Da Lat waterfalls: Pongour, Datanla, Elephant and Prenn

Short answer: if you only want one, make it Datanla (7 km from the centre, coaster and canyoning). For nature without the crowds, Pongour — but that is 50 km each way. Entry is almost free everywhere: Pongour and Elephant Falls run 20,000–30,000 VND (~$1). All the main falls can be looped in a day by motorbike, or for about $22 on a tour.

Which one to pick — an overview

There are plenty of waterfalls around Da Lat, but they are not all worth the drive. Datanla and Prenn are really theme parks now — tickets, staircases, cafés, easy but touristy. Pongour and Elephant Falls sit closer to the wild, which is exactly why people make the trip. Cam Ly, right in town, has been polluted for years, so it is fairer to skip it (more on that below).

• Datanla (Thác Datanla): 7 km from town. Alpine coaster 150,000 VND (~$6), canyoning, zipline
• Pongour (Thác Pongour): 50 km from town. 7 cascades, entry 20,000–30,000 VND (~$1)
• Elephant Falls (Thác Voi): 30 km, 30 m high, Linh An pagoda next door
• Prenn (Thác Prenn): 10 km on the pass, landscaped park, entry 40,000–60,000 VND (~$1.60–2.30)

The logic is simple: a thrill means Datanla, quiet nature means Pongour, power and culture mean Elephant Falls, and a quick stop on the pass means Prenn. For canyoning at Datanla, see our tours guide — it covers operators and safety.

Datanla — coaster, canyoning and crowds

Thác Datanla is the closest waterfall to Da Lat and the busiest. It is just 7 km south of the centre, along the Prenn pass. A Grab from town costs around 50,000 VND (~$2) and takes about fifteen minutes.

The waterfall itself is modest, maybe 20 metres, and it is not why people come. The main draw is the Alpine Coaster: a 2.4 km rail run, one of the longest in Southeast Asia. The car carries you down through the forest to the falls, then hauls you back up, and you control the speed yourself — floor it, or crawl and take photos. Because of it, Datanla has turned into a theme park: tickets, staircases, cafés, crowds. Not much wilderness left, but it is good fun.

Datanla prices 2026

Canyoning is its own thing, and the reason Datanla is known outside Vietnam at all: abseiling down the rock face alongside the falls, jumps into the pools, three to four hours of soaking-wet adrenaline. Book only through a licensed operator — there have been fatal accidents here, and the cheap street stalls are not worth it. How to choose is in our tours and canyoning guide.

Pros: close to town, plenty to do, easy to reach. Cons: crowds (especially at weekends), and it closes at 16:45 — plan the visit for the first half of the day.

Coordinates: 11.9250, 108.4500. Address: Đèo Prenn, Phường 3, Đà Lạt.

💬 "Datanla is the easiest waterfall to reach from Da Lat, and the alpine coaster is genuinely fun — go early to beat the tour groups." — Tripadvisor, 2025

Pongour — seven cascades, no theme park

Thác Pongour is often called the finest waterfall in Indochina, and it earns the title. The water drops over seven natural terraces up to 100 metres across. During and just after the rains (June–November) it is a wall of water from edge to edge. In the dry season the flow thins out, but you can walk out onto the stone ledges — a different visit, still a good one.

The one big catch: it is far. 50 km from Da Lat down Highway 20 toward Ho Chi Minh City, about an hour by motorbike, or 300,000–400,000 VND (~$12–16) one way by Grab or taxi. Few tours come this far, which is a plus: the crowds are thin, there is no coaster or ticket gimmick — just the waterfall and the forest.

The practical bits

• Entry: 20,000–30,000 VND (~$1), parking around 5,000 VND (~$0.20)
• Best time: June–November (rains and just after, full flow)
• Dry season (December–April): less water, but you can walk the terraces
• Time needed: 1–2 hours, including the walk down and back up

The path down is a forest trail, about fifteen minutes. Grippy shoes are a must — the rocks are wet. There is a café and a few picnic gazebos on site.

Coordinates: 11.6873, 108.2655. District: Đức Trọng, Lâm Đồng.

💬 "Pongour is one of Vietnam's finest waterfalls, but it's a long way out. In the dry season the flow drops off — plan your trip for the summer months." — Vietnam Coracle, 2025

Elephant Falls, Prenn and in-town Cam Ly

Elephant Falls (Thác Voi) — power and a pagoda

Thác Voi stands 30 metres tall and 15 metres wide, about 30 km southwest of town. The flow is strong all year, so it holds up even in the dry season. The name comes from the boulders at its base, said to look like elephants. Next to it is Linh An Tự pagoda, home to a 49-metre Buddha statue, so you can pair nature and culture in one stop; from the pagoda grounds you get a view of the falls from above.

