Dalat is perhaps my favorite place in southern Vietnam. I normally love mountain towns, so that’s expected, but this city exceeded my expectations. Because beyond the beautiful surrounding nature, Dalat also has many magical, fairytale-like and unique places to visit.
And I’m not talking about just the beautiful landscape. The mountain scenery around Dalat is certainly magical, but Dalat also has many attractions that make you feel like you’re in a fairytale or fantasy world.
A lot of these places are designed for taking unique photos for social media. But even if photoshoots aren’t your thing, you will likely still enjoy visiting these magical Dalat attractions that transport you into fairytale lands.
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First up is the Crazy House. Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga designed this hotel, and it’s probably the most imaginative building I’ve ever visited. You’ll find a lack of straight lines here, rather lots of curves that make you feel like you’re in a cave or in the hollow of a tree, which gives it such a cozy feel. It’s truly a place that makes you feel like you’ve entered a fairyland.
Every room has a different theme, so each one is unique. And it’s much bigger than I had expected. The Crazy House is actually made up of several buildings, with whimsical gardens and even a café.
It’s possible to visit this hotel during the day even if you’re not a guest. Tickets cost 60,000 VDN ($2.50).
Or, if you want to stay the night in what’s probably the most magical, fairy-tale place in Dalat, the rooms are very affordable. The price ranges on what room you choose (each one is different), but prices start from only about $30.
So if this sounds too tempting to resist, book your stay in one of the most magical and unique places to stay in Dalat.
P.S. Looking for a quiet place to read or write while in Vietnam? Then check out my Writer’s Travel Guide to Vietnam.
Similar to the architecture of the Crazy House with its quirkiness, this bar felt like a playground for adults.
After purchasing a drink (very reasonable prices, and they have lots of non-alcoholic options), you go downstairs. From here, you find your way through the tunnels and up the stairs to find one of the many rooftop areas.
I’d recommend going in the day. That’s because it’s not very busy, and you can enjoy the views from the rooftops. There’s also a magical, fairytale-like garden rooftop, which is fun to explore and from which you can get great views of Dalat.
Throughout the whole bar, both in the maze and on the rooftops, you’ll find seats where you can stop to enjoy your drink. It’s one of my favorites of all the quirky places in Dalat.
Located a short drive away from Dalat, the Fairytale Land is a park with gorgeous gardens and attractions that make you feel like you’re in a fairytale. From mushroom houses to gnome statues to colorful flowers, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported into a different world.
When I went, lots of locals were here taking photos with the many backdrops. But even if you’re not into posing for pictures, you can still enjoy this little park.
My favorite part of the Fairytale Land were the hobbit houses. They were so cute, and it’s easy to pretend that you’re truly in a fairytale land when you squeeze into the tiny houses built into grassy hills and framed by beautiful flowers.
And if you like wine, there’s a winery located here. You can try some regional wine in the cellar, which you have to walk through to leave the Fairytale Land.
A ticket is 70,000 VDN ($3), and it’s open daily from 7:30 am–5 pm.
Sure, this waterfall is impressive and beautiful, but as promised, the places on this list are unique in a way that Dalat is consistent with: quirky, unique attractions.
I walked by this waterfall on the canyoning tour (which I highly recommend for any adventure/adrenaline lovers), and I thought this was one of the most unique waterfall areas I’ve ever visited.
On the path to the waterfall, you’ll find lots of fantastical statues to take pictures with (which, as you may by now realize, is a popular attraction at many Dalat places to visit).
And if you’re looking for something a bit more fun than just snapping photos of nature and imaginative statues, you’ll also find (small) rollercoasters.
Located next to Tuyen Lam Lake, this is yet another Dalat attraction that was designed to be quirky and unique.
Here you’ll find many sculptures made from clay, and if you’re looking for some cool pictures of yourself, this is the place for you. The park has many themed sculptures, including a Covid-19 Park and sculptures representing the history of Dalat.
The most popular part of the Clay Tunnels are the two giant head statues on the infinity lake. If you want a picture with those, either arrive early or be prepared to wait in line.
I personally did not visit the Clay Tunnels, as I don’t like waiting in line to take pictures, but I did really enjoy this area. If you’d prefer peaceful nature over taking pictures with quirky art sculptures, I’d suggest just enjoying the nature of Tuyen Lam Lake. The Zen Monastery located there is especially nice, and the pine forest at the edge of it going to the lake is quite magical.
Tickets to the Clay Tunnels cost 90,000 VDN ($3.80).
Next up on the list of quirky things in Dalat is one of the most unique temples I’ve ever visited. That’s because you can go inside of the giant Buddha statues. Sounds weird, but you get a great view from the top!
The way up is decorated with artwork, so you can stop to admire it as you catch your breath from all the stairs.
You’ll also get a view of Elephant Falls, which is very big and impressive waterfall. If you love magical waterfalls and unique attractions, the Linh An Pagoda will be worth the trip from Dalat.
This is a great place to stop if you’re planning on renting a motorbike and going on a motorbike loop from Dalat.
This one is located a bit far from Dalat, but if you love tea as much as me, don’t miss it. This tea farm has hills of tea trees, and they look so magical stretching out into the mountainous area of Dalat.
You can buy some tea harvested from these fields and enjoy it in the train café. And it’s exactly what it sounds like: a real train with booths to sit and sip on your tea. It’s a stationery train, but with the beautiful view outdoors, you won’t mind that it’s not changing.
When you’ve had your tea (I recommend the iced oolong tea), you can wander through the rows of tea trees, which, to a tea and nature lover such as myself, feels like an absolute dream.
I hope this has inspired you to visit Dalat, a surprisingly quirky mountain town with many magical places to visit that feel like a fairytale.
Which one of these unique attractions in Dalat would you be most interested to visit?
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I have not been to this part of Vietname. I hope to explore it during my next trip to Vietnam.
You have definitely inspired me with these quirky places to visit. I always love architecturally-inspired tours plus bookstore visits. I hope one day to visit Vietnam.
Who knew Vietnam had such whimsical sights?! I think I'd visit the clay tunnels first. Thanks for sharing!
I love this so much....first of all I love Vietnam, and second I have never heard of Dalat before, and I super excited that I found this post and got to learn about this unique place. Thanks for sharing this, and for the inspiration you gave me to get to visit a new place in Vietnam.
I love this post. I'm a huge tea lover and I would love to visit the Cau Dat Farm. Thanks for sharing, I'm definitely saving this post.
I'm living in Saigon Vietnam now and Dalat is such a popular holiday destination for people here. Although I've been to Dalat many times, there are places you've listed here that I've not had a chance to visit yet. Saving this for my future trips to this lovely town!