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Da Lat city
is probably one of Vietnam's most well known vacation destination. Since
the turn of the century, Da Lat has been the vacation spot for
well-to-do vietnamese and foreigners. It is the unofficial honeymoon
mecca of Vietnam. Located on Lám Vi�n (Langbian) high lands, part of the
greater Central high lands of Vietnam (Cao Nguyen Trung Phan), the city
is 1500 m above sea level and is 305 km from Saigon. The name Da Lat
originates from the hill tribe people in this region. It literally means
Stream of the Lat people.
The first
person to explore this region was Mr. Nguyen Thong. Approximately 25
years later, in 1893, Dr. Yersin, a French immunologist discovered
Dankia high lands while on an expedition to the Langbian high lands.
Dankia is 10 km from the city of Da Lat. This region reminded Dr. Yersin
of his homeland, and particularly the similarities between Da Lat's
evergreen forests and those in the Swiss Alps. He made the
recommendation to the government to form a resort town with health spas
for government officials and foreign dignitaries in Dankia.
Not long
after, Dr. Tardiff, also a French citizen, had an expedition through
this region and visited Dankia and Da Lat. He recommended Da Lat to the
government due to the favorable water source and locale. At the time,
South Vietnam was under French rule, and was known as Cochinchina. The
Governor of Cochinchina personally visited Dangkia and Da Lat and
decided to take Dr. Tardiff's recommendation.
Ho Xuan
Huong Lak
Da Lat is
also famous for its many waterfalls and lakes, one of which is Ho Xuan
Huong (Xuan Huong lake). This man made lake was a site where many
indigenous people of Langbian high land made their homes. In 1984, the
lake wa s
emptied for renovation purposes. At the bottom of the lake, scientists
found many relics belonging to the hill tribe that once lived in this
area. Xuan Huong lake is shaped like the crescent moon. Visitors to Da
Lat and the town's people use the lake as a place to meet and talk. The
lake is also where many honeymooners come to visit. Xuan Huong lake is
the most beautiful lake in Da Lat. It is approximately 5 km2. In 1919 a
dam was formed on a branch of Camly river creating a small lake. In
1923, another dam was built further down stream to create yet another
lake. During a severe storm in 1932, both dams were destroyed. Between
1934-35, a larger dam was built of boulders (site of Ong Dao bridge
today) below the sites of the two previous dam creating one large lake
named Ho Lon or Large lake. Ho Lon was later renamed after Ho Xuan Huong,
a famous vietnamese poet in the 17th-century.
Valley of
Love
Thung Lung
Tinh Yeu (Valley of Love) is now a park developed by the local
government to attract tourists. The valley is approximately 5 km from
the center of town. At the floor of the valley is Da Thien lake. To go
to the lake there is a small dirt path used for horses. Recently the
park attendants have built a series of steps leading to the bottom of
the valley. Lake Da Thien is quite small and there are peddles and
motorized boats for rent.
Dalat
Waterfalls
Prenn fall
is located at the foot of Prenn pass and is about 10 km from Da Lat.
Around the fall area was once a thriving wild life refuge. Visitors to
the fall can visit the various habitat of the animal s
in this region. Today, Prenn fall is a destination to visit in Da Lat. A
local compared the scenery at Prenn fall to those drawn in paintings.
The water falling from the top of the fall creates a sheet of silver
pouring into a pool of water at the bottom. Behind this sheet of water
is a wooden and bamboo bridge where visitors can cross behind the water.
Gougah fall is approximately 40 km from Da Lat. The fall is located 500
m to the left of route 20. Guga is 17 m high. Its waters path is
naturally split in half mid way down the fall. The path to the right
flows calmly to the bottom, while the path to the left has great
turbulence and mist as the water strikes the rocks on its way to the
bottom.
Lake oF
Sorrow - Ho Than Tho
Lake of
Sorrow is located approximately 5 km northeast of the city. According to
local lore, the lake was named during the war between Vietnam and China.
As the story goes, long ago there lived a young couple in this area.
They loved each other very much and often met by the lake to enjoy the
tranquil setting of this area. At about the time when they spoke of
building a future together, Vietnam was in the state of war with foreign
invaders from the north. There was a general call for able-body young
men to take arms. The young man, Hoang Tung, b eing
extremely patriotic, decided to join the army of king Quang Trung -
Nguyen Hue to help defend Vietnam. The young couple decided to
meet by the lake to say their goodbye as Hoang Tung was leaving with his
garrison for the north. His betrothed Mai Nuong, being equally
patriotic, decided not to be a burden in his mind, lest he won't be able
to perform his duties, decided to commit suicide by drowning in the
lake. When the time came for the two to meet, Hoang Tung found that she
has passed away. The people in this region heard of the young couple's
story and decided to rename the lake Ho Than Tho or Lake of Sorrow.
Several variations of the story are published. One version along this
line claimed that Hoang Tung did not show up at the appointed time. Mai
Nuong was heart broken and spent many days by the lake to wait for him.
Hopeless, Mai Nuong committed suicide by jumping into the lake.
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