Thứ Ba, 11/08/2026 - 13:20

Exploring the ancient villas of Đà Lạt

Beyond its beautiful natural landscapes, cool climate, and specialties like artichokes and hydrangeas, Đà Lạt also attracts tourists with its architecture. Its French architecture, in particular, proves alluring, with century-and a half old structures still standing in this foggy mountain city. In recent years, with rising demand for sightseeing and architectural discovery among tourists, the colonial villas of Đà Lạt attract many as a new must-see destination.

A schoolgirl and an old Đà Lạt villa.jpg — A schoolgirl and an old Đà Lạt villa - Photo: Hà Hữu Nết

The imprint of French architecture

Many scientific seminars have discussed the architecture of Đà Lạt, and scholars all agree: European (French) architecture has directly influenced the urban fabric of Đà Lạt. The villas and transportation and commercial structures that have stood on this land for over a hundred years reflect this clearly. These French-designed structures have directly influenced the planning and urban development of Đà Lạt since the late 19th century.

In 1893, Dr. Alexandre Yersin (a Swiss-born Frenchman), during an expedition, set foot on the Lang Biang plateau. He realized the potential of this land as an ideal resort for the French. The area featured a cool climate, majestic natural landscapes, and vast pine forests, making it favorable for the formation of a city deeply imbued with European character in the heart of Indochina.

To transform this place into a “Little Paris” during the early years of the 20th century, the French government sent French architects to Đà Lạt to survey the terrain, create planning projects, and carry out the construction of transport routes, railway stations, schools, offices, and luxury villas for French officials and their associates. The peak construction phase lasted from 1900 to 1940. Initially, French architects designed most colonial villas in Đà Lạt. Later, several Vietnamese architects trained at the Trường Cao đẳng Mỹ thuật Đông Dương contributed. Consequently, a harmonious combination of French architecture and Vietnamese cultural nuances took shape within the system of Đà Lạt’s colonial villas.

In building these villas, the French hoped to recreate a silhouette of the homeland for themselves, where they could enjoy fresh air and tranquility. Therefore, the designs have high aesthetic value, reflecting the luxurious lifestyles of the elite officials of that era. Most villas have nature as the backdrop, harmonizing with the cold climate, frequent rain, and high humidity of Đà Lạt.

Easily recognizable traits of the villas lie in their shape, architectural style, height, and building materials. Regarding height, the villas have no more than three stories. As for construction, with the outer walls built using split stone, the villas remain very sturdy and able to withstand the erosion of time. In particular, colonial French villas all feature fireplaces (with chimneys leading to the roof). Occupants displayed, expensive items within. As for size, high-ranking officials and the elite owned villas with an area of 1.500m² or more, while the middle class had smaller villas (1.000m²).

Đà Lạt currently has nearly 200 large and small French villas still in existence. Although they share French heritage, no two villas have exactly the same design. This demonstrates the creativity and unique ideas of the architects; perhaps they did not want to copy a fixed template to avoid boredom for future generations!

In 2024, MPK (Nguyễn Văn Phước) - a photographer who has lived in Đà Lạt for over 40 years - organized a photo exhibition at the Cadasa Resort campus. With 40 photographs of Đà Lạt’s ancient villas on display, he once again confirmed that no two villas are the same.

After the French left Vietnam and following the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam colonial regime (in 1975), fortunately, most of the villas remained intact and undamaged by war. These form a priceless asset in terms of history and culture.

Villas and their garden campuses are a common characteristic of Da Lat’s old villas.png — Villas and their garden campuses are a common characteristic of Da Lat’s old villas - Photo: Thanh Dương Hồng

Experiencing ancient villa tourism in Đà Lạt

The people of Đà Lạt consider colonial villas a precious asset and a source of pride. They have French architecture, but carry a Vietnamese cultural soul, preserving memories of a poignant and heroic period of history. Historical French villas embody an elegant, liberal, and sophisticated style that remains uniquely… Đà Lạt. Unfortunately, after the turmoil of overcoming war consequences and focusing on local construction, many French architectural works fell into ruin. Government offices and businesses rented them for official or commercial purpose. An unfortunate number became abandoned.

The colonial villas of Đà Lạt lie located on Trần Hưng Đạo and Lê Lai streets, with some scattered on streets such as: Nguyễn Du, Hùng Vương, Quang Trung, Lê Hồng Phong, Bùi Thị Xuân, and Hoàng Diệu. One of the solution to preserving ancient villas involves renovation and conversion resorts or cultural spaces. Clusters of villas now serve the tourism industry, such as the Cadasa Resort (on Trần Hưng Đạo street), which includes 20 restored villas forming a luxury resort, and the Ana Mandara Resort (on Lê Lai street), also known as the Lê Lai villa area, situated on a 17-hectare campus amidst a pine hill over 100 years old. Locals have taken to calling this cluster of colonial French villas in Đà Lạt today as well as the others above as the “Đà Lạt Historic Villa Village”.

Historic French villas form a core element of the “Little Paris” of Đà Lạt. They create a romantic, ancient, and contemplative space; the harmony between French architecture and the natural landscape of Đà Lạt holds a unique beauty not found elsewhere in the world. The in wash painting of romantic mossy tiled roofs hidden under old pine trees along with the mist and cold climate attracts domestic and international tourists alike.

For a long time, many painters and photographers in Đà Lạt have spent their lives capturing the hauntingly attractive beauty of these historic villas to introduce them to a public that loves architecture and history. From the self-attraction of the villas themselves and through art and photography exhibitions, these villas have held the feet of tourists, especially domestic and international scientists and intellectuals, who come to visit, research, and experience them.

The management of Cadasa Resort stated that every year they welcome hundreds of tourist groups, especially foreigners, for sightseeing and relaxation. Meanwhile, Ana Mandara Resort, with many luxury services, has attracted a large number of foreigners and famous artists to host cultural events, seminars, conferences, and retreats.

Experiential tourism, wellness tourism, and beauty tourism are trending. Discovering French architecture through the historic villa areas in Đà Lạt presents an ideal new destination.