Electric Scooter in Da Lat in Cold Weather: What to Wear

How cold does it get?

Da Lat sits at about 1,500 metres, so it is much cooler than the rest of southern Vietnam. Days are usually mild, but temperatures drop in the early morning and after sunset, especially in the dry months around December to February. On an electric scooter you are sitting still in the wind, so a temperature that feels pleasant on foot can feel chilly after ten minutes of riding. Our Da Lat weather by month guide shows what to expect in each season.

What to wear

• Layers: a T-shirt, a warm sweater or fleece and a windproof jacket on top. Take a layer off when the sun comes out.
• Gloves: cold hands are the first thing you notice. Thin gloves keep your fingers warm and still let you work the brakes and the throttle.
• Scarf or neck warmer: it closes the gap between your jacket and helmet.
• Long trousers and closed shoes: warmer and safer than shorts and sandals.
• Rain poncho (áo mưa): afternoon showers are common in the wet season, and wet clothes make you cold quickly. Cheap ponchos are sold all over town.

We give you a free helmet with every scooter — ask for one with a visor on cold or misty mornings to keep the wind off your face.

Riding on cold, misty mornings

• Mist can lower visibility around the lakes and on the edges of the city. Ride slowly, keep your lights on and leave a bigger gap to the vehicle in front.
• Roads can be damp in the early morning, so brake gently, especially downhill.
• An electric scooter is quiet, so other road users may not hear you coming — use the horn lightly at blind corners.
• Traffic in Vietnam keeps to the right. No alcohol or beer when riding, and strictly follow Vietnamese traffic law.

For an easy dawn route around Xuan Huong Lake, breakfast and the market, see our early-morning electric scooter ride. If it starts raining, read our tips for riding an electric scooter in the rain.

The battery and your plan

Every electric scooter comes with 2 batteries, and you can swap a low battery for a full one at our shop for 20,000 VND. Keep an eye on the battery bars and plan your ride around the centre so a swap is easy. Our battery guide explains how to plan your day. Long, steep passes such as Prenn, Mimosa or Lang Biang are not for electric scooters — for those rides take the Honda Air Blade 125cc.

Warm-up stops

A big part of riding in cool weather is stopping for something hot: a cà phê sữa nóng in a café, hot soy milk at the evening stalls, or a bowl of noodle soup. Park at a paid parking spot (gửi xe), keep the ticket and take your valuables with you.

Rent an electric scooter

Our electric scooters cost 150,000 VND per day with a free helmet, a phone holder and no cash deposit — you leave your passport or ID card. Read our electric scooter rental rules before your first ride, see the models on the electric scooter rental page or all bikes on our Da Lat motorbike rental page. Message us with any questions about riding an electric scooter in Da Lat in cold weather.

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 →