Da Lat Travel Answers

Check with Phat Tire Ventures in Da Lat. http://www.phattireventures.com/. I believe the down hill trail to the coast is about 37 kilometers. They provide decent bikes chosen for their downhill capability. Very capable guides. They also have many other adventure activities. I understand Dam Bri waterfalls are about 15 kilometers from Bao Loc city and many say some of the most beautiful in VN.

Thanks Mike. Phat Tire look like they have some excellent options - thanks for the link. Definitely something to think about - I'd still be interested to know if anyone has or plans to do the trip independently of a tour group though. Thanks again.

Many people do independant travel in Vietnam, as an individual or a few friends. I've met women who feel safe traveling or backpacking around VN. You can arrange things through Sinh Cafe Travel, a real value for the dollar operation. Go to sinhcafevn.com for the real McCoy. There are at least 20 other companies using that name but most expats and tourists only trust this one. They have offices in almost every big town or city that you might travel to. Each office has someone who speaks English well enough to answer your questions. Sinh Cafe is considered budget price but their service is above that. You will see Sinh Cafe recommended most on this forum. I've used their open ticket bus travel from one end of Vietnam to the other and will use them again. There are other fine tourist companies that others may recommend. Check them out too and you'll have a great trip. Phat Tire can arrange many things for you in Da Lat. It's owned by an America who took years to build a fine reputation. His guides all speak English and are exceptional mountain bikers. A December trip should give you enough time to research and ask questions on this forum. Many great people use this forum. Ask away. Mike

By the way, if your taking a tour bus up to Da Lat you can expect a 4 or 5 hour ride to Bao Loc city and Dam Bri waterfalls, at 2,500 feet elevation. Then another 3 hours to Da Lat at 5,000 ft. I'm not familiar with Bao Loc tour operators but maybe Sinh Cafe or another agent can arrange something. Not much else happening in Bao Loc. The highlight is the coffee shop where the tour buses stop for a break. You might think of overnighting in Bao Loc to have time to see the falls. I never heard the word kitsch before I saw your reference to it, so I looked it up. Not a word I would ever use for Da Lat. I love Da Lat. Call me kitschy, hahaha. There are 5 major waterfalls, mountain tribes and mountain trails that would take a lifetime to explore. Very relaxing town. Strangely, one of my favorite places to visit is the XQ art community where embroidery art skills take ten or more years to master. I took a three hour tour of that place and was mesmerized by the stories and history. Ride around the perimeter ridges overlooking Da Lat and see some beautiful scenery, buildings and step farming. Go to Larry's Bar in the 5 star Palace Hotel built in the 1920s. The hotel was refurbished years ago back to the original design. The bar gives me instant serenity when I'm there, and I'm not a big drinker by any means. I stayed at the hotel a few times and was totally enchanted with the building. I'm not an art aficionado by any means, but I sat on a bench seat on the mezzanine surrounded by wall to wall paintings. Someone's art choices kept me there for an hour. Never happened to me before or since. Here I go again, getting long winded. The point is I find new things about Da Lat each time I go. I think you will like it as well. Mike

A guy over on Thorn Tree just posted this link to his trip for the same area - thought you might find it useful: geocities.com/pathebikeguy/S...

It's funny. I was just going to post a question asking if Da Lat was worth visiting. If Mike says it is worth it, I am going.