It is the time of the year when Da Lat, a city nestled among the mountains of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, shakes off the last drops of summertime rain to welcome its first breezes of winter.
Originally a summer hideout for French officials who built villas in the clear mountain air to escape the heat and humidity of the lowlands, Da Lat has since remained a popular getaway for those in southern Vietnam.
A seven-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat boasts a year-round temperate climate rarely found in tropical Vietnam.
To those familiar with the city’s climate, the period from late October to March of the following year is known as the season of “wintry sunshine,” when everything is bathed in gold-colored light that chills rather than warms.
It is the time of the year when Da Lat’s youth is on full display, even without its brilliant flowers.
In the early hours of the day, a blanket of white foam works its magic on the forests, hillsides and weaving roads, covering the ‘wounds’ that urbanization has inflicted upon the heritage city.
It is also the perfect time for wilderness camping, when the cold is still mild enough to allow an adventurous heart to explore Da Lat’s many scenic landscapes hidden away from the bustling downtown area.
The cold peaks at New Year, signaling the blossoms of the city’s millions of flowers and the start of its tourist season that lasts until March.
In the early hours of the day, a blanket of white foam works its magic on the forests, hillsides and weaving roads, covering the ‘wounds’ that urbanization has inflicted upon the heritage city.
It is also the perfect time for wilderness camping, when the cold is still mild enough to allow an adventurous heart to explore Da Lat’s many scenic landscapes hidden away from the bustling downtown area.
The cold peaks at New Year, signaling the blossoms of the city’s millions of flowers and the start of its tourist season that lasts until March.
