Camping in Dalat is amazing and one of the best things to do here. Of course, you have to like the feeling of sleeping in a tent with limited facilities around you, but being right in the nature makes it very rewarding. If you are really into wild camping, this is the place to be. In fact, Dalat is one of the best places for camping in Vietnam.
Continue reading if you want to now the best spots for camping in Dalat and information how to arrange your camping trip.
How to organize camping in Dalat?
You have three options for camping in Dalat:
1. Camping tour
The most recommended way of camping in Dalat is with a tour. The local guides here know the rules, the best and most beautiful places where you can camp and one of the most important things: they arrange all the camping gear and the food. So you can just enjoy camping, without having to find a place and arrange the things.
An added advantage is that you can also arrange other activities with the guides, such as hiking and kayaking.
2. Book a campsite
Camping is becoming more and more popular in Vietnam and Dalat is without a doubt the frontrunner. This has ensured that camping sites have also been created in addition to camping tours. Perhaps a little less adventurous than going camping with a tour, but just as cozy.
As an extra bonus, with some of the camping sites you also have the option of glamping, or luxury camping. Sleeping in a tent in beautiful nature, but with a real bed, nice decoration and sometimes also modern facilities.
3. Camping by yourself
Last option is not the most convenient option, but it is possible. You can go camping by yourself, however, there are not many places to rent camping gear in Dalat and you would not buy it for 1 or 2 time use either or carry camping equipment with you through your whole Vietnam trip.
Renting a 2-person tent should cost from 100,000 VND a day. Make sure it includes a mat for the ground, because at night it can get cold. Other equipment to rent are sleeping bag, lights and cooking equipment. Food can be easily bought at the supermarket or local market.
If you want to keep some freedom of wild camping, but not too organized, speak to one of the guides, they can be quite flexible. Discuss where you want to camp and they will take care of all the gear and even the food. This gives you a little more freedom if you want to, but you don’t have to arrange the camping gear yourself.
Best time to go camping in Dalat
The best time to go camping in Dalat is during the dry season from November to March. Around this time of the year, the weather is great for camping, with warm temperatures and almost no rain. Temperatures during this time of the year are usually between 20 and 30 degree Celsius, but can drop at night to around 10 degree.
Tips for camping in Dalat
- Check the weather in advanced. Like any camping trip, constant rain can make the experience a lot less.
- Bring the right clothes. When you go on a tour you don’t have to arrange camping gear yourself, but there are a few things you should bring with you. Such as good walking shoes if you also go for long walks. Swimwear for a swim in a local lake if needed. Clothes against the rain and sun. During the day it can be hot, so you need light clothing, but in the evening it can cool down a lot in Dalat.
- Don’t bring too much. The more you bring, the more you need to carry.
- Check what is possible. Not every place you are allowed to make a campfire. Also, not every tour include trekking. Make a list of the things you want and use it to compare it to all the places you can do camping in Dalat.
- Keep the camping area clean. The most obvious, but always good to mention: make sure to bring your trash with you.
1. Bidoup National Park
Bidoup National Park is considered the best place for camping in Dalat. It is actually located 32 kilometer from the city center, on the way to the coastal city of Nha Trang. A real camping experience should be with stunning and peaceful nature and this is what makes Bidoup the perfect place to set up a tent. It is a bit off the beaten track, with a huge forest area and small rivers and lakes.
The huge advantage of this nature area it that it is perfect for (long) nature hikes. Enjoy the peace, and you might spot even some wild animals. If you get hot, then you can cool down in the water. From the highest peak in the park you have stunning views over the area with forest, hills and villages.
Bidoup National Park camping tour
If you are interested in going camping in Dalat, then this is the most recommended activity. With our Bidoup camping tour you get picked up from Dalat and head to the national park. During the tour you go trekking through the forest, along rivers and coffee plantations. With a bit of luck you can spot wild deer, boar and gibbons.
2. Tuyen Lam Lake
The most beautiful lake of Dalat is Tuyen Lam Lake and you can actually go camping here. Combine camping with a trekking through the stunning forest around the lake. If you are lucky, you may see a troop of wild gibbons or wild orchid in bloom. On the way, there are also some farms and local villages that you can visit.
Dalat camping tour
Interested in this Dalat camping trip? Check out Jungle fever trekking & camping tour.
3. Thien Phuc Duc hill
A great area to see the stunning low hanging clouds is Thien Phuc Duc hill. The best time to see the clouds is in the early money, so camping is your best option. Especially the the views are making this one of the best areas for camping in Dalat. Thien Phuc Duc hill is one of the best camping areas around Dalat with the best views. You come here mainly for the beautiful view and not to go trekking. But it’s fun before you go back to the city after camping, to visit one of the nearby strawberry farms.
4. Da Phu hill
About 10-12 km from Dalat city center, is Da Phu hill. Da Phu hill is a similar camping area as Thien Phuc Duc hill. The scenery is beautiful. In the evening you will admire the shimmering lights of the farmhouses. Early in the morning 3-4 am open your tent to watch thousands of starts. In the early morning, between 5 and 6 AM is the time to welcome the sunrise and see the clouds hanging below between the hills and forest.
5. Hon Bo
Hon Bo is the highest hill in the east of Dalat. Due to the distance, you don’t have very clear views towards the city, but instead there are stunning views over the surrounding hills and a flower village. At night you can see the lights from all the green houses in the village that light up. In the early morning you will be rewarded with a sea of clouds hanging in the hills below. With magical views from both in the evening and morning, makes this place one of the best places to go camping in Dalat.
It is quite easy to reach and a popular place for Vietnamese to go camping too. That brings one big downside and that is that some people leave their trash behind.
6. Golden Spring Lake
The area around Golden Spring Lake (Hồ Suối Vàng) has become extremely popular for camping these days. There are several places around the lake where you can camp with your own tent (or a tent that your guide brings along), but because of the popularity, campsites with permanent tents can also been found here. Here you also have the opportunity to go glamping. A few campsites nearby are:
Camp Art
Camp Art is the first campsite in this area, started by an artist. This is clearly visible, because the area is beautifully designed with an eye on nature. The campsite really blends in the natural environment. There are also a few glamping tent available for more comfort and they look great in photos.
Ankroet Camp
Ankroet Camp is one of the most famous campsites in Dalat. It is located between the hills and forest and there is even a small river running through the camping grounds. There are a few different type of tents and enough tents if you are traveling with a large group.
Dalat Camp
Dalat Camp is a campsite around 20 kilometers from the city center, right in the same area as Ankroet Camp. They did their best to make it very atmospheric. In the evening it is beautifully lit with lights that hang in the trees and go from tent to tent. There is also a campfire every evening where you can warm yourself up and enjoy a nice drink.
In addition to camping, there is also the possibility here for glamping in Dalat. There are a number of more luxurious clamping tents. Dalat Camp mainly focuses on Vietnamese tourists, so keep in mind that communication in English can be difficult.
