A few hours from the beaches of Nha Trang and nestled high above the central Vietnamese highlands is the beautiful city of Da Lat. Once a resort center for the French contingent of colonial Vietnam, Da Lat today still offers a pleasant retreat for Vietnamese across the country with its French/European-styled buildings, Swiss-like streets and beautiful surrounding natural scenery.

Thung Lũng Tình Yêu, or the Valley of Love, is a popular forested resort area frequented by couples and families alike

One of former Emperor Bao Dai’s private retreats is open to the public

Another former private residence of the former Emperor, this one just a few miles from the first and unfortunately left abandoned, practically in ruins

Wandering around the Crazy House Hotel near the center of town, an architectural wonder/nightmare (depending on how you see it) and now a popular tourist attraction for guests and non-guests alike

Beautiful hydrangeas from Da Lat’s expansive flower garden located the center of town

Like many Vietnamese making the pilgrimage, we spent a day around the beautiful grounds of Truc Lam Temple and Monastery

Elephants from the nearby Prenn Falls resort area