Elephant Waterfall — a raw, powerful force of nature
Thac Voi sits on the Cam Ly River in Nam Ban town, about 25 kilometers southwest of Dalat. The waterfall drops more than 30 meters and spreads across roughly 40 meters wide, making it one of the largest waterfalls in Lam Dong province. It was recognized as a national heritage site in 2001 — a status that reflects its significance, even if the infrastructure around it has not always kept pace.
The name “Elephant Waterfall” comes from two things: the large rocks at the base that resemble elephants, and the deep, rumbling sound the water makes as it crashes down — not unlike the sound of elephants moving through dense forest. The K’ho people, who are indigenous to this region, know it as Lieng Rowoa, which translates roughly as “the waterfall where the elephants bowed.” According to local legend, a mountain girl sang endlessly for her soldier lover who never returned from battle. The surrounding herd of elephants, so moved by her grief, turned to stone as they listened — and the mountain god wept, his tears becoming the river that feeds the falls.
Behind the main curtain of water sits Doi Cave, also called Bat Cave. The entrance is framed by tangled roots and vines, and the cave extends about 50 meters into the rock. It is worth a look if the official access is open — though at the time of writing, that is precisely the problem.
Is Elephant Waterfall open?
The main entrance to Elephant Waterfall has been closed for several years due to an unresolved management and property dispute. There is no confirmed reopening date. The good news is that there are still two solid ways to experience the falls — covered in the next section.
How to see Elephant Waterfall
The official entrance is closed, but that does not mean you cannot see the falls. There are two options, each giving a very different experience.
1. From Linh An Pagoda (free)
The grounds of Linh An Pagoda sit directly adjacent to the waterfall, and from the lower garden area you get a clear elevated view across the ravine. It is not a close-up — you are looking at the falls from a distance — but the combination of the roaring water and the enormous white Guan Yin statue looming overhead makes for a genuinely striking scene. Head to the left of the statue (when facing it) and descend two sets of stairs to reach the best vantage point. You can also glimpse the falls from inside the statue itself, though the windows at the upper floors are small.
Even without the waterfall, Linh An Pagoda is worth the stop. The seven-story Guan Yin statue is one of the tallest in Vietnam and can be climbed from the inside, with shrines and murals on every floor.
Explore Linh An Pagoda
2. From Elephant Coffee (60,000 VND)
For a close-up view, Elephant Coffee is the best option right now. The café sits just over the bridge from the pagoda on the main road, and charges 60,000 VND per person for access to the viewing platforms below. Park at the café, pay at the entrance, and follow the steps down.
The path is steep and the stones are slippery — proper footwear matters here. There are three main viewing platforms, each at a different angle and distance from the falls. The lower you go, the wetter you get. At the closest platform, the spray is constant and heavy; waterproof clothing is not overkill. The power of the water at this range is genuinely impressive and worth the short scramble down.
One honest note: depending on the season and recent rainfall, some litter collects in the rocks and current below the falls. It does not ruin the experience, but it is there.
Location & getting there
Where is Elephant Waterfall
Elephant Waterfall is located in Nam Ban town, in the former Lam Ha district, about 25 kilometers southwest of Dalat city center. The surrounding area is rural and agricultural — expect greenhouses, flower fields, and coffee plantations along the way. It feels noticeably different from the busier roads closer to Dalat.
Note that the Google Maps pin for Elephant Waterfall leads to the closed main entrance. For Elephant Coffee (the active viewing point), search specifically for “Elephant Coffee Thac Voi” or use the Linh An Pagoda as your navigation target — both are at the same spot.
How to get there
By motorbike: The most common way to get here from Dalat. The ride takes around 45 minutes from the city center and follows a straightforward route southwest via Hoang Van Thu Street onto DT725. The road is busy in stretches and includes some winding highland sections. It is manageable for confident riders but not ideal for first-timers on a scooter.
By Grab or taxi: The easier option if you are not comfortable on two wheels. Fares from Dalat are reasonable and the route is direct. Keep in mind that getting a Grab back from Nam Ban can take time — it is worth asking your driver to wait if you plan a short visit.
