Hi folks,

I just had the opportunity to visit Da Lat in July 2025, although I have had a cultural impression of this land for a long time, that impression comes from poetry to photography, Da Lat has become a familiar name to me since forever. So even though it’s my first time here, I already have a bit of “nostalgia”.

Indeed, the image of Da Lat city has its own characteristics: an old urban area surrounded by mountains, nestled in a vast pine forest, the roofs looming in the mist and the specialty is sudden rains.

I let my soul into the atmosphere here, hoping to be inspired by Da Lat.

Unfortunately, the image that lingers after this trip is the impression of a city that is being drained to serve tourism, with shops close together and abundant services. In addition, the image of nurseries is now also full of valleys inside and outside the city, which are carefully covered farms, for many years now turning Da Lat into a giant nursery for the entire Southern region.

In my mind, I secretly think that the poetic beauty of Da Lat now only exists in the memories of those who have been here, especially the artists who have been inspired by Da Lat in the long past.

To me, Da Lat has now become a vegetable factory and tourism services, a city with a materialist culture that overwhelms the image of a dreamy city.

Now in Da Lat there are no longer “sparse people” like in Lam Phuong’s song named “Thành Phố Buồn”, finding “peaceful moments” is probably very difficult, if you want to, you must go to the suburbs.

I don’t know if these comments cover the current situation of Da Lat or are just the narrow, prejudiced observations of a common man. But I sincerely hope that I am wrong!

Some photos taken with my phone, put here for rough illustration.

Best regards and see you again,