Da Lat

Da Lat is not a great place. I came here for fresh air (after 1 year in Chiang Mai) but unfortunately that is an illusion. They are burning in the mountains and you can see the smoke going up to the sky. And in the city it is not much better, the air is very much polluted there as well. I tried many restaurants but mostly the food is not very good and the service is depressingly bad. Combine that with the rubbish you see everywhere (especially around the center) and Da Lat makes not a happy place.

Perfect temperatures, fantastic coffee scene, rather relaxed mid-sized town atmosphere. As of late 2018 it's still not crowded with tourists or expats so it's retained authenticity. That said, the small expat community is very friendly and relatively close-knit. Moreover, great waterfalls and a few decent mountain hikes around the city.

On the downside: the night life is about non-existent and the town seems poor for dating if you're into it. However, overall it's great for winding down from big city life and getting some work done.

Best time to stay: from late November to late April, when it's dry.