Area: 9,776.1 sq. km.
Population: 1,179.2 thousand habitants (2006)
Capital: Dalat City.
Administrative divisions:
- Town: Bao Loc.
- Districts: Lac Duong, Don Duong, Duc Trong, Lam Ha, Bao Lam, Di Linh, Da Huoai, Da Teh, Cat Tien.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Co Ho, Ma, Nung...
Geography
Located in the Central Highlands region, Lam Dong is a mountainous province, and 70% of its area is covered in forest. To the north, it borders on Dak Lak and Dak Nong provinces, to the south-east, on Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces, and to the west, on Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai provinces. The remarkable characteristic of Lam Dong's topography is the fairly distinctive division of tiers from north to south. The north of the province is high mountains, the Lang Bian plateau, with summits of altitudes between 1,300m - above 2,000m such as Bidoup (2,287m), Lang Bian (2,167m). The east and the west are mountains with modest altitudes (500m - 1,000m). The south is topographically the transition from the Di Linh - Bao Loc plateau to the semi-flat country.
Climate
Lam Dong province has a tropical climate with monsoon. On the whole territory, due to a complex topography, there is a difference in elevation and degree of vegetation covering. However, the weather of Lam Dong is temperate and mild all the year round, notable changes are rare in the annual cycle. The temperature varies distinctly between areas and the higher it is, the lower temperature is. The range of the average annual temperature is 16ºC - 23ºC. Dry season is from December to March next year. Rainy season is from April to November. It is always sunny everyday. The annual rainfall is not distributed equally in time and place. Its range is 1,600 - 2,700mm. The side of the area towards the southwest wind (Bao Loc Town) has a high annual rainfall amounting to 3,771mm.
Tourism
The unique tourism of Lam Dong Province is made from the combination of topographical, climatic and hydrographical factors. Together with its forests and regional flora and fauna, Lam Dong offers distinctive scenery with many picturesque lakes, falls, hills and pine forests. Some of the natural scenic spots include Xuan Huong Lake, Dan Kia - Suoi Vang Lake, Tuyen Lam Lake, Lake of Sighs, Valley of Love, Da Nhim Lake, Camly Falls, Datanla Falls, Prenn Falls, Pongour Falls, Dambri Falls, Bobla Falls, Liliang Falls, Voi (Elephant) Falls, Ponguar Falls, Golf Hills, Lang Bian Mountain, etc. Places of historical and cultural interest include some French style palaces, Linh Son Pagoda, Linh Phong Pagoda, Truc Lam Zen Monastery, Dalat Cathedral, Cat Tien archaeological site.
Dalat, capital of Lam Dong Province, exhales its own poetic and romantic charm. Situated at 1,500m above sea level, Dalat has a cool climate. The annual average temperature is 18ºC. It is also famous for its lakes, waterfalls, pine-tree forests, vegetable gardens and flowers such as rhododendron, cherry, mimosa, hydrangea, rose, daisy, and dahlia. Dalat offers a harmonious combination of natural scenery and historical sites.
Dalat Cathedral
Dambri Waterfall
Prenn Waterfall
Lam Dong Museum
Elephant Waterfall
Valley of Love
Linh Son Pagoda
Lake of Sighs
Xuan Huong Lake
Truc Lam Buddhist Pagoda
Lang Bian Mountains
Dalat Palace Golf Club
Dalat Flower Park
Ponguor Waterfall
Ethnic groups
The population is mainly composed of Kinh people, Co Ho, Ma, Hoa, Nung, Tay, and Chu Ru ethnic minorities. Starting from Dalat, tourists will be able to visit villages of ethnic groups in the Central Highlands in order to discover their customs, festivities and original handicraft products. This extraordinary experience will leave the visitors with unforgettable memories to cherish.Local minority communities also hold a variety of festivals including the buffalo sacrifice festival and the gong performance festival. All visitors are invited and welcomed to share in these festivals.
Transportation
Road: Dalat is 110km from Phan Rang (Ninh Thuan), 200km from Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak), 205km from Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), 293km from Ho Chi Minh City, and 1,481km from Hanoi.
Airlines:Lien Khuong Airport is 30km south of Dalat. There are daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and two flights a week to Danang
Dalat Cathedral
Location: Dalat Cathedral is located on Tran Phu Road, near the Dalat Novotel Hotel, Dalat City, Lam Dong Province.
Characteristics: The cathedral looks like a European cathedral from the Middle Ages with its many stained glass windows and 47m tower
The cathedral was built between 1931 and 1942. This cathedral was used by the French and other Europeans who used to live in Dalat or to spend holiday there.
Masses are held from Monday to Saturday at 5.30am and 5.15pm, and Sunday at 5.30am, 7am, and 4pm.
Lam Dong Museum
Location: The Lam Dong Province Museum is located on the top of a hill at 4 Hung Vuong St., Dalat City, Lam Dong Province; about 1km from the Central Market.
Characteristics: Here, there are local historical and traditional displays, including archaeological and ethnological artifacts. Click here to see photo
Linh Son Pagoda
Location: Linh Son Pagoda is located on Nguyen Van Troi St., on a hill overlooking the centre of Dalat City, Lam Dong Province.
Characteristics: The pagoda is office of the Buddhism Managing Committee of Lam Dong Province.
The pagoda has been managed by a succession of monks. The present monk, Thich Tu Man, has been residing in the pagoda since 1964. In the middle altar, there is a 1,250kg bronze statue of Sakyamuni Buddha cast in 1952. In addition, there is a room in the pagoda where Buddhist books and souvenirs are sold.
Truc Lam Buddhist Pagoda
Location: Truc Lam Buddhist Pagoda is located on Phuong Hoang Mountain, by Tuyen Lam Lake in Ward 3, Dalat City, Lam Dong Province.
