If you’re planning to visit Truc Lam Zen monastery or Tuyen Lam lake, the Da Lat cable car is the best way to get there. The ride takes about 10-12 minutes and costs 120,000 VND one way or 150,000 VND round trip (about US$4.60-5.80).
If you’re lucky enough to ride it on a clear day, the views over the pine forests, the lake and the surrounding plantations are stunning. It’s one of those experiences worth having even if you’re not planning to visit the monastery.
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What you’ll see from the Da Lat cable car
The ride itself is already worth it. From the cabin you can see the city of Da Lat in the distance, the pine forests that define the area, some far-off coffee plantations and flower greenhouses, as well as a panoramic view of Tuyen Lam lake.
If the day is cloudy (common in Da Lat, especially in the afternoon), the landscape takes on a mysterious edge that has its own charm — though for photos a clear day is better.
Da Lat cable car: hours and prices
The Da Lat cable car runs every day, though it’s worth noting that it closes at midday for maintenance.
- Hours: 7:30 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
- Adult price: 120,000 VND one way / 150,000 VND round trip (about US$4.60-5.80).
- Children’s price (under 1.2 m tall): roughly 100,000 VND one way / 120,000 VND round trip (about US$3.80-4.60).
- Ride time: about 10-12 minutes.
- Cabins: 4 people each.
We recommend going up early in the morning, right at opening, when there are fewer people and the views tend to be clearer. On weekends and Vietnamese public holidays it gets pretty packed.
How to get to the Da Lat cable car
The departure station is on Robin Hill, about 2 km from Da Lat’s central market. You have several ways to get there:
- By Grab or taxi: it’s barely 5-10 minutes from the center. A Grab costs roughly 30,000-50,000 VND (about US$1.15-2).
- By rented motorbike: there’s parking at the station.
- On foot: if you’re staying in the center, you can walk it in about 20-25 minutes, though it’s a fair climb.
Combining the cable car with Truc Lam and Tuyen Lam lake
The most common — and most recommended — approach is to use the cable car as part of a half-day plan taking in the monastery and the lake. A good itinerary would be:
- Ride up on the cable car
(10-12 minutes, enjoy the views).
- Visit Truc Lam Zen monastery
(1.5-2 hours, free entry).
- Walk down to Tuyen Lam lake
Down the stone steps
- Stroll around the lake
And head back to the center by Grab.
Allow around 3-4 hours in total to do it without rushing. If you’d rather come back by cable car, buy the round-trip ticket from the start.
Tips for riding the Da Lat cable car
- Early morning is best, right at opening. The views tend to be clearer and there’s less of a line.
- Avoid weekends if you can. The cable car is hugely popular with Vietnamese visitors and fills up on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Bring a light jacket. Da Lat sits at over 1,500 meters and it can get chilly in the cabin, especially in the morning.
- If it rains, the cable car may close temporarily. Keep that in mind if your day in Da Lat hinges on this visit.
Frequently asked questions about the Da Lat cable car
These are the most common questions travelers tend to have.
A one-way ticket costs 120,000 VND (about US$4.60) and a round trip 150,000 VND (about US$5.80) for adults. Children pay roughly 100,000 VND one way / 120,000 VND round trip (about US$3.80-4.60).
The ride takes about 10-12 minutes and covers a distance of 2.3 km between the departure point and the station beside Truc Lam Zen monastery.
Yes, it is one of the best experiences you can have in Da Lat. The panoramic views are lovely, and it drops you right at Truc Lam Zen monastery, which is free to enter.
Yes, you can buy one way for 120,000 VND. It is useful if you plan to walk down to Tuyen Lam lake and head back to the center by Grab from there.
The cable car arrives at a station beside Truc Lam Zen monastery. From there you can visit the monastery (free entry) and walk down to Tuyen Lam lake.
First thing in the morning, right when it opens. The views are clearer, there are fewer people and you avoid the low clouds that tend to roll in over Da Lat in the afternoon.