• Entry: 20,000 VND (~$0.80)
• Distance: 30 km from Da Lat, about 40 minutes by motorbike
• Time needed: 1 hour (falls + pagoda)

Prenn (Thác Prenn) — a landscaped park on the pass

Thác Prenn sits right on the pass, 10 km south of town on the road toward the coast. After a major renovation it is no longer a wild waterfall but a manicured park: paths, footbridges, gardens, cafés. Its signature trick is a walkway behind the falling water, so you can pass through and look at the flow from the inside. It is a handy stop on the way in or out of Da Lat, but do not expect wilderness — it is all groomed for visitors. Entry is 40,000–60,000 VND (~$1.60–2.30).

Cam Ly and Tiger Falls — an honest word

Cam Ly (Thác Cam Ly) is the only waterfall inside the city, and that is exactly the problem: the river upstream collects the town's runoff, so the water is often murky and smells. You can look in for the sake of it, but there is no reason to go out of your way — cleaner, prettier options are close by. Tiger Falls (Thác Hang Cọp), 15 km east, is quiet and forested but a clear step down from Pongour and usually empty; few travellers bother.

Elephant Falls coordinates: 11.8241, 108.3349, Nam Ban, Lâm Hà, Lâm Đồng.

When to go and what to pack

Best season

Da Lat runs 10–15 degrees cooler than the coast — this is Vietnam's highland retreat, not tropical beach heat. More on the town itself in our Da Lat weather guide.

What to pack

• A jacket or windbreaker — Da Lat sits around 18 °C even in summer
• Non-slip shoes — the rocks near the falls are wet
• A rain jacket if you go in the rainy season
• A waterproof phone case
• A dry change of clothes — spray is guaranteed

How to loop the waterfalls in a day

By motorbike (rental from 100,000 VND/day, ~$4): Datanla in the morning → Elephant Falls at midday → Pongour after lunch. The loop is about 130 km, 5–6 hours with stops. Canyoning does not fit in — that is a separate day. For lunch on the way, the vegan restaurant Rau DAWA sits right by Elephant Falls; it and the rest of the city's eating is covered in the Da Lat food guide. Note that renting legally requires an International Driving Permit, and police checkpoints on the highway do stop foreigners.

Organised tour: $22–35 per person, transport and entry included. Handy if you would rather not tackle mountain roads yourself. Options are in our tours guide.

Prices current as of July 2026. Prices and conditions can change — confirm on official sources before you travel.

FAQ

Which Da Lat waterfall is worth it?

If you visit just one, make it Datanla: 7 km from town, with an alpine coaster and the canyoning route. For nature without the crowds, go to Pongour (50 km, seven cascades 100 m wide, best in the rains). Elephant Falls (30 km) pairs a powerful drop with a pagoda. Prenn (10 km) is a landscaped park, fine as a quick stop on the pass. Skip Cam Ly in town — the water is polluted.

How much does entry to the Da Lat waterfalls cost?

Pongour and Elephant Falls run 20,000–30,000 VND (~$1), basically nothing. Datanla is 50,000 VND (~$2) to enter, plus 150,000 VND (~$6) for the coaster. Prenn is 40,000–60,000 VND (~$1.60–2.30). Canyoning at Datanla is booked separately, from 1,200,000 VND (~$46).

How do I get to Pongour Waterfall from Da Lat?

By motorbike down Highway 20 toward Ho Chi Minh City — 50 km, about an hour. A Grab or taxi runs 300,000–400,000 VND (~$12–16) one way. There is no public bus, but the road is paved and in good shape.

Rainy season or dry season for the waterfalls?

Pongour and Elephant Falls run fullest during and just after the rains (June–November), when they are at their best. For the coaster and canyoning at Datanla, the dry season (December–April) is more comfortable. In the dry months the natural falls thin out, so check recent photos before you go.

Can I see all the waterfalls in one day?

Yes. By motorbike the Datanla → Elephant → Pongour loop takes 5–6 hours. An organised tour ($22–35) is easier still — the driver runs the route and entry tickets are included. Canyoning is a separate day.

The waterfalls are the main reason to get out of Da Lat and into the surrounding highlands. Grab a motorbike or hop on a tour, pack a jacket (it's 18 °C up here) and non-slip shoes. Then warm up afterwards with a coffee — Da Lat is Vietnam's coffee capital. More in the Da Lat guide.