Da Lat is a small city in Vietnam that is surrounded by farmland, pine forest, mountains, waterfalls, calm lakes. It is situated in central highland in Vietnam. The city is 4900 feet high from the sea level. The beautiful weather of spring almost remains all of the year in the city.
It is known as the city of flowers. Every park and street is surrounded by flowers. The lilies, roses, chrysanthemums are bursting with various colors besides the roads and the flower fields are filled with flowers.
The population of the city is over four Lacks including around 500 expats. Most of the expats moved here for job purposes or passing the retirement. A few of the expats are involved in a local business. There are expatriates from all over the world including UK, US, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa, Scandinavia, and Europe.
Retirement Holiday In Da Lat
In the earlier 19th century, Dalat was first developed by the French. French treat it as a cool weather city in Vietnam. The steamy plantations and the low lands of the city attracted the French. That is why the buildings of the city reflect the early French style. Others are designed as the Swiss chalets.
Most of the year the weather remains warm enough for wearing a T-shirt. The evenings remain cool enough for wearing a light jacket. The climate and temperature in Dalat is never too hot or too cold. As the city is located in the mountains, the climate remains temperate and cool. The humidity of this city is the lowest than the others in Vietnam. The hottest temperature ever recorded in the city was 32 degrees Celsius. It is quite comfortable for all. In most of the daytime, the temperature remains 25 degrees Celsius. In the evening of summer, it is very much comfortable compared to other countries in South Asia.
The average temperature of the year is also pleasant. The temperature is 19 degrees Celsius. The winter weather is occasionally going near to the freezing level. So, the heating and air-conditioning system are not required here. Some of the expatriates use heaters if the weather remains too cool at night. As Vietnam is not offering retirement visas, foreigners are still doing benchmarks with Vietnam among other destinations in South East Asia to prepare their retirement plans. To learn more about it, you can check this updated resource.
Dalat’s hospitals are not up to the standard of international hospitals. Some of the hospitals occasionally have doctors that can deal with English. Lam dong hospital does not have any doctor on duty that can speak English. So, it can be treated locally with only minor illnesses and injuries.
Ho Chi Minh City would be better for good treatment here. Da Lat international airport Lien Khuong is on the south side of the city which is the fastest route to go to Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok. Because there are frequent flights.
Dalat City is cheaper than any other city by the standard for housing. A flat with two or three bedrooms and furnished starts with less than three hundred US dollars per month. But Villa rent starts with a thousand US dollars.
From your home, you will be able to enjoy the gorgeous view of the city no matter wherever you look. You will see the valleys, pine-forested hills, and mountains in distance. The vision of the night is also spectacular. The bright blue sky of the day covered with the Milky Way at night. It looks very glittering and majestic above the mountain at night.
Even though Dalat does not yet have any real estate projects that allow foreigners to invest in and buy their properties, it is still a place to consider for a quiet environment. Foreigners find it easier to rent a home at this low level rather than owning a home anyway. The public transportation system of Dalat city is very limited but the taxi service is available. Many folks ride bicycles but they found it difficult because the hill city has few streets that are level. The foreigners walk or drive small motorbikes instead of bicycles. Motorbikes are a great option for riding across the city and enjoy temples, lakes, waterfalls, and other nearby attractive spots in the city.
The LifeStyle In Dalat
Because of the weather, the city is treated as the commercial center of Vietnam’s Salad bowl. Here crops such as artichokes, lettuce, avocados, mulberries, strawberries, and vietnamese coffee grow well. These are distributed in Vietnam and internationally. Ho Chi Minh City is a six-hour drive from Da Lat while Nha Trang City which is the popular coastal resort area of Vietnam is only three hours driving destination.
For testing the seasonal products go to Da Lat central market. In the day it is filled with flowers and the freshest vegetables and fruits. Later in the day, the flower market disappears and it becomes the cloth market. Household goods are sold in the lines of the street besides the main market building. The place is crowded with street food feast with barbecued meat and fried fish. There is also a ready-made food market of freshest vegetables, fruits, and flavorful hotpots.
You might see the postings of various events housing, meet-ups, promotions, and, other interesting foreign community programs. Almost every month there is a meeting of hundreds of expats in the restaurant in the city. Usually, the meeting is hosted on the first Saturday of the month.
Da Lat was also decorated with let night watering holes. The stairways and the hundred roofs cafe is the most famous place in the city because of its maze tunnels. Many folks like to walk around in the tunnels after having a few drinks. The Artist Alley restaurant has a popularity for its good quality food, drinks, and live entertainment arrangement.
Cost Of Living In Da Lat
Dalat might have the lowest living cost of all the major cities in Vietnam. Here the housing rent is cheap and electricity costs are very low because there is no need to run the heater or an air-conditioner.
The average cost for two people to live comfortably in Da Lat city is around one thousand per month or even less. A simple meal at a local restaurant here costs only one dollar. A plate of rice with seafood or meat costs less than one and a half dollars. The big meal at a restaurant or market with drinks will cost less than ten dollars.