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Xuan Huong Lake, Da Lat

Xuan Huong Lake in central Da Lat from above, with pine-lined shores, swan pedal boats and a fountain roundabout
Photo: Diane Selwyn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free, at any time
Hours
Always open; lakeside cafés roughly morning to evening
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Loop around the lake
≈ 5 km of shoreline — 1–1.5 hours on foot, 20–30 minutes by bike
Swan pedal boats
Sometimes for hire, but the rental has been suspended in the past — check on the day
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Where
Central Da Lat: Lam Vien Square on the south shore, Da Lat Market a few minutes away
Best time
Misty early mornings and evenings when the lights come on
Payment
Cash in VND at cafés and rentals
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
11.94185, 108.44683YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

1919French engineers dammed the Cam Ly stream, creating the first lake
SourceEnglish Wikipedia
1934–1935the current stone dam was built to a design by engineer Tran Dang Khoa
SourceEnglish Wikipedia
1953the lake was named Xuan Huong; the French had called it the Grand Lac
SourceEnglish Wikipedia
≈ 5.1 kmof shoreline around the lake; the road around is a little longer
Sourceour measurement from OpenStreetMap
≈ 44 haof open water, measured from the lake outline in OpenStreetMap
Sourceour measurement from OpenStreetMap
Poetthe name is linked either to the 18th-century poet Ho Xuan Huong or to the scent of flowers on the shore — it's debated
SourceEnglish Wikipedia
Freeto walk around the lake at any hour
SourceMIA.vn and Vietnam Airlines guides
2026–2028the city is cleaning up Ho Lang 2, a settling pond that feeds the lake — expect some works near the shore
Sourcedalat.app (18.04.2026)

How long does it take to walk around Xuan Huong Lake?

The shoreline is about 5 km, so a full loop on foot takes 1–1.5 hours without stops, or 20–30 minutes by bike. With a coffee and a detour into the Flower Park it easily fills half a day — or you can simply sit by the water for half an hour.

It's free and open at all hours. Start at Lam Vien Square on the south shore and walk anticlockwise towards the Flower Park on the north shore; you'll arrive back at the square about an hour and a half later.

What is Xuan Huong Lake?

Xuan Huong is a man-made crescent lake in the very centre of Da Lat. Until 1919 the Cam Ly stream ran here; French engineers dammed it, creating the first lake. In 1932 the old dams gave way in a heavy storm, and in 1934–1935 engineer Tran Dang Khoa built the stone dam that gives the lake its present shape.

The French called it the Grand Lac, and in 1953 it was renamed Xuan Huong. The origin of the name is debated: some link it to the 18th-century poet Ho Xuan Huong, others to the scent of flowers on the shore ("xuân hương" means "spring fragrance"). Today it's the heart of the city, surrounded by Lam Vien Square, Da Lat Market, old hotels, pines, benches and cafés.

Things to do

  • Walk the loop — about 5 km along the shore among pines and flowers, 1–1.5 hours.
  • Cycle around in 20–30 minutes; hotels and rental shops in the centre hire bikes.
  • Lam Vien Square on the south shore — the city's main square, busy in the evening.
  • Lakeside cafés — a Da Lat-style coffee with a view of the water.
  • The Flower Park on the north shore — a ticketed flower garden, easy to drop into on the way.
  • Swan pedal boats, if the rental is running on the day.
  • Morning mist over the water — the lake's classic shot.

How to get to Xuan Huong Lake

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On foot

More tips

  1. From central Da Lat it's a walk: Lam Vien Square sits right on the south shore, and Da Lat Market is a few minutes away.
  2. By Grab or taxi, search for "Hồ Xuân Hương" or "Quảng trường Lâm Viên".
  3. From the intercity bus station on 3 Thang 4 Street it's about 1.5 km to Lam Vien Square — 5 minutes by taxi.
  4. From Lien Khuong Airport (DLI) it's about 30 km — 40 minutes by taxi or airport shuttle into town.
  5. Start your loop at Lam Vien Square; the Flower Park on the north shore is roughly halfway round.

When to go

Come early in the morning for mist, soft light and locals exercising, or in the evening for the lights and the city out walking. The dry season, November to April, brings more sunny days; in the rainy season, May to October, afternoons are often wet, so walk in the morning.

Da Lat is cool, especially at either end of the day, so bring a sweater.

Is Xuan Huong Lake worth visiting?

