Cafes and Night Market in Da Lat
Part of the Da Lat travel guide — see every topic in All Da Lat Guides.
In Da Lat, sitting in a cafe is a main activity. The cool weather makes a hot drink a pleasure, and many cafes are built on slopes with views over pine hills. In the evening, the streets around the Central Market turn into a busy night market full of food stalls, warm clothes and young people out with friends.
The cafe scene
Da Lat has a huge number of cafes, from tiny wooden rooms to large garden cafes on the hills. Many face west over a valley, so they are popular at sunset. Others are in old villas, greenhouses or glass boxes among the pines. Young Vietnamese visitors often plan their trip around photo-friendly cafes. Try Vietnamese iced or hot coffee with condensed milk, egg coffee, or a pour-over of local arabica. Some cafes play live acoustic music at night. Prices are usually low compared with big cities. Go on a weekday afternoon to find a good seat with a view.
The night market
The night market fills the streets and stairs around the Central Market, near the north end of Xuan Huong lake. It starts as the light fades and runs until late in the evening, every night. Stalls sell knitted hats, scarves, jackets and souvenirs, and the area is very crowded on weekends. Watch your phone and bag in the crowd. Food is the main draw. Most people walk slowly between the stalls, buy small snacks and stand or sit on low plastic stools to eat. It is a lively scene and a good place for people watching.
What to eat
Banh trang nuong, often called Da Lat pizza, is a crisp grilled rice paper topped with egg, spring onion, dried shrimp and sauce. Hot soy milk with a sweet cake is the classic drink on a cold night. Other favourites are grilled meat skewers, sweet potato and corn roasted on charcoal, and steaming bowls of noodle soup. Banh can, small rice cakes cooked in clay moulds, are popular too. Look for stalls with many local customers. You can also eat fresh strawberries, avocado ice cream and hot ginger drinks. Most snacks are cheap, so it is easy to try several.
More things to do in the city
By day, the Central Market is a busy building full of dried fruit, jam, tea, coffee and fresh produce. It is a good place to buy food gifts. The Crazy House is a fun hotel and art building with twisting stairs, tree-like walls and odd rooms, open to visitors. Lam Vien Square by the lake has a big modern design shaped like a flower and is a popular meeting point in the evening. Small art galleries, record shops and design stores are spread around the old streets. Walking is the best way to explore the centre, but the hills are steep.
Cafes and Night Market at a glance
| Getting there | Night market by the Central Market, central Da Lat |
|---|---|
| Hours | Night market from about sunset to late evening, every night |
| Cost | Snacks and drinks are cheap; cafes vary |
| Best time | Weekday evenings for smaller crowds |
| Must try | Grilled rice paper, hot soy milk, local arabica coffee |
| Tip | Wear a jacket and keep your bag in front of you |