From Nha Trang I made my way to Da Lat. Although I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do or see there, I had time to kill before making my way to Ho Chi Minh City, so decided to check it out.
I didn’t quite realise how mountainous the journey would be getting there, on route we made our way through the lush green mountains, getting higher and higher with bigger drops each turn we took. Vietmanese to say the least are care free drivers so I was having an axiety attack for most of it but also trying to appreciate the scenery which was some of the best I had seen since being in Vietnam.
Luckily I had been organised and booked a hostel the night before so once Ireached Da Lat town my bag was thrown out of the mini bus like it always has been and I grabbed a taxi to Friendly Fun hostel. It had good reviews even with a slightly dodgy name so for £4 a night I thought I’d give it a go. Once I arrived I was greeted by Len who owned the hostel, a small pretty Vietmanese lady who was very welcoming. I chucked my bags in my room and went and joined some of the hostel group outside for a few beers.
Each evening Len cooks for all guests if they want to join the family dinner, I hadn’t booked in enough time so thought I’d have to go and look for a restaurant whilst everyone ate but without even asking Len came and got me from the bedroom insisting I should join regardless. The food was incredible with lots of veggie options and this become a highlight for me during my stay at Dalat. It added to the family feel of the hostel and gave the opportunity for everyone staying to socialise together, which usually followed by us all going out as a group after.
On my second day in Dalat everyone in my room had checked out so I enjoyed some space to myself which is needed every now and then. I later went into town and decided to get a massage. I asked for a shoulder, neck and head massage for 140 dong (approx £4), however what I got was a back crunching Thai massage which involved being pulled around in various positions till she was satisfied that I couldn’t stretch anymore, it sounds awful but infact was amazing. After sleeping on so many night buses crumpled up and springy dorm beds this sorted me right out.
After, I went back to the hostel to find five huge pro rugby players in my room that had just arrived, one of which was 6’8 and probably the tallest person I’d ever seen. After the family dinner I suggested we should go to 100 Floors Bar which consisted of 4 levels of stone mazes to get lost in but what was also built for Vietmanese sized people. Going with these guys was always going to be a laugh, not just because they were a hilarious group but I didn’t think they were going to fit through anything. After the maze no one was ready to go home so we found what was a shack like restaurant and played drinking games till the early hours followed by various pranks in the dorm.
It was time to leave the next day so I packed my things and waited to check out with Len. I placed my phone on the table next to where the reception desk was and waited for my change. In what felt like a split second a young local came into the hostel picked up my phone and ran. When Len came back I told what happened so she grabbed her bike to go try and find him. She spent an hour with her partner driving round the town trying to look for him with eventually no luck. I had to admit defeat and realise that I wasn’t getting it back. I think that I was just incredible unlucky, nowhere else had I felt remotely threatened that my belongings would be stolen.
I had to get on a bus to Mui Ne, without a phone, I felt completely lost. I didn’t quite realise the dependence you have on such a small device, hence all photos I had from Da Lat were on my phone so I have nothing to show for my time there.
All in all Da Lat as a place was ok, not somewhere I would go back to in a hurry but the hostel completely made up for it and I would definatly stay with Len and her family again.
Next for the 6 hour tiny mini bus to Mui ne..
sarahbtravels 