for me, so I turned round determined to do it in better weather or fully kitted out in decent wet weather clothes..
If you decide to take it, I would do it from Da Lat as it would require some heavy up-hill pedaling the other way round. Also, take some supplies with you - water, (spare brake shoes) etc, as there are not a lot of shops around. Which is one of the reasons why it is so nice. You'll never forget it. Truly spectacular. Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in the world IMO and this is it at it's finest.
Going up - are you coming from HCM? I took the main road up into the mountains. Once you get to the hills its very nice as well, First little village I got a Cafe Den for 2,000 VND. No bargaining required, that is what he asked for it. That's like getting a black coffee in Cambodia and being asked for 500 riel.
As far as going on further up along the ridge so to speak from Da Lat, I don't know as it got far too wet and cold for me, so I turned round determined to do it in better weather or fully kitted out in decent wet weather clothes..
-
- I Am Losing It All to the Internet
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 5:44 pm
What's Dalat like for Christmas?
Cold and chilly?
Rain?
Is there a decent spa hotel where one can be manipulated and manicured?
Cold and chilly?
Rain?
Is there a decent spa hotel where one can be manipulated and manicured?
-
- RicePikey
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 1397
- Joined: Mon May 05, 2014 10:06 am
Dalat is nice, if a bit cold and damp right now. Bring a jacket.
Used to be better.
Rides around town are amazing. Datanla Falls Jungle Luge worth 2 rides, buy 2 tix each and 1 quick return ticket. Little pony down below for pics.
Nice little restos and they got a small supermarket a few years back.
Really far from everything, some people like that.
There is a small, live music scene there. Be prepared to help out before you complain, haha.
Train station cool and the Sofitel was great. Larry's was an institution there. Some classy, gentle people there.
Crass sex mongers need not apply.
Used to be better.
Rides around town are amazing. Datanla Falls Jungle Luge worth 2 rides, buy 2 tix each and 1 quick return ticket. Little pony down below for pics.
Nice little restos and they got a small supermarket a few years back.
Really far from everything, some people like that.
There is a small, live music scene there. Be prepared to help out before you complain, haha.
Train station cool and the Sofitel was great. Larry's was an institution there. Some classy, gentle people there.
Crass sex mongers need not apply.
Fool's folly is following another fool.
- The Grand Jester
Caution: all of my posts are to be taken with a grain of salt, heroin, and Everclear. Then you can reply back to us.
- The Grand Jester
Caution: all of my posts are to be taken with a grain of salt, heroin, and Everclear. Then you can reply back to us.
- Hanno
- I am a Special Snowflake !!?!
- Reactions: 206
- Posts: 8103
- Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 4:07 pm
- Location: Siem Reap
- Contact:
Normally, rainy season should be well over but, like in Cambodia, it is lingering this year. Normally it would be dry, cool at night and very pleasant during the day.Just Robbed wrote:What's Dalat like for Christmas?
Cold and chilly?
Rain?
Is there a decent spa hotel where one can be manipulated and manicured?
Ana Mandara would be the place for Spa treatments.
"I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes."
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
- horace
- I can not turn my computer off ...
- Reactions: 307
- Posts: 5484
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:27 pm
- Location: different planet
Central Vietnam has had a tremendous amount of rain. I wasin Nha Trang 6 weeks ago and it was wet. I was advised not to try and cycle to Da Lat because of the weather and the fact that parts of the road had washed away. It's been constant rain 24/7 for the last 3 weeks and many places are flooded, Hoi An , Na Trang, Quy Nhon , so would imaginethat Dalat would be cold n wet.
k440, something to do when you're pissed.
-
- I need professional help
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 1017
- Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:35 pm
- Location: Ba Ria-Vung Tau, VN
Nearby Cam Ranh Bay Airport is forecast to have rain well into next week. There has definitely been an excess of rains from SGN and all the way to the north.
https://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/fi ... nh+Vietnam
https://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/fi ... nh+Vietnam
Last edited by PenhMan on Sat Dec 17, 2016 12:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"We want our country to develop step by step. But that is such a long way off . . . as far away as the stars."
Jobless father in documentary Cambodia: Country of Scars.
Jobless father in documentary Cambodia: Country of Scars.
-
- I need professional help
- Reactions: 7
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:52 am
I wouldn't want to cycle up those hills . I went once and the lactic acid build up was torture and that was sitting in a bus. Great view on the way but I thought the town was average and not worth the trip.
- Piston Broke
- I've got internet at work
- Reactions: 2
- Posts: 343
- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2016 11:56 am
- Location: Back in Oz
I hope you keep posting your travels Horace, interesting reading thanks.
Safe travels.
Safe travels.
Never mind
- horace
- I can not turn my computer off ...
- Reactions: 307
- Posts: 5484
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:27 pm
- Location: different planet
Hoping to cycle up the HCM road from Pleiku once the rains stop! Nothing but mountains.Fully loaded and ready to camp if need be.Lucky Seven wrote:I wouldn't want to cycle up those hills . I went once and the lactic acid build up was torture and that was sitting in a bus. Great view on the way but I thought the town was average and not worth the trip.
k440, something to do when you're pissed.
-
- RicePikey
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 1397
- Joined: Mon May 05, 2014 10:06 am
I hear Pleiku is pleasant. Rustically so, of course.horace wrote:Hoping to cycle up the HCM road from Pleiku once the rains stop! Nothing but mountains.Fully loaded and ready to camp if need be.Lucky Seven wrote:I wouldn't want to cycle up those hills . I went once and the lactic acid build up was torture and that was sitting in a bus. Great view on the way but I thought the town was average and not worth the trip.
Cycling is great in Vietnam, but of course Dalat is at elevation. Mind you, you can ride DOWN from Dalat to Phan Rang (near Nha Trang) without pedalling a stroke. Really.
Fool's folly is following another fool.
- The Grand Jester
Caution: all of my posts are to be taken with a grain of salt, heroin, and Everclear. Then you can reply back to us.
- The Grand Jester
Caution: all of my posts are to be taken with a grain of salt, heroin, and Everclear. Then you can reply back to us.