Xuan Huong Lake Dalat 2026: Walk, Boats & Best Time

Xuan Huong Lake (Hồ Xuân Hương) is the 25-hectare, crescent-shaped lake in the centre of Da Lat, a few minutes’ walk from Da Lat Market. Created by damming the Cam Ly stream from 1919 and renamed after the poet Hồ Xuân Hương in 1953, it is the city’s best-loved landmark. Walking, cycling or jogging around it is free and possible at any hour.

Status (checked October 2026): open as normal; the lakeside promenade is free and open 24 hours. Upstream, the city is dredging the settling pond that feeds the lake (works planned for 2026–2028), which does not close the lake shore to visitors.

Why Xuan Huong Lake is worth seeing:

The heart of Da Lat: the market, Lam Vien Square, the Flower Garden and the historic Dalat Palace hotel all sit on or near its shores.
A free, easy walk: a loop of roughly 5 km under pine trees, flat enough for all ages.
Misty mornings: at dawn, fog drifts across the water while locals jog, cycle and practise tai chi.
Evening lights: after dark the hotels and the night market glow on the water, a classic first-evening stroll.
Gateway to the city: most Da Lat sights are 10–30 minutes from the lake, so it is the natural base for exploring.

Xuan Huong Lake at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Hồ Xuân Hương (French era: Grand Lac)
Location	Tran Quoc Toan / Yersin / Ho Tung Mau streets, Xuan Huong – Da Lat Ward, Lam Dong province
Distance	In the city centre; about 500 m from Da Lat Market, about 30 km from Lien Khuong Airport
Size	About 25 ha; up to 2 km long; walking loop of roughly 5 km
Known for	Lakeside walks, pine trees, swan pedal boats, sunrise mist and evening lights
Opening hours	Open 24 hours (public space)
Entrance fee	Free; boats, bike hire and the Flower Garden are paid separately
Time needed	1–2 hours for a full loop with stops
Best time	Sunrise (5:30–7:30) and early evening; dry season December–April
Nearby	Da Lat Market, Lam Vien Square, Da Lat Flower Garden, Dalat Railway Station, Bao Dai Palace
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Wikipedia

Is Xuan Huong Lake Worth Visiting?

Yes. Xuan Huong Lake is not a “sight” you tick off in ten minutes but the place that gives Da Lat its character: cool air, pine-covered hills and French-era villas around open water. It costs nothing, sits next to the market and the main hotels, and is at its best early in the morning, so almost every visitor ends up walking part of it.

Best for: first-time visitors, couples, families, joggers and cyclists, photographers who like mist and soft light.
Skip if: you only want dramatic nature; for that, head to Langbiang Mountain or Tuyen Lam Lake.
Short on time: walk the southern shore from Lam Vien Square to the Thanh Thuy area at sunset (about 30 minutes), then continue to the night market.

History of Xuan Huong Lake

From Cam Ly stream to Grand Lac

Before 1919 the area was a valley along the Cam Ly stream. The French administration, developing Da Lat as a hill station after Alexandre Yersin recommended the plateau in the 1890s, built a dam to create a lake between 1919 and 1923. The French called it Grand Lac (Big Lake). A stronger stone dam completed in 1934–1935 gave the lake its present shape, with the dam at its southern end close to today’s Lam Vien Square.

Why it is called Xuan Huong

In 1953 the town chairman, Nguyễn Vỹ, renamed the lake Xuân Hương. The name is usually linked to the 18th-century poet Hồ Xuân Hương, one of Vietnam’s most celebrated literary voices; “xuân hương” also means “spring fragrance”, a fitting image for a lake framed by flowers. Since then it has inspired countless songs and poems and remains the symbol of the city.

The lake today

Xuan Huong Lake covers about 25 ha and stretches up to 2 km from north to south. It lies in Xuan Huong – Da Lat Ward, one of the five wards created when Da Lat’s old wards were reorganised on 1 July 2025, the same day Lam Dong province merged with Dak Nong and Binh Thuan. Da Lat remains the provincial capital and keeps its name as the city everyone knows.

What to See at Xuan Huong Lake

1. The lakeside promenade

A paved path follows the shore for roughly 5 km, shaded by pines and lined with benches. Walking the whole loop takes about 1–1.5 hours at an easy pace; cycling takes around 20–30 minutes.

2. Swan pedal boats

Pedal boats shaped like swans are hired from the boat landings on the shore and are popular with families and couples. Prices are per boat for a set time; agree the price and duration before you set off.

Pedal boats at the boat station on Xuan Huong Lake, Dalat — Pedal boats can be hired on the lake. Photo: Diane Selwyn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

3. Lam Vien Square

On the southern shore, Lam Vien Square is Da Lat’s main public square, recognisable by its two large glass structures shaped like a wild sunflower (dã quỳ) and an artichoke bud. Locals gather here in the evening, and it is the best spot for a panoramic photo across the water.