By day tour or easy rider: Most Dalat day tours include Elephant Waterfall as a stop, often combined with Linh An Pagoda and other sights along the route. An Dalat easy rider (a local guide on a motorbike) is a good middle ground between flexibility and convenience.
What to combine nearby
Linh An Pagoda is directly next to the waterfall and essentially part of the same visit. If you are coming for the falls, plan time for the pagoda too — it adds depth to the stop without adding distance.
Tam Trinh Coffee is a viewpoint café a short distance along the valley. The scenery looking back toward the waterfall and surrounding hills is worth a stop if you have time to spare.
On the way from Dalat
The road from Dalat to Elephant Waterfall passes a few stops worth knowing about if you have time to spare.
Dalat Mario Kart is the nickname most travelers use for the downhill luge ride at Cao Nguyen Hoa park, on the Ta Nung route out of Dalat. Despite the name, there are no engines involved — it is a gravity-powered ride where you control your own speed on a track that winds through the hillside. Widely shared on social media and popular with backpackers. Two tracks are included in the standard ticket and the whole thing takes about an hour.
Mongo Land is an outdoor activity park best known for its rainbow slide — a long, colorful hillside slide that has become a draw in its own right. A lighter stop than Mario Kart but easy to combine with it given the proximity.
Flower fields line stretches of the road closer to Dalat, particularly around the Van Thanh area. Dalat supplies much of Vietnam’s cut flower industry, and the fields are at their best in the dry season when the blooms are full. Worth a brief stop if you pass at the right time.r.
Practical tips & visiting information
Opening hours & entrance fee
Elephant Coffee charges 60,000 VND per person for access to the waterfall viewing platforms. This is the main way to see the falls up close while the official entrance remains closed. Linh An Pagoda is free to enter. The official Elephant Waterfall entrance is closed indefinitely — there is no ticket or access available there regardless of what the Google listing suggests.
Elephant Coffee is generally open during daylight hours. A morning visit is recommended — the light is better for photos and the platforms are less crowded.
Best time to visit
The waterfall looks and feels different depending on the season, and neither is objectively better.
During the rainy season (roughly June to October), the volume of water is at its peak. The falls are loud, powerful, and physically overwhelming at close range. The downside is that the water runs brown from silt and soil runoff — it is dramatic, but not particularly photogenic.
During the dry season (November to April), the flow is reduced but the water runs cleaner and clearer. The falls are less thunderous but easier to photograph, and the path down to the viewing platforms is less slippery.
What to wear & bring
Wear shoes with grip — the steps down to the Elephant Coffee platforms are mossy and slippery in places, especially after rain. If you plan to go to the lower viewing platforms, bring a change of clothes or wear something you do not mind soaking. The spray at close range is heavy and unavoidable. Bring cash for the entrance fee, as card payment is unlikely to be available.
How long to spend here
The Elephant Coffee viewpoints take around 30 to 45 minutes to explore properly. Add another hour to an hour and a half if you plan to visit Linh An Pagoda and climb the statue. A combined visit to both fits comfortably into a half-day trip from Dalat.
Is Elephant Waterfall worth visiting?
Elephant Waterfall is genuinely impressive — the scale and raw power of the water is hard to replicate, and standing on the lower platforms at Elephant Coffee with spray soaking through your clothes is the kind of experience that stays with you. For that alone, it earns its place on a Dalat itinerary.
That said, it comes with real caveats. The main entrance has been closed for years with no clear resolution in sight. The alternative access through Elephant Coffee works, but it is a workaround rather than a proper visit — the cave behind the falls and the original pathway are not accessible. Litter collects in the rocks below the falls, particularly during and after the rainy season, which takes the edge off an otherwise striking setting. And during the rainy season, the water runs brown — powerful, but not exactly beautiful.
For most visitors spending a few days in Dalat, it is worth the trip — especially when combined with Linh An Pagoda, which adds real depth to the stop without adding any distance.
If you are also considering Pongour Falls, the two work well together. The scenic route from Dalat to Pongour passes directly through Nam Ban, which means Elephant Waterfall is a natural stop on the way. Taking that route — over the pass via Ta Nung rather than the busier highway — makes it easy to visit both in a single half-day trip without backtracking. The highway is faster but less interesting, with more truck traffic and little to see along the way. The mountain road is the better choice regardless.
