Tiger Waterfall

Tiger Waterfall

Description | Image Slideshow | Map

First published May 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle

Peaceful Tiger falls

Tiger waterfall is situated deep in the pine forests surrounding Dalat. Only 15km east of the city, these falls are easily reached but feel far more remote than they really are. Like many of the waterfalls in this list, Tiger falls was developed as a tourist site some time ago, but appears to have failed to attract many visitors and is now largely deserted. There are benches, picnic huts, toilets, and even a restaurant here, but none of them look as though they see the crowds of tourists that they were presumably built to cater for. Despite its neglect, there’s still a skeleton staff here to collect the 10,000VNĐ ($0.50) admission fee before taking the steep steps down to the base of the waterfall. There are several natural platforms of smooth rock in the river on which to sit and gaze up at the falls. The cascade of white water is relatively gentle here because the water doesn’t drop vertically and crash on the rocks below; instead, there’s a diagonal slope over which the water slides and flows, finding its way to the base via several rivulets, including a distinctive lateral spur to the left, which gives Tiger falls a playful character. Because of its gentle flow and quiet setting, Tiger falls is the most peaceful of the waterfalls in this list: the kind of place where a romantic poet might come to compose a sonnet, while sitting in the dappled sunlight on a rock, dangling his feet in the cool water.

Guarding the falls: a colossal statue of a hunter

Pine trees and creepers grow up around the falls and the water is clean enough to have a refreshing dip in the rock pools. There’s some trash tangled in the roots at the high-water line, but, compared to other waterfalls this close to Dalat, it’s pretty tidy. At the top of the falls there’s a perilous rope bridge with broken wooden planks that it’s advisable steer clear of. Tiger waterfall was named after a small cave which is believed to have been a tiger den. The cave entrance is on the right before the rope bridge, but the only tigers you’ll see here are weather-beaten concrete statues. Oh, and there’s a colossal sculpture of an ethnic minority hunter presiding over the site too. To reach the falls take Highway 20 east of Dalat towards Trại Mát. Take a left after about 10km (not signposted) and follow the lane into the pine forests until it comes to an end at Tiger falls [MAP]

Images of Tiger waterfall:

[Go back to main article: Dalat’s Waterfalls]

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  1. John says:
    May 30, 2019 at 2:47 AM

    My daughter and I rode out to Tiger Waterfall yesterday in the driving rain—I’m teaching her to be an adventure-seeker—and it’s closed for major renovations/maintenance. The sign SHOULD be at the turnoff from the main road, but it’s not until you get to the entrance gate.

    There is NO REASON to attempt the ride from Hwy 20 to the entrance gate until it is open again.

  2. Sara says:
    May 25, 2018 at 3:42 PM

    Hi

    The waterfall is closed due to renovation (of something) the road is, as mentioned above, very bad and when you finally arrive at the parking area there is a sign saying it’s closed.

    1. Tom says:
      May 26, 2018 at 12:33 AM

      Hi Sara,

      Thanks for the update. That’s a shame.

      Tom

  3. Manuel says:
    January 30, 2018 at 3:32 PM

    Hi,

    Please update the article and give the people a note that the way to the waterfall is very bad and dangerous (after leaving highway 20). Specially the part of the way after the old entrance gate to the waterfall is very bad!

    1. Tom says:
      January 30, 2018 at 4:33 PM

      Hi Manuel,

      Thanks for the update. I’m sure other readers will benefit from that information.

      Tom

    2. John says:
      May 30, 2019 at 2:43 AM

      I just rode it yesterday and it’s gravel with some big rocks. If you go slowly and stick to the obvious paths of previous motorbikes, it’s not that bad. My daughter kept asking why we were going so slow and could I please ride faster.

      It’s only dangerous if you ride too fast or are new to motorbikes; if the latter is the case, you shouldn’t be riding in Vietnam.

      1. Tom says:
        May 30, 2019 at 3:09 AM

        Thanks, John. That’s very helpful information.

        Tom