Yes: it's free, central and the most Da Lat place in town — pines, mist, water and an unhurried pace. Walking the loop is the best way to get a feel for the city on your first day.

The YesGo take: don't expect crystal-clear water — it's a city lake, and there are sometimes works along the shore. There are no big sights on the lake itself; it's a place for a stroll and a coffee. Combine it with the Flower Park and Da Lat Market for a good first day.

Before you go: checklist

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Nature in Da Lat: compare and choose

Lakes, parks and waterfalls in Da Lat rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Xuan Huong Lakeyou are here431 hFree—
Datanla Falls312 h80,000 VND; coaster extra4.5 km
Prenn Falls301 hCombo about 110,000–250,000 VND7.7 km
Pongour Falls221 h 30 minAbout 20,000 VND34.5 km

Central Da Lat on foot

A loop around Xuan Huong Lake and the Flower Park in the morning, Da Lat railway station in the afternoon and the Crazy House towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Xuan Huong Lakeyou are here1 h · Free
  2. 17 min walk from the previous stopDa Lat Flower Park1 h · 40,000–100,000 VND
  3. 19 min walk from the previous stopDa Lat Railway Station45 min · 50,000 VND; train extra
  4. 48 min walk from the previous stopCrazy House1 h · 80,000 VND; under 1.2 m free

4 places · about 5 h 9 min with walks · 84 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Da Lat Railway Station

Da Lat, Vietnam

45 min · 50,000 VND; train extra · 15 min walk

Da Lat Flower Park

Da Lat, Vietnam

1 h · 40,000–100,000 VND · 17 min walk

Crazy House

Da Lat, Vietnam

1 h · 80,000 VND; under 1.2 m free · 33 min walk

How to do it right

  • The classic shot of the lake is from Lam Vien Square early in the morning, while the mist is still on the water.
  • Walk anticlockwise from Lam Vien Square — the Flower Park is halfway round.
  • Rent a bike if you'd like to circle the lake and ride on to Da Lat railway station.
  • Weekend evenings are lively around the square and the water, but lakeside cafés can have a wait.
  • Drop into the Flower Park on the north shore along the way.

Questions

How long does it take to walk around Xuan Huong Lake?

About 5 km of shoreline — 1–1.5 hours on foot without stops, or 20–30 minutes by bike.

Is there an entrance fee for Xuan Huong Lake?

No. Walking around the lake is free at any time.

Where is Xuan Huong Lake?

In the centre of Da Lat, with Lam Vien Square on the south shore and Da Lat Market a few minutes away.

Can you rent boats on the lake?

Swan pedal boats are sometimes for hire, but the rental has been suspended before. Check on the day.

When is the best time to visit Xuan Huong Lake?

Early morning for the mist over the water, or evening when the lights come on.

When was Xuan Huong Lake created?

The first dam was built in 1919 and the current stone dam in 1934–1935. It has been called Xuan Huong since 1953.

Why is it called Xuan Huong?

Opinions differ: after the 18th-century poet Ho Xuan Huong, or after the scent of flowers on the shore — "spring fragrance".

Is Xuan Huong Lake worth visiting?

Yes — a free walk through the most Da Lat part of town. Combine it with the Flower Park and the market.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • English Wikipedia — Xuân Hương Lake: dams of 1919, 1923 and 1934–1935, former name, 1953 renaming, theories about the name
  • OpenStreetMap — lake outline (our measurement of perimeter and area), Lam Vien Square coordinates
  • Báo Đầu tư (21.07.2022) — suspension of the pedal-boat rental
  • MIA.vn and Vietnam Airlines guides — free access, walking, rentals
  • dalat.app (18.04.2026, updated 31.08.2026) — Ho Lang 2 clean-up project, 2026–2028
  • Wikidata Q10772055
  • YesGo general facts for Vietnam — cash payments
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 08.11.2026 ·
How we checkedHistory is from English Wikipedia (dams of 1919 and 1923, their collapse in 1932, the current 1934–1935 dam, the Grand Lac name and the 1953 renaming). The shoreline length (≈ 5.1 km) and area (≈ 44 ha) are our own measurements from the lake outline in OpenStreetMap; guides say 5 or 7 km, probably measuring different roads around it. Pedal boats: according to Báo Đầu tư, the city suspended the rental in 2022 pending paperwork; we found no current status, so it's marked unofficial. The Ho Lang 2 clean-up is per dalat.app. Loop times are our own estimates.

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Linh Phuoc Pagoda

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Datanla Falls

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Prenn Falls

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