Disclaimer: This article was contributed by Nori Shamsuddin, based on her personal trip to Da Lat in September 2025, and edited for length, clarity and structure. All experiences, opinions and photos are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of exploretomakan. Prices, opening hours and halal status may have changed since her visit, so please check directly with each place before you go.
French-style villas, crisp mountain air and endless flower fields in Southeast Asia? Yes, it exists. Da Lat (also spelled Dalat) was called Vallée d'Amour (Valley of Love) by the French in the 1930s. Today it still has pine forests, calm lakes and a pace slow enough to actually rest. Here's how we spent five days in Da Lat, halal food included.
Day 1: Touching down (and getting rained on)
Our flight from Kuala Lumpur took just over two hours. We landed at Lien Khuong Airport to mountain views and cool, clean air. Immigration was quick, and a pre-booked car got us into town in 30 minutes, past rows of roadside pine trees.
We stayed at Peach Valley Hotel, a small, cosy place with a clean, spacious room and a balcony facing tall pines. By the end of the trip we knew practically every staff member, and all of them were warm and helpful. A big reason we picked it: Kampung Melayu Halal Restaurant is literally one minute's walk away.
That evening we went to Da Lat Night Market in heavy rain. Most stalls were closed or hiding under plastic sheets. Everyone was selling raincoats at tourist prices, so we decided a little rain wouldn't hurt. When it eased to a drizzle, we walked 10 minutes to Dalisha Halal Restaurant and arrived a bit soaked. A hearty dinner and hot tea sorted us out.
Day 2: Coaster thrills, glass flowers and night market
Breakfast was phở bò (beef noodle soup) and bánh mì with bò né (sizzling beef) at Kampung Melayu. It became our go-to breakfast spot for the whole trip.
Then we took a 15-minute Grab to Datanla Waterfall for the Alpine Coaster, a 2.4km ride through the forest and one of the longest in Asia. You control your own speed with a brake, so you can go fast for the thrill or slow for the views. There was no queue, and we were whooshing down to the waterfall within minutes. The ride back up was just as fun.
By noon we were at Lâm Viên Square, overlooking Xuan Huong Lake. The two giant stained-glass flowers are the stars here: an 18-metre sunflower that holds a performance hall, and a 15-metre artichoke bud with a café inside. Underneath the square there's a mall and hypermarket, where we finally bought raincoats at normal prices.
We walked 20 minutes back along the lake, which is lined with pines and flower beds and has swan boats for rent. We had lunch at Kampung Melayu again: crispy, fluffy egg paratha dunked in their "special Indian curry." Total match made in heaven.
After a slow afternoon, we went back to the night market with our new raincoats. The sky was perfectly clear. Of course.
The market is lively without being overwhelming. There's a row of clothes and souvenirs, street food stalls (not halal-certified), and seasonal fruit near the fountain. The best part was the big tiered staircase, packed with people snacking and chatting. That scene sums up the market's energy. Dinner was beef hotpot at Sarah Halal Food, 10 minutes away, and it was perfect for a cold, windy night.
Day 3: Tea hills, flowers and strawberries
We had our hotel arrange a car for the day, since everything on our list was outside the city.
Our first stop was Cầu Đất, 25km out of Da Lat and 1,650m above sea level. The French planted tea here in the 1920s, and the hills are still covered in neat green rows. At Long Đỉnh Tea Museum we started with tea-simmered eggs (better than they sound), toured the old and new machinery, and finished with a tasting of oolong and osmanthus black tea. Yes, we bought some home. We also made a quick photo stop at the wind turbines above the misty hills. Don't skip it.
Next was The Florest, 60 hectares of flower gardens tucked into a pine forest. It poured the whole way there, so we waited it out with our free drinks. A cat decided my lap was her spot, and there I was: rain, flowers, sleepy cat. Total bliss. Once it cleared, we wandered past hydrangeas, dahlias, roses and wild sunflowers, plus ducks, bunnies, guinea pigs and some shy goats. It felt like walking into a storybook. Alhamdulillah for the beauty of His creation.
On the way back, we stopped at a strawberry farm to pick our own. It was simple, fun and surprisingly therapeutic after a long day. Dinner was at Ismael Halal Food, our favourite meal of the trip. It's new and spotless, a bit out of the centre, reasonably priced, and the portions were so generous we had to tapau.
