The treetop walkways
Twisting stairs up high.
ruben i — CC BY 1.0 · Kelisi — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Michael Karavanov — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Caitlin Childs — CC BY-SA 2.0
A guesthouse and art project that looks as if a fairy-tale forest had melted: concrete «trees» with gnarled roots, organic stairways and walkways winding between the treetops, rooms shaped like caves, a giant giraffe with a tearoom inside and webs of wire strung between the buildings. It was designed by the architect Dang Viet Nga, who trained in Moscow, opened in 1990, and has kept growing ever since, still unfinished. Its official name is Hang Nga Guesthouse, and its themed rooms, named after animals and plants, can be booked for the night. Day visitors climb the walkways and peer into the rooms; there is not a straight line or a right angle anywhere. The walkways are narrow and high, with low railings in places, so keep a close eye on children. The visit takes under an hour.
Twisting stairs up high.
A tearoom inside a giant giraffe.
Named after animals and plants.
3 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Da Lat
Bao Dai Summer PalaceThe summer residence of Bao Dai, Vietnam's last emperor: a two-storey villa on a6 minutes walk4.1
Da Lat Market and Night MarketThe heart of Da Lat's trade: a three-storey market built between 1958 and 1960 o15 minutes walk4.4
Xuan Huong LakeThe crescent-shaped lake at the heart of Da Lat, about 5 km around, created by d17 minutes walk4.8Yes. It is officially a guesthouse, and its themed rooms can be booked for the night; day visitors pay an entry ticket.