A tourist takes photos of purple Jacaranda flowers in full bloom by Xuan Huong Lake in downtown Da Lat. Photo by VnExpress/Tran Quang Anh
Da Lat, a popular Central Highlands town, has been named among the world’s 10 best destinations to watch flowers by global travelers.
“Often known as the city of thousands of flowers, Da Lat is home to various flower parks, farms and festivals, each decorating the city with colorful blooms and rich green landscapes,” according to U.S.-based online booking travel agency Booking.com.
The most famous garden that attracts visitors all year round is in the center of Da Lat featuring arches of flowers arranged in a gate, facing Xuan Huong Lake, it said.
The lavender flower gardens by Tuyen Lam Lake, sunflower fields at Da Lat Milk Farm, Trai Mat hydrangea flower fields and cherry blossom roads are other lovely spots that travelers should not miss, the agency added.
Situated on a plateau around 1,500 meters above sea level, Da Lat enjoys year-round cool weather that stands in contrast to Vietnam’s tropical climate.
Da Lat is one of Vietnam’s biggest flower-growing regions, producing around three billion flowers every year, 10 percent of which are exported to foreign markets including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and mainland China.
Da Lat has also been dubbed “Little Paris,” given its colonial standing as a summer hideout for French officials who built villas in the hills to escape the heat and humidity of the lowlands.
The list of the world’s destinations for flowers include Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Funchal in Portugal, Gramado in Brazil, Cameron in Malaysia, Cordoba in Spain, Victoria in Canada, Toowoomba in Australia and Istanbul in Turkey.
The list was based on a survey conducted with 20,934 respondents across 28 countries and territories who have traveled for business or leisure in the past 12 months and plan to travel again in the next year.