Day 4: A relaxing day in Da Lat
For our last full day, we chose the best plan: no plan. After breakfast (and some of the Kampung Melayu owner's homemade roasted cashews), we took a 5-minute Grab to Da Lat New Market (Chợ Mới). It's fine for browsing clothes, and the ground-floor wet market gives you a glimpse of local life.
Then we just walked. The city centre is full of small souvenir shops (a bit pricier, but sometimes better than the night market) and cafés of every vibe. We didn't manage any café-hopping, which is our excuse to come back. We ended with a final spin around the night market and dinner at Ismael.
The next morning, our AirAsia flight home was rescheduled twice. We got meal vouchers, although the food wasn't halal. That's travel, right?
Where we ate (halal)
Kampung Melayu Halal Restaurant. 27/6 Yersin, Phường 10. Open 6am to 9.30pm. This was our breakfast base.
Dalisha Halal Restaurant. 27 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Phường 3. Open 7am to 10pm. It used to be called Hajah Hawa, and it's famous for its bingka ubi, which sells out fast. Expect a short staircase climb from the street.
Sarah Halal Food. 2/4 Nguyễn Văn Cừ, Phường 1. Open 7am to 10.30pm. Try the beef hotpot.
Ismael Halal Food. 33 Hoàng Văn Thụ, Phường 5. Open 7am to 8pm. This was our favourite.
Not tried yet: Fatimah Halal Restaurant (20 Nguyễn Du) and Hany Halal Food (2 Phạm Hồng Thái).
Where we stayed
Peach Valley Hotel — Click here to book on Klook for the best prices.
What we did (prices from our September 2025 visit)
Alpine Coaster, Datanla Waterfall. Open 7.30am to 5pm and closes in heavy rain. We paid 250,000 VND on Klook, including optional insurance. The waterfall area charges a separate entry fee.
Long Đỉnh Tea Museum, Cầu Đất. Open 8am to 4.30pm. We paid 100,000 VND on Klook, which covered the tour, tea eggs and tasting. For cloud-hunting, arrive around 5 to 6am.
The Florest. We paid 200,000 VND on Klook, with a free drink included.
Vườn dâu Nhà Gà Strawberry Farm. Open 6am to 6pm. Picking costs 400,000 VND/kg. Strawberry season is November to April.
Private car for the day, arranged through our hotel from 8am to 5pm, cost 950,000 VND.
Good to know
Getting around: Grab is cheap, efficient and felt safe for Muslimah travellers.
Rain: From May to October, expect sunny mornings and afternoon downpours. Pack a raincoat instead of an umbrella so your hands stay free for shopping bags.
Air-con: Most places in Da Lat don't have it, and you won't need it.
Prayer and mosques: As of September 2025, there were no mosques or Muslim-friendly hotels in Da Lat, and no prayer room at the airport. Plan accordingly.
Halal products: Look for the HCA Vietnam logo (halal.vn/en) on packaged food.
Souvenirs: Wool sweaters and scarves, embroidered bags, Arabica coffee, artichoke tea, and local oolong and mulberry-leaf teas.
Groceries: Go! Hypermart under Lâm Viên Square is open 7.30am to 10pm.
Laundry: We couldn't find self-service laundry. The hotel handled ours perfectly.
Visa: Malaysians and Singaporeans can stay up to 30 days visa-free.
History buffs: Visit the French villas on Trần Hưng Đạo, Da Lat Railway Station and Bảo Đại Palace III. If you'd rather not plan, the hop-on hop-off bus runs 9am to 5pm.
Final thoughts: Is Da Lat worth it for Muslim travellers?
If you want a packed itinerary with a famous landmark every hour, Da Lat probably isn't it. But if you've been running on empty and want cool air, good halal food and days that don't need an alarm, it's one of the easiest escapes in Southeast Asia. It's a short flight from KL, visa-free for Malaysians and Singaporeans, and small enough that you're never more than a Grab ride from a halal meal. The one thing to plan ahead for is prayer, since there's no mosque yet. Otherwise, pack a raincoat, leave room in your luggage for wool scarves and tea, and let the city slow you down. We're already planning our next trip, this time for the cafés we never got to. Insya Allah.
This article was contributed by Nori Shamsuddin, based on her personal trip to Da Lat in September 2025. All experiences, opinions and photos are her own. Prices, opening hours and halal status may have changed since her visit, so please check directly with each place before you go.
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