4. The Thanh Thuy lakeside area

The Thanh Thuy building on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, on the south-western shore near the dam, is a long-standing café and restaurant over the water. It is a convenient stop for a coffee with a view, especially at sunset.

5. Da Lat Flower Garden

At the northern end of the lake, the city Flower Garden displays hydrangeas, roses, orchids and seasonal blooms and hosts events during the Da Lat Flower Festival. It has a separate entrance fee.

6. Dalat Palace Heritage Hotel and colonial villas

On the hill above the southern shore stands the Dalat Palace, a grand French-era hotel opened in 1922. The surrounding slopes have villas from the same period, which you can admire from the lake path.

7. Da Lat Market and the night market

Just below the lake’s southern end, Da Lat Market and the evening street-food stalls on the market steps are a few minutes’ walk away. Try grilled rice paper (bánh tráng nướng) and warm soy milk; see our Dalat food guide for what to order.

Xuan Huong Lake Entry and Activity Costs (2026)

Item	Cost	Notes
Walking around the lake	Free	Open 24 hours
Swan pedal boat	Paid per boat per session	Agree price and time first; daytime only
Bicycle or tandem hire	Paid per hour	Available near the lake and from many hotels
Da Lat Flower Garden	Separate ticket	At the northern end of the lake
Horse-drawn carriage photos	Paid per ride/photo	Around the lake and square; agree price first

There is no official ticket office or website for the lake itself, because it is a public space managed by the city.

How to Explore Xuan Huong Lake, Step by Step

Start at Lam Vien Square on the southern shore before 7:00 for the morning mist.
Walk along the western shore (Nguyen Thai Hoc and Tran Quoc Toan streets) past the Thanh Thuy area and the boat landings.
Continue north towards the golf course and the Flower Garden (allow time if you want to go inside).
Return along the eastern shore (Yersin / Ho Tung Mau side) for views back to the hotels on the hill.
Finish at Da Lat Market for breakfast, or come back after dark for the night market.

How to Get to Xuan Huong Lake

From	How	Time
Hotels in central Da Lat	On foot	5–15 minutes
Lien Khuong Airport	Taxi, Grab or airport shuttle bus	About 40 minutes (about 30 km)
Dalat Railway Station	Taxi or 20-minute walk	About 5 minutes by car
Ho Chi Minh City	Flight to Lien Khuong, or sleeper bus via the expressway and Bao Loc	About 1 hour by air; 6–8 hours by bus
Nha Trang	Bus or private car via Khanh Le Pass	About 3–4 hours

For buses, taxis and motorbike hire, read our guide to getting around Dalat.

Best Time to Visit Xuan Huong Lake

When	What to expect
December–April (dry season)	Clear skies, cool nights; best for walking and photos
January–February	Cherry blossoms (mai anh đào) around the lake and nearby streets; Tet crowds
May–November (rainy season)	Afternoon showers; mornings are often dry and misty
Sunrise (5:30–7:30)	Mist on the water, joggers and tai chi; the most atmospheric time
Evening (18:00–21:00)	Lights reflected on the lake; combine with the night market

Local Expert Tips for Xuan Huong Lake

These tips come from years of arranging Da Lat tours for international travellers.

Bring a light jacket: mornings and evenings are often around 15–18°C, colder in December and January.
Walk the lake on your first morning; it orientates you to the whole city.
Rent a bicycle at dawn when traffic is light; the road around the lake is busier from 7:30.
Choose a hotel within walking distance; see where to stay in Dalat.
Agree prices for boats, carriages and photo props in advance.
On weekends and public holidays the lake area is crowded with domestic visitors; weekday mornings are calmer.

Xuan Huong Lake vs Tuyen Lam Lake

	Xuan Huong Lake	Tuyen Lam Lake
Location	City centre	About 5–7 km south of the centre
Setting	Urban lake with promenade, cafés and square	Large reservoir surrounded by pine forest
Activities	Walking, cycling, swan boats	Boat trips, kayaking, resorts, Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Cost	Free	Free to view; boats and some areas are paid
Time needed	1–2 hours	Half a day

Our view: do both. Xuan Huong Lake is your everyday walk in town, while Tuyen Lam Lake is the half-day nature escape, best combined with the cable car to Truc Lam Zen Monastery.

Nearby Attractions

Dalat Railway Station: Art Deco station about 1.5 km east of the lake.
Bao Dai Palace: the last emperor’s summer residence, about 2 km south-west.
Domaine de Marie Church: the pink church, about 2 km west.
Valley of Love: gardens and lake about 5 km north.
Datanla Waterfall: alpine coaster and falls on Prenn Pass, about 6 km south.

Sightseeing in Da Lat for First-Time Visitors: Where Xuan Huong Lake Fits

Start your first day with a morning walk around Xuan Huong Lake, then visit the railway station and Bao Dai Palace, and end with the night market. Day two suits the cable car, Truc Lam and Datanla; day three is for Langbiang or the countryside. Our Dalat travel tips cover weather, money and what to pack.

Plan your trip with our Da Lat travel guide and Da Lat tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.