Best Sunrise and Sunset Spots Around Da Lat (By Motorbike)

When the sun rises and sets in Da Lat

Da Lat is close to the equator, so the times don't change much through the year: sunrise is roughly between 5:30 and 6:00, sunset roughly between 17:30 and 18:15 depending on the season. Check a weather app the day before. For sunrise, plan to arrive 20–30 minutes early — the sky colours before the sun appears are often the best part. Read more about the seasons in our Da Lat weather guide.

Sunrise spots

• Xuan Huong Lake (city centre) — the easiest option: mist over the water, joggers and early tai chi, and bakeries opening nearby. Walk part of the lake path and you'll find your own angle.
• Tuyen Lam Lake (south, about 6–7 km) — mist rising between pine hills on still mornings. A calm ride on good roads; see our Tuyen Lam Lake guide.
• Thien Phuc Duc and Da Phu hills (north-west, under 10 km) — open hilltops where clouds can fill the valleys after a rainy night. The last part is steep: park at the bottom and walk up.
• Cau Dat tea hills (east, about 20–25 km) — rows of tea and a sea of clouds on good mornings; the most famous sunrise trip from Da Lat. Our Cau Dat sunrise guide has the details.

All these spots are on our cloud-hunting and sunrise map, and our cloud hunting guide explains when the clouds are most likely. Clouds are never guaranteed — they depend on the weather that morning.

Sunset spots

• Tuyen Lam Lake — evening light on the water and the pine forest. Start back before it gets fully dark: the forest roads have few street lights.
• Xuan Huong Lake — a relaxed sunset walk in the centre, then dinner or the night market close by.
• Cafés on the eastern hills — several hillside cafés look west over the city, so you get the sunset and then the city lights. See our night-view café map.
• Pine hills on the edge of town — almost any open slope facing west works on a clear evening. Stop only where you can pull fully off the road.

Riding before dawn or after dark

• Mornings are cold, often around 12–16 °C: bring a warm jacket, gloves and a long-sleeve layer.
• Ride slowly with your lights on; fog can lower visibility on hill roads.
• Vietnam drives on the right. Watch for trucks on the main roads early in the morning.
• Use the phone holder for navigation and download an offline map before you leave.
• No alcohol or beer when riding, and strictly follow Vietnamese traffic law.

Which bike to take

For spots in and near the centre — Xuan Huong Lake, Tuyen Lam Lake, the eastern cafés — any scooter is fine, including an electric one. For Cau Dat and other longer hill rides, the Honda Air Blade 125cc is the comfortable choice. Our route ideas help you combine a sunrise with a full day out.

Rent a scooter for sunrise in Da Lat

Our shop opens at 4:30 am, so you can pick up a bike in time for the sunrise — or collect it the day before, as explained in our early-opening rental guide. Every bike costs 150,000 VND per day with a free helmet, a phone holder and no cash deposit. See all bikes on our Da Lat motorbike rental page and message us on WhatsApp, Zalo, Telegram or WeChat.

Written by Ngô Văn Phú (Phu) – owner of Van Phu Dalat, local travel services in Da Lat since 2018: motorbike rental, homestay and villa booking. About me →