Tuyen Lam Lake and Truc Lam Monastery: A Half-Day Ride from Da Lat

Tuyen Lam Lake in a few words

Tuyen Lam is the largest lake around Da Lat, a reservoir about 6–7 km south of the centre, surrounded by pine forest and small hills. The water is calm, the air is cool and, compared with the city, it is wonderfully quiet. Most visitors come for the views, a slow walk along the shore, a coffee by the water or a boat ride on the lake.

Truc Lam Zen Monastery

Thiền viện Trúc Lâm (Truc Lam Zen Monastery) sits on Phoenix Mountain (Núi Phụng Hoàng) above the lake. It opened in the 1990s and belongs to the Vietnamese Trúc Lâm Zen tradition. Visitors walk through gardens of flowers and bonsai, past the main hall and the bell tower, to a viewpoint over Tuyen Lam Lake.

• It is an active monastery: dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), speak quietly and don't enter areas reserved for monks.
• Take off your shoes where signs ask you to, and don't fly drones or play music.
• From the monastery, steps lead down towards the lake shore.

How to get there by motorbike

From the centre, the ride takes roughly 15–25 minutes. The usual way is to follow 3 Tháng 4 street (the road towards Prenn) south, then turn right onto the road signposted to Thiền viện Trúc Lâm and Tuyền Lâm. The road climbs and winds through pine forest and is in good condition. Put "Thiền viện Trúc Lâm" into Google Maps on your phone holder and you'll be fine.

• A Honda Air Blade 125cc is the most comfortable choice with two people on these hills; a Honda Vision does the trip easily with one rider.
• An electric scooter can reach the lake and come back within its range, but don't continue down the Prenn Pass on it.
• Park in the guarded parking areas (gửi xe) near the monastery or the lake and keep your ticket.

The cable car option

If you like, you can also reach the monastery by the Robin Hill cable car, which starts from Robin Hill on the edge of the city and glides over the pine forest to Truc Lam. Many travellers ride a scooter to Robin Hill, take the cable car one way for the view, and ride the rest of the loop. Check the current operating hours and price on the spot, as they can change.

When to go

• Morning is the best time: soft light, mist on the water on cool days and fewer tour groups.
• Late afternoon is lovely too, but plan to ride back before dark — the forest road has few lights.
• In the rainy season (roughly May to October), showers usually come in the afternoon, so start early and bring a raincoat.

What to combine it with

Tuyen Lam fits nicely into a half-day loop. Datanla Waterfall is close by on the road towards Prenn — see our waterfalls near Da Lat guide. In November, wild sunflowers bloom along the roads around the lake. For more ideas, look at our motorbike routes around Da Lat.

Safety tips

• Vietnam drives on the right; ride slowly on the bends and watch for tour buses.
• Going downhill, brake gently with both brakes.
• No alcohol or beer when riding, and strictly follow Vietnamese traffic law.

Ride there with Văn Phú

Tuyen Lam is a perfect first trip on a rented scooter: close, scenic and calm. Every bike costs 150,000 VND per day with a free helmet and a phone holder, and you leave only your passport or ID card — no cash deposit. Pick your bike on our Da Lat motorbike rental page.