French Heritage Tour in Da Lat: Da Lat Railway Station, Bao Dai’s Summer Palace, Crazy House & Tran Hung Dao Street Villas
City Tour
Walking Tour
Cultural tour
Standard
Departure point
→
Destination
Da Lat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
Da Lat
1N (Participation Duration)
Car,Walking (Transportation)
English (Language)
Number of participants 0/10
0 booked
Tour description
Da Lat came into being thanks to the French. In the 1890s, Alexandre Yersin searched for a cool highland region where colonial officials could escape the stifling heat of Saigon, and within just forty years, the area had gained a railway, luxury hotels, a high school, churches, and hundreds of villas bearing the character of Normandy, the Alps, or the Basque Country. Many of these structures remain intact today, creating a unique Da Lat unlike anywhere else in Vietnam.
This morning tour takes you on foot and by vehicle to explore this heritage with a local guide. We begin at Da Lat Railway Station, an Art Deco landmark built in 1938, with three roof peaks evoking the Langbiang mountain range. We then visit Palace III, the Summer Palace of Bao Dai, Vietnam’s last emperor, where the 1930s interiors and family rooms have been preserved in their entirety. You will stroll along Tran Hung Dao Street, lined with old villas and the former Governor-General’s Palace (Palace II), stop at Domaine de Marie Church, and admire Lycée Yersin with its curved row of buildings, now the Teachers’ Training College.
The final stops are Crazy House (Hang Nga Villa), a bizarre guesthouse complex inspired by tree trunks, built by architect Dang Viet Nga since 1990—not French in style at all, but the clearest testament to the continuing architectural eccentricity of Da Lat—and the Cathedral, whose bell tower bears a rooster figure and overlooks the Palace Hotel.
Since July 2025, Da Lat has comprised five wards within Lam Dong Province (Xuan Huong, Lam Vien, Cam Ly, Xuan Truong, and Lang Biang - Da Lat).
This morning tour takes you on foot and by vehicle to explore this heritage with a local guide. We begin at Da Lat Railway Station, an Art Deco landmark built in 1938, with three roof peaks evoking the Langbiang mountain range. We then visit Palace III, the Summer Palace of Bao Dai, Vietnam’s last emperor, where the 1930s interiors and family rooms have been preserved in their entirety. You will stroll along Tran Hung Dao Street, lined with old villas and the former Governor-General’s Palace (Palace II), stop at Domaine de Marie Church, and admire Lycée Yersin with its curved row of buildings, now the Teachers’ Training College.
The final stops are Crazy House (Hang Nga Villa), a bizarre guesthouse complex inspired by tree trunks, built by architect Dang Viet Nga since 1990—not French in style at all, but the clearest testament to the continuing architectural eccentricity of Da Lat—and the Cathedral, whose bell tower bears a rooster figure and overlooks the Palace Hotel.
Since July 2025, Da Lat has comprised five wards within Lam Dong Province (Xuan Huong, Lam Vien, Cam Ly, Xuan Truong, and Lang Biang - Da Lat).
Meeting point:
View on map
Da Lat Railway Station (Ga Da Lat), 1 Quang Trung Street, Lam Vien - Da Lat ward, Lam Dong
Meet at the station entrance. Pick-up from central Da Lat hotels is available on request.
Detailed itinerary
Stop 1 - Da Lat Railway Station (08:00): An Art Deco-style station built in 1938, with restored train carriages and the story of the former cog railway that crossed the pass from the coastal region.
Stop 2 - Dinh III, Bao Dai’s Summer Palace (around 08:45): The emperor’s 1930s residence, with its original office, family living rooms, and gardens. Approximately 45–60 minutes to visit the interior.
Stop 3 - Villas along Tran Hung Dao Street (around 10:00): Take a stroll to admire some of the best-preserved French-era villas and the former Governor-General’s residence (Dinh II, exterior visit only).
