Da Lat‘s setting in a mountainous region means there are several waterfalls scattered around it — easy to reach for a short outing, or for a dip if you’re feeling a little braver. Some are better known than others, and they make a great excuse to rent a motorbike and explore the surroundings. Another good option, if you’d rather not drive, is simply booking a tour that takes you to a few of them.
Without further ado, here are some of the best waterfalls you’ll find around Da Lat.
In this post
1. Pongour waterfall
Pongour is the largest waterfall you’ll find near Da Lat. The site spans more than 100 square meters with a maximum drop of 45 meters, plus several tiers where you can take in the different cascades along the way. Pongour is lovely to visit practically year-round, though it’s far less spectacular in the dry season.
Once inside the grounds, you’ll walk down a path for about 5 minutes to reach the first drop.
The best way to get to Pongour is renting a motorbike and riding for about an hour, since the falls are roughly 50 km from Da Lat. On arrival you’ll pay an entrance fee of 20,000 VND.
2. Prenn waterfall
Prenn is a complex turned into something of a tourist theme park, where alongside the waterfall you’ll find activities as varied and touristy as ostrich or elephant rides — practices many of us don’t sympathize with, but which remain common in places like this.
However touristy the place may be, the grounds are decorated with a multitude of plants and bonsais, plus a walk across several wooden bridges — a lovely spot to wander first thing in the morning. The waterfall, over 10 meters deep, ends in an artificial lake.
Entry to the falls costs 40,000 VND per person.
3. Datanla waterfall
Datanla is a lovely set of falls you can visit year-round, just 5 km south of central Da Lat. Entry costs 30,000 VND. These are among the most surprising falls around Da Lat: if you decide to visit you’ll find beautiful natural scenery, and although they’re not as big as Elephant waterfall, they’re well worth the trip.
They’re famous as the spot for canyoning, but what surprised us most is that to reach them you can ride a small roller coaster that hurtles you down through the scrub at full tilt.
If you want to go down that way you’ll pay 60,000 VND, though you can skip it and simply walk down.
4. Elephant waterfall
Elephant waterfall is probably the most impressive waterfall around Da Lat and one you shouldn’t miss if you’re visiting the city, being one of the three largest in Lam Dong province.
Its sheer vertical drop and powerful flow, especially in the rainy season, make this an absolute must. Nearly 40 m tall and with a roar you can hear from a long way off, it’s our favorite.
It sits about 40 km from the city and entry costs 20,000 VND. On the way you can stop off at one of the area’s coffee plantations.
5. Jraiblian waterfall
Also called Bao Dai waterfall, since King Bao Dai used to come here to hunt and would stop to rest partway through the day.
Seventy meters of thundering water is the signature of this spectacular waterfall, without doubt one of the most surprising and least known around Da Lat, as it lies a little off the main tourist trail.
Barely visited, it’s a great place to head if you’d rather not be surrounded by crowds and want to feel the force of nature in its purest state.
To get here you’ll need to cover the roughly 60 km separating it from the city. Entry is free.
Entrance fees for the main Da Lat waterfalls
- Elephant waterfall: 20,000 VND (~US$0.80)
- Pongour waterfall: 20,000 VND (~US$0.80)
- Prenn waterfall: 40,000 VND (~US$1.50)
- Datanla waterfall: 30,000 VND (~US$1.15)
- Jraiblian waterfall: free
