What about interesting overnight excursions from Ho Chi Minh City?

Phan Thiet: An alternative to Vung Tau for beaches and accommodations is the coastal town of Phan Thiet. In itself the town is similar to many small urban areas in Viet Nam. However, Phan Thiet has deserted, white-sand beaches, some with a backdrop of spectacular sand dunes.



Da lat: The city of Da Lat is set 1500 meters above sea level in the Lang Biang Mountain Range about 300 kilometers northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. This city of 125,000 inhabitants is located on a lush plateau complete with pine forests and lakes. Temperatures average 17 Celsius year round. Toward the end of the nineteenth century, French residents from Sai Gon recognized this area as the part of Viet Nam where the climate most resembled that of Europe. They soon had a road built from Sai Gon and turned Da Lat into a popular summer getaway for French colonists and wealthy Vietnamese.



Da Lat shows this strong French colonial influence in the more than 2,000 French-designed buildings and villas dotting the landscape. Many of the buildings fell into disrepair after the war but have been renovated or are scheduled for renovation. Da Lat looks to tourism for increasing revenue to renovate more villas, terrace shops, and tourist attractions. Foreign investments are attracting tourists. Of note is the renovation of the old French-style Palace Hotel, which is now managed by Accor as a Sofitel Hotel. It has forty-eight rooms, which have polished wooden floors and have been decorated in a colonial style. Across from the hotel is a magnificent golf resort. A new cable-car system gives guests a bird's-eye view of the city. Popular tourist sites in and around Da Lat include:

Da lat Catholic Cathedral: The cathedral in the old French Quarter was built in 1931 and offers regular services.

Morning Market: This market in the center of Da Lat Township sells a variety of vegetables, fruits, and flowers, all of which grow well in Da Lat's temperate climate. In the early morning, members of the local ethnic minority groups sell their handicrafts, which include rough silk and wooden instruments.

Ethnic Minority Museum: Exhibits include traditional costumes, ornaments, jewellery, baskets, hunting implements, and musical instruments. There is also an archaeological display of regional artifacts, some of which date back 1,500 years.

Valley of love: This Lake set within the pine forest that was part of Emperor Bao Dai's hunting grounds is a popular site for visitors.

Prenn Waterfall: The Prenn Waterfall is thirteen kilometers south of Da Lat. Its water drops fifteen meters across the mouth of a cave. Visitors can walk on a wooden bridge behind the falls.