Dalat Countryside & Waterfalls Tour: Silk, Coffee & Ethnic Villages

Summary

Waterfalls, weaving, coffee aromas and laughter in Dalat’s hills

You’ll ride through Dalat’s countryside with a local guide, feeling cool mountain air as you visit Elephant and Ponguor waterfalls, watch traditional silk weaving up close, try fresh weasel coffee on a plantation hilltop, and wander ethnic villages where stories linger in every gesture. Expect honest moments — some loud laughter, some quiet awe — that stay with you long after.

What’s the experience like?

Li was already grinning when we piled into the van — I think she could tell we’d be easy to amuse. The road out of Dalat twisted through piney air that somehow smelled both sharp and sweet. First stop was the Elephant Waterfall, which is louder than you’d expect; the spray hit my face before I even got close. There were locals selling sticky rice cakes by the path (I bought two, one for me, one for “good luck,” Li said). I still think about the way the mist clung to my jacket there.

The next bit surprised me — a silk factory. Honestly, I thought it would be boring but watching those tiny silkworms become something you can touch was kind of mesmerizing. The machines clacked and whirred while a woman showed us how to tease out the threads. She didn’t speak much English but her hands did all the talking. After that, we stopped at a cricket farm (yes, really) where someone offered us fried crickets with chili salt. I tried one. Crunchy, not bad… but probably not my new favorite snack.

We wandered through Ta Nung and Nam Ban villages — lots of waving kids and gardens full of things I couldn’t name. At Chicken Village, our guide explained why there’s a giant concrete chicken in the middle (long story involving love and dowries — Li laughed when I tried to say it in Mandarin). Then came Ponguor waterfall: wider than Elephant but quieter somehow, just water over dark rock and a few people sitting quietly at the edge.

I’m not a big coffee person but after seeing how they make weasel coffee at a hillside farm (and tasting it — earthy and weirdly smooth), maybe I get the hype now. We finished up at Linh An Pagoda where the Happy Buddha statue looks like he’s about to burst out laughing; maybe he knows something we don’t. The sun was dipping low as we drove back toward Dalat city, windows down, everyone quiet for once except for Li humming softly up front. That stuck with me longer than any photo.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Dalat countryside and waterfalls tour

• Start from office at 8:30am
• Visit Datanla Waterfall
• See Elephant Waterfall
• Explore Linh An Pagoda
• Tour silk factory
• Visit cricket farm and rice wine making
• Explore coffee plantation and weasel coffee farm

Top questions

How far is Elephant Waterfall from Dalat city?

It’s about 25 km from Dalat on the Cam Ly River.

Is hotel pickup included in this Dalat countryside tour?

No, pickup starts from the tour office at 8:30am.

What local foods can you try during this tour?

You might try sticky rice cakes near Elephant Waterfall or fried crickets at the cricket farm.

Does this day trip include visiting ethnic minority villages?

Yes, you’ll visit Chicken Village (an ethnic minority village) along with others like Ta Nung and Nam Ban.

Are entrance fees included in this Dalat waterfalls tour?

Yes, all entrance fees are included in your booking.

Can you see how silk is made on this trip?

Yes, there’s a stop at a traditional silk factory where you can watch the process up close.

What is special about Linh An Pagoda?

Linh An Pagoda features long stone dragons on its steps and has Vietnam’s tallest Lady Buddha statue plus a giant Happy Buddha in back.

Is lunch included on this Dalat countryside tour?

No specific lunch is mentioned; however there are stops where snacks or local foods are available to buy.

What’s included

Your day includes an English-speaking guide who knows all the good stories, entry fees to every site (waterfalls, pagodas), air-conditioned transport looping through Dalat’s countryside villages and hillsides—plus plenty of chances to taste local snacks like cricket or fresh-brewed weasel coffee along the way before returning to town by evening.