Description | Image Slideshow | Map
First published May 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle
Datanla waterfall is only 6km from Dalat city centre. It’s no surprise then, that this is the most touristy and developed of all the falls in this list. Just off the pine-studded Prenn Pass, Datanla’s entrance tells you all you need to know about this waterfall: the big, asphalt car park is usually packed with coaches; there’s a queue of tourists outside the ticket office; the restaurant is teeming with people; loud music bellows from the public address system, while tour groups study a billboard displaying a map of Datanla’s wide array of activities, including, a roller-coaster, cable car, abseiling, rafting, and ‘free jumping’. The waterfall has several ‘levels’, each of which offers a different one of the ‘attractions’ just listed. Entrance is only 10,000VNĐ, but you have to pay separately for any activity you wish to do, (most of which are reasonably priced).
The waterfall itself is quite pretty but not impressive. There are excellent pathways, through lush foliage, leading down through the ‘levels’ of the falls. The crowds, the music, the kitsch decorations, and – all too often – the litter, are enough to put most people (including me) off. However, if you’re short of time and want to visit a waterfall in Dalat, Datanla will suffice. Also, for moderate adrenaline junkies, this waterfall offers a gentle ‘hit’. Try to visit on a cold, rainy day (there are plenty of these in Dalat from April to September) as the bad weather tends to keep tour groups away: last time I visited, I had the entire site to myself – surely the first time this has happened to anyone, ever.
To get to the falls take Highway 20 a few kilometres south of Dalat, the entrance to Datanla is on your right (west). Many tour agencies in Dalat include Datanla waterfall as part of a day trip, or you can easily ride here by hired motorbike, bicycle, or even walk. [MAP]
Datanla falls is pretty but not spectacular 
Amusement park: a map showing all available activities 
Red river: Datanla falls on a rainy day turns muddy 
Lush: pathways are covered in tropical foliage
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Hi! I was there in March and it was packed. For me, this isn’t a bad thing, because I am looking to market souvenir items highlighting Da lat’s beauty and the more people that visit, the better for me. The waterfalls, while not majestic, have several steps down, there is a lot more to see than i thought. A cool cable car up to give you access to another area of falls you wouldn’t have otherwise, an alpine coaster that I didn’t use, but looked cool, and people with tour groups repelling down the side of the cliff into the pool next to the falls, now that looked super cool. So while this isn’t a top “waterfall” persay, it certainly is a top destination near Da Lat for outdoor activity in general. Definitely a cool place to visit. Its a shame that some of the other areas like Bo Bla falls were too far away from civilization to have caught on as a destination.
Hi Tim,
Yes, it’s certainly popular and there are lots of things to do there. But it depends what you’re looking for. Personally, I’m glad that at least some of the large waterfalls in the area have not been turned into theme/adventure parks. That’s what makes Bo Bla Waterfall so special in my opinion – it was once developed to be a ‘waterfall theme park’ like Datanla, but has since fallen into ruin and been retaken by the jungle, which makes it peaceful and atmospheric in a way that Datanla no longer is.
Tom
hi, i would like to know is datenla water fall friendly to blind person? is there any leaft go down to the water fall? what about the walking way down? thank you
Hi May Fong,
It’s difficult to say if Datanla is friendly for a blind person. There are many ways down to the waterfall, including an elevator (lift), and there are lots of good pathways, too. So, in general, of all the waterfalls near Dalat, Datanla probably has the most infrastructure to help a blind person go around the falls, but you would still need to be very careful.
I hope this helps,
Tom