Characteristics: Truc Lam Buddhist Pagoda is located amidst beautiful natural scenery. This is the biggest pagoda in Dalat City.
The pagoda is covering an area of about 24ha with a Buddhist institute and a 22ha garden.The pagoda was inaugurated in 1994.
The Bonze Superior Thich Thanh Tu, who built and still manages this pagoda, is also the Buddhist dignitary of Thuong Chieu Buddhist Pagoda in Dong Nai.
Dalat Flower Park
Location: The flower park is located at 2 Phu Dong Thien Vuong St., Dalat City, Lam Dong Province, which leads from Xuan Huong Lake to Dalat University.
Characteristics: Dalat Flower Park is famous for its diverse species of flowers.
It is considered a natural museum that houses a fine collection of native and exotic flowers. The park consists of at least 300 different kinds of flowers, hundreds of which are in blossom all year round.
The flower park is open daily from 7.30 am to 4 pm.
Dambri Waterfall
Location: Dambri Waterfall is located 18km from the centre of Bao Loc Town, Lam Dong Province.
Characteristics: The climate around Dambri Waterfall is cool all year round. This is a huge waterfall in Lam Dong Province.
On the way to Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can stop by Bao Loc, the land of tea, coffee and mulberry. Dambri Waterfall are surrounded by hills of mulberry, tea, and palm trees. Visitors can also enjoy a cruise on the clear lake.
Elephant Waterfall
Location: Voi (Elephant) Waterfall is located about 25 kilometers southwest of Da Lat City of Lam Dong Province in Nam Ban Townlet, Lam Ha District.
Characteristics: Elephant Waterfall, also called Lieng Rowoa Waterfall, is considered as the most beautiful and majestic waterfall in the highlands province of Lam Dong. It is more than 30m high, about 15m wide with the water flows make an area be obscured by the very white spray.
It is unfortunate that if you visit Da Lat - Lam Dong you do not visit the secret and dreaming of Lieng Rowoa Waterfall (Voi Waterfall). The waterfall appears as many elephants are swimming together.
According to local legend, the name of the waterfall is derived from a folk story about a beautiful girl, the daughter of the head of a tribe in Joi Bieng mountain region, who had an excellent voice, when she sang the foliate seem to stop rustling, the bird stop singing to listen to her. She had promised of becoming spouse with a handsome, brave and strong young man, the son of the head of a tribe in the neighbour region. But one day, the young man must say good bye to his lover to be fighting at the front. She waited for long time but the young man did not come back. She went to the place where they made the promise before and began singing with ardent and mournful voice. The B’ling birds had been moved by her voice. They flied far away to seek out information and then flied back to inform her that the young man had died in the battle. However, the girl did not accept this bitter truth and she sang to call her lover until she get exhausted and falling down. The flock of elephants that had lied prostrate to listen to her turned into stone. The waterfall named Lieng Rowoa Joi Bieng, means the waterfall of elephants that lied prostrate turned into stone before the ardent and faithful love.
The waterfall which associated with this faithful, woeful and majestic love has been recognized as a national landscape. The transparent water flowing through granite mountain sides looks really spectacular, especially when the waterfall is illuminated by the brilliant sunlight, seven-coloured rainbow will appear.
Next to the waterfall is Gio (wind) Cave. The road to enter the cave is narrow between two cliffs, but inside the cave there are many wide spaces and full of wind. Voi Waterfall looks like a lively picture which has been carved by nature with the particularly interesting caves hide after craggy cliffs and many rocks now appear, now disappear look like as many elephants are jostling to bath. At the foot of the waterfall stream there are many large, flat and smooth stones like the nature set up to offer tourists sit to chat.
Voi Waterfall is waiting to be discovered by the natural lovers. The waterfall is still keeping the original's features. Some guest houses, tourist clubs, some poetic bridges are looming in the deep eyesight. Every year, the Voi Waterfall welcomes thousands of visitors. If you are the people who like wild, quiet, go to this place to contemplate the hills and mountains, pine forests and rocky waterfalls.
Lake of Sighs
Location: This natural lake situated on top of a hill covered with pine trees, 6km east of Dalat City, Lam Dong Province.
Characteristics: The sounds from the forest resemble the sighing of an invisible man. The lake has been surrounded by many stories and legends with sorrowful endings in which the heroine drowns in the lake to keep her true love forever.
The lake has a vast and calm surface. Standing on the edge of the lake, a small path running towards the forest can be seen.
Lang Bian Mountains
Location: Lang Bian Mountains is located in Lac Duong District, Lam Dong Province; 12km north of center Dalat.
Characteristics: Lang Bian Mountains are an ideal place for mountain climbing, paragliding, trekking or studying flora and rare bird species.
At the foot of the mountains is Lat Village, where the Co Ho Minority lives.
Ponguor Waterfall
Location: The waterfall is located in Tan Hoi Commune, Duc Trong District, Lam Dong Province; more than 45km away from Dalat City.
Characteristics: This waterfall is the most magnificent and powerful waterfall in the vicinity of Dalat.
Ponguor Waterfall is 20m high in the mountains. The water falls into a big lake producing a great noise, whose echo can be heard far away.
Prenn Waterfall
Location: Prenn Falls is located at the foot of the Prenn Pass; 10km from the center of Dalat City.
Characteristics: This is a famous waterfall. The foot of the falls is a small valley covered with flowers and pine trees.
The 10km long pass is on the National Highway No.20 from Dalat to Ho Chi Minh City. The famous waterfall is located approximately 100m from the road. As you approach the falls, you will be able to notice the subtle change in temperature brought by the mist from the water falling from a height of 10m. The foot of the falls is a small valley covered with flowers and pine trees. The cascading water falls down over a small bridge that crosses the small lake.
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