Day 18: Da Lat - Cable Car, Monastery & Lake...

"Pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and expect the unexpected..." - Gary Busey

(Gliding above the rolling hills)

Date: 30 September 2026, Wednesday
Activity: Robin Hill Cable Car Ride
Hotel: Du Lys Hotel, Da Lat

Today is Hana, our granddaughter’s 17th birthday. Though we are far away from home, we are sending her our love and warmest wishes for a wonderful and blessed birthday.

(Our favorite spot in the dining room)

This morning, we decided to explore Da Lat’s Robin Hill Cable Car, Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery and Tuyen Lam Lake on our own. Travelling independently gives us the flexibility to move at our own pace, stop whenever we wish, and enjoy the day without being tied to a tour schedule.

(A clear blue sky over Da Lat)

Initially, we were a little confused about the name of the attraction. Was it Robin Hill or Da Lat Cable Car? Google Maps seemed to show different locations. In the end, we simply booked a Grab car, and fortunately, the driver knew exactly where to take us.

(Robin Hill Cable Car Station)

We soon discovered that Robin Hill Cable Car and Da Lat Cable Car refer to the same attraction. The cable car begins at the Robin Hill Station and travels across the valley towards the Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery.

(Taking in the stunning cityscape of Da Lat)

(Leguda Vegetables Buffet at Robin Hill)

Robin Hill itself is a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Da Lat. From the top, we could see the city spread across the surrounding hills, with pine forests and misty valleys creating the familiar Da Lat landscape. We spent some time admiring the view and taking photographs before beginning our cable car ride.

The highlight was gliding above the rolling hills in one of the colourful cable car cabins. We bought a one-way ticket and joined the ride with a group of Russian tourists and a group of local ladies dressed beautifully in embroidered áo dài.

(3D wall mural of Da Lat Cable Car)

(Catching the panoramic view over the city of Da Lat)

(High above the clouds, overlooking the beautiful valley)

(Vietnam's highlands never fail to amaze)

The cable car journey stretches for more than two kilometres, carrying us over vast green pine forests, patchwork farms and distant mountains before reaching Phượng Hoàng Mountain and the Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery. The journey itself was part of the attraction. Looking down from the cabin, the landscape seemed to unfold beneath us in layers of green, mist and mountains - a very different perspective of Da Lat.

(Cable Car Station, Tourist Area)

(A white Chinese dragon in the background)

(Golden Chinese dragon sculpture)

(Da Lat Cable Car Tourist Area)

(A restaurant overlooking scenic pine forest)

We arrived at Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery, one of the best-known Zen monasteries in Vietnam. Beautifully nestled on Phượng Hoàng Mountain, the monastery overlooks the tranquil waters of Tuyen Lam Lake and is surrounded by extensive pine forests.

(The stone marker for Truc Lam Buddhist Monastery)

(Walking along the landscaped stone pathway)

(One of the largest Zen monasteries in Vietnam)

(Tranquil gardens and traditional architecture) 

(The ornate triple gate entrance)

(Manicured flower gardens around the monastery)

(Courtyard fountain surrounded by pine trees)

(Finding quiet moment in the calm courtyard)

The setting was peaceful and serene. After the lively cable car ride, the quiet surroundings of the monastery provided a welcome change of pace.

From the monastery gardens, we followed a long, shaded stone staircase leading down towards the lake. The staircase was flanked by pine trees and offered what seemed to be the most direct and scenic route to the lakeside.

(A leisure peaceful walk to the lake)

(Lost in the towering green canopies)

(Breathing in the fresh mountain air)

Tuyen Lam Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Da Lat, surrounded by pine-covered hills and peaceful natural scenery. The misty waters and forested landscape gave the lake a quiet, almost dreamlike atmosphere. We spent some time simply enjoying the lakeside, taking photographs and appreciating the cool mountain air.

(A peaceful lakeside escape)

(Reflection of a perfectly still afternoon)

(Tuyen Lam Lake scenic photo spot)

(The lake's dam/spillways system)

Walking down to the lake was relatively easy, but we knew the return journey up the long staircase could be tiring. We also had to keep an eye on the cable car operating hours, as the service takes a break around midday and the ticket counters close during that period.

(A rustic wooden cabin-style coffee shop by the lake)

(Drinking coffee and enjoying the view)

 
Rather than risk being caught during the break, we decided to take a Grab car back to town. Our next destination was Sarah Halal Food Restaurant, where we had a satisfying lunch of seafood tomyam, crispy fried prawns, iced tea and Coke. We also packed some Malaysian-style mee hoon sambal tumis to have for dinner later.

(Lunch at Sarah Halal Food Restaurant)

Interestingly, Malaysian food here is considerably more expensive than the local food. Perhaps this is understandable, as Malaysian dishes require specialty ingredients and cater to a smaller niche market compared with the many inexpensive local eateries and street stalls.

(The little yellow cottages in the wood)

(Vibrant pink cherry blossom by the lake)

(A painting of the iconic Da Lat Railway Station)

After lunch, we walked back towards Du Lys Hotel, admiring the beautiful street arts, and made a brief stop at a bakery along the way. By now, our thoughts were increasingly turning towards Bangkok. The severe, non-stop rain and flooding there had caused widespread disruption, and we were hearing reports of food shortages in some areas. 7-Eleven and Tops supermarkets were reportedly experiencing depleted stocks of some essential items. So, before returning to the hotel, we bought some bread and a bottle of peanut butter to keep with us for our journey back to Bangkok tomorrow.

We were praying for the best, while quietly preparing for the worst.

(A brief stop at the bakery)

(Vietnamese baguettes and peanut butter)

That evening, after dinner, we packed our bags and prepared for the next leg of our journey. But there was still a lingering uncertainty. The news coming from Bangkok was not encouraging. The severe flooding was continuing, with reports of disruptions at Suvarnabhumi Airport and a backlog of luggage. Tomorrow night, we were due to return to Bangkok.

(Embracing the quiet moments in Da Lat)

For now, all we could do was pack, pray and wait to see what awaited us when we arrived.