Stop 4 - Domaine de Marie Church (around 10:40): The pink convent church on the hill, built in the 1940s. Interior visits are available outside service hours.
Stop 5 - Lycée Yersin (around 11:15): The school founded in 1927, with a curved façade and bell tower, now Da Lat College of Education. Visit the grounds and exterior; this is an active school.
Stop 6 - Crazy House (around 11:45): The tree- and cave-shaped villa designed by architect Đặng Việt Nga, featuring winding staircases, suspension bridges, and themed rooms. Approximately 45 minutes.
Stop 7 - Da Lat Cathedral and Palace Hotel (around 12:40): The 1930s church with a rooster emblem atop its bell tower, along with views of the Palace Hotel, built in 1922, and Xuan Huong Lake. The tour ends here, a 5-minute walk from the market.
Stop 2 - Dinh III, Bao Dai’s Summer Palace (around 08:45): The emperor’s 1930s residence, with its original office, family living rooms, and gardens. Approximately 45–60 minutes to visit the interior.
Stop 3 - Villas along Tran Hung Dao Street (around 10:00): Take a stroll to admire some of the best-preserved French-era villas and the former Governor-General’s residence (Dinh II, exterior visit only).
Stop 4 - Domaine de Marie Church (around 10:40): The pink convent church on the hill, built in the 1940s. Interior visits are available outside service hours.
Stop 5 - Lycée Yersin (around 11:15): The school founded in 1927, with a curved façade and bell tower, now Da Lat College of Education. Visit the grounds and exterior; this is an active school.
Stop 6 - Crazy House (around 11:45): The tree- and cave-shaped villa designed by architect Đặng Việt Nga, featuring winding staircases, suspension bridges, and themed rooms. Approximately 45 minutes.
Stop 7 - Da Lat Cathedral and Palace Hotel (around 12:40): The 1930s church with a rooster emblem atop its bell tower, along with views of the Palace Hotel, built in 1922, and Xuan Huong Lake. The tour ends here, a 5-minute walk from the market.
Tour price includes
• English-speaking local guide
• Air-conditioned vehicle transfers between attractions
• Entrance tickets: railway station, Palace III (Summer Palace), and Crazy House
• Bottled water
• Taxes and service fees
• Air-conditioned vehicle transfers between attractions
• Entrance tickets: railway station, Palace III (Summer Palace), and Crazy House
• Bottled water
• Taxes and service fees
Tour price excludes
• Optional experience: the vintage Da Lat - Trai Mat train journey (available as an add-on, subject to the station’s operating schedule)
• Palace I (reopening in August 2026; may be added upon request)
• Food and drinks
• Tips
• Travel insurance
• Palace I (reopening in August 2026; may be added upon request)
• Food and drinks
• Tips
• Travel insurance
Cancellation policy
Cancel free of charge and receive a 100% refund when you notify us at least 24 hours before departure. Cancellations made within 24 hours are non-refundable. In the event of a storm warning or a destination closure due to weather by order of the authorities, we will assist with rescheduling or provide a full refund.
Other notes
Crazy House has narrow, steep stairways and walkways and is not suitable for visitors with limited mobility; the guide can skip this stop upon request.
Lycée Yersin is currently an active college; we visit only the grounds and exterior, and access may be restricted during examinations or events.
Palace II is currently a government guesthouse and can only be visited from the outside.
The interior of Da Lat Cathedral is open to visitors around Mass times; the group always visits the exterior and grounds.
Morning temperatures in Da Lat can range from 15–18°C—you should bring a light jacket.
Church dress code: please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
Lycée Yersin is currently an active college; we visit only the grounds and exterior, and access may be restricted during examinations or events.
Palace II is currently a government guesthouse and can only be visited from the outside.
The interior of Da Lat Cathedral is open to visitors around Mass times; the group always visits the exterior and grounds.
Morning temperatures in Da Lat can range from 15–18°C—you should bring a light jacket.
Church dress code: please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
Detailed price list
| Guest type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $55 |
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