# Xuan Huong Lake, Da Lat > Xuan Huong Lake is a man-made crescent lake right in the centre of Da Lat, beside Lam Vien Square and the market. The first dam on the stream went up in 1919 and the current one in 1934–1935. It's free and open at all times. About 5 km of path runs along the shore past pines and cafés; walking the loop takes 1–1.5 hours. Early-morning mist and evenings are the best times. Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat/xuan-huong-lake - City: [Da Lat](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat), Vietnam - YesGo score: 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - Opening hours: Always open; lakeside cafés roughly morning to evening - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free, at any time - 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 - 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 - Coordinates: 11.94185, 108.44683 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1919** — French engineers dammed the Cam Ly stream, creating the first lake (source: English Wikipedia) - **1934–1935** — the current stone dam was built to a design by engineer Tran Dang Khoa (source: English Wikipedia) - **1953** — the lake was named Xuan Huong; the French had called it the Grand Lac (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 5.1 km** — of shoreline around the lake; the road around is a little longer (source: our measurement from OpenStreetMap) - **≈ 44 ha** — of open water, measured from the lake outline in OpenStreetMap (source: our measurement from OpenStreetMap) - **Poet** — the name is linked either to the 18th-century poet Ho Xuan Huong or to the scent of flowers on the shore — it's debated (source: English Wikipedia) - **Free** — to walk around the lake at any hour (source: MIA.vn and Vietnam Airlines guides) - **2026–2028** — the city is cleaning up Ho Lang 2, a settling pond that feeds the lake — expect some works near the shore (source: dalat.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. > **Misty mornings or lit-up evenings** The lake is at its loveliest early in the morning, when mist hangs over the water and locals jog and exercise along the shore. The other great time is evening, when the lights come on at Lam Vien Square and in the cafés, and at weekends the whole town is out strolling. In the middle of the day it's simply a pleasant lakeside park. ## 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 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 - [ ] Comfortable shoes — the loop is about 5 km - [ ] A sweater — mornings and evenings are cool - [ ] Cash in dong for coffee and rentals - [ ] Going early for the mist or in the evening for the lights - [ ] Dropping into the Flower Park on the way - [ ] An umbrella in the rainy season ## Nature in Da Lat: compare and choose Lakes, parks and waterfalls in Da Lat rated by YesGo. - [Xuan Huong Lake](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat/xuan-huong-lake) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Datanla Falls](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat/datanla-falls) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 80,000 VND; coaster extra - [Prenn Falls](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat/prenn-falls) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Combo about 110,000–250,000 VND - [Pongour Falls](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat/pongour-falls) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · About 20,000 VND ## 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 Lake](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat/xuan-huong-lake) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free 2. [Da Lat Flower Park](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat/da-lat-flower-park) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 40,000–100,000 VND 3. [Da Lat Railway Station](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat/da-lat-railway-station) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 50,000 VND; train extra 4. [Crazy House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat/da-lat-crazy-house) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 80,000 VND; under 1.2 m free ## Good to know Xuan Huong Lake is in central Da Lat — not Tuyen Lam Lake outside town or the Lake of Sighs (Than Tho). The poet Ho Xuan Huong lived in Hanoi; hotels named after her are just hotels. ## Tips - 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](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-lat/da-lat-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. ## How we checked History 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. ## Sources - 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 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.