In the mountains above Saigon is Vietnam's honeymoon capital. The French came here to beat the heat. You can come here to enjoy stunning scenery and a charming colonial town with unbelievable hotels, great restaurants, and some unusual things to do and see.

Includes transportation with private car and driver, services of our local guide, hotel accommodations, tax, hotel service charges, breakfast, admission charges to places visited. Extra nights, include tax, service, breakfast, car, driver and guide for one additional day. Not included: Other meals or admission costs (if any), airfare; items not specifically mentioned in the itinerary; items of a personal nature.

Citizens of most countries are required to have a visa to visit Vietnam. Please ask for details.

Club Sanook Members who use our packages in Vietnam can use a Club Sanook mobile phone free during your trip if you make arrangements with me in advance. We will give you the number before you depart so you can leave it with friends and family. There are a few rules, of course, but we will send you details before your trip. Please make your arrangements in advance.

Depart Ho Chi Minh City by private car this morning. It takes more than an hour before you finally leave this sprawling city behind and begin the slow climb into Vietnam’s Central Highlands. About half way you will stop to stretch your legs at Prenn Falls, where you can hike along the gushing stream that feeds the falls if you like. The rest of the journey takes you through one of the few remaining old-growth forests left in Vietnam as well as some of the country’s most verdant farm land.

If you get an early start you will arrive around lunch time. Several great restaurants ring the lovely lake near the center of town. Instead you may prefer to buy a bottle of wine, a crusty loaf of bread and some cheese and make your own picnic in the fresh mountain air. After you settle into your hotel you will visit the summer villa of Bao Dai, Vietnam’s last emperor. Although he had many residences around Vietnam, this is the only one left much as it was and open for public view—your chance to see how royalty here really lived. Next, a stop at the “crazy house,” one of the Vietnam’s most bizarre pieces of architecture. It’s actually a hotel, although few are interested in staying in a plaster nightmare from a sixties theme park. Not far away is Dalat’s own “crazy monk,” a deranged robed fellow who speaks in tongues and sells very collectable calligraphy. Before you call it a day, pay a quick visit to the gothic Dalat Cathedral almost next door to your hotel.

After your leisurely breakfast, your day begins with a visit to the busy public market, where farmers from surrounding mountains come to sell an amazing assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables and exotic plans. After a walk around the charming provincial French District you visit the Dalat Flower Gardens, one of the most fascinating botanical gardens you are ever likely to see. Your driver and guide are at your disposal for the rest of the day. You might opt for a train trip to nowhere. The restored turn-of-the-century Cremaillere Railway travels a mere eight kilometers to Trai Mat Village, then turns around after a brief stop. You get to see some spectacular scenery along the way. The many other options include the Cam Ly falls of the Valley of Love, where you can explore a lake by paddle-boat or rent horses by the hour. If you choose to stay another night or two we can help you arrange for trekking to nearby ethnic minority villages. At night the public market is transformed into a street-food paradise worth exploring with your guide. One of our favorite places to visit is the Truc Lam (bamboo forest) Monastery, one of the largest Zen Buddhist teaching centers in Vietnam. Surrounded by a breathtaking evergreen forest and overlooking Tuyen Lam Lake, this is one of the most peaceful places you may ever visit.

Your morning is free to relax or take a walk around Xuan Huong Lake, a great place for people watching. Unless you plan to stay longer, we’ll whisk you back to Saigon after lunch. If you have a bit more time, a trip to Dalat combines perfectly with a few days in Phan Thiet, the year 'round tropical beach paradise just a few hours away.

TET Holiday 2009: We regret that we can not accept Vietnam reservations during the period January 25 through 29 due to the TET (Vietnamese New Year) Holiday. Since it is considered unlucky to work during this period, practically everything closes and some prices double. We do not recommend visiting during this time because there are no public festivities and visitors are left with almost nothing to do.

PRICE PER PERSON FOR ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE
in DOLLARS/EUROS/POUNDS/THAI BAHT:

Deluxe: Novotel Dalat - Deluxe Room Through 31 October 08 Double 329 205 205 10,950 Single 642 401 401 21,400 1 November through 20 December Double 348 218 174 11,600 Single 681 426 341 22,700 21 December 08 through 5 January 09 Double 380 237 190 12,650 Single 744 465 372 24,800 6 January through 3 May 09 Double 348 218 174 11,600 Single 681 426 341 22,700 4 May through 31 October 09 Double 354 221 177 11,800 Single 693 433 347 23,100 Dalat Palace Hotel - Luxury Room 4 May through 31 October 08 Double 480 300 240 16,000 Single 945 591 473 31,500 1 November through 20 December Double 615 384 308 20,500 Single 1,215 759 608 40,500 21 December 08 through 5 January 09 Double 668 417 334 22,250 Single 1,320 825 660 44,000 6 January through 3 May 09 Double 615 384 308 20,500 Single 1,215 759 608 40,500 4 May through 31 October 09 Double 593 370 296 19,750 Single 1,170 731 585 39,000 Convert to Other Currencies

choose from these DALAT HOTELS Superior Hotel: Novotel Dalat VIP Hotel: Sofitel Dalat Palace Hotel Where We Shine: Our Customer Service Manager and guide staff work for us -- not for a local tour company, so we know you are getting the best guides available. They love to show our guests the real Vietnam. All of our hotels are in safe, central locations Prices are based on exchange rates of 1 July 2008 and are subject to change, although no changes will apply after you reserve and pay. Some hotels have compulsory Christmas and New Years dinners and surcharges over holiday periods including Tet.