Skip to content What is Tuyen Lam Lake?
Tuyen Lam Lake (hồ Tuyền Lâm, “stream in the forest”) is a man-made reservoir on the Da Tria stream, about 6 km south of central Da Lat. The lake covers about 350 hectares and sits inside a national tourist area of about 1,740 hectares of pine forest and hills, the first in Vietnam to win that status from the Prime Minister, in 2017 (dalat-info.gov.vn). Truc Lam Zen monastery looks down on it from the north, and the Datanla falls are a few minutes away.
For visitors it does two jobs. It’s a place to spend half a day on the water and in the forest, and it’s where most of Da Lat’s newer resorts have been built.
Things to do at Tuyen Lam Lake
Ride the cable car to Truc Lam monastery
The classic way in is the cable car from Robin Hill, near the top of the Prenn pass, which runs about 2.3 km over the pines to Truc Lam monastery. From the monastery’s gardens, steps lead down to a jetty on the lake. Go in the morning for clear views; afternoons in the wet season are often in cloud. Cover shoulders and knees for the monastery.
Kayak or take a boat
Kayaks and boats are for hire on the lake, and several resorts run their own. The water is cold and the banks are steep, so it’s a lake for paddling rather than swimming.
Walk the forest trails
Trails run along the shore and through the pine forest around the lake, with viewpoints back across the water. They’re quiet midweek and muddy after rain. The longer loops are best with a guide or a local hiking group.
Datanla falls and the clay tunnel nearby
Datanla falls, with its alpine coaster and canyoning tours, is on the Prenn road close to the lake turn-off. The clay tunnel, a park of sculptures and buildings made from red clay, is also in the Tuyen Lam area. Our things to do in Da Lat page has both, and the rest of the town’s sights.
Tuyen Lam Lake resorts
Tuyen Lam is Da Lat’s resort quarter. In May 2026, 16 projects in the tourist area were open, with more than 1,000 rooms and over 2 million visits a year, and 17 more were being built (Bao Dau Tu, 16 May 2026). The tourist area’s management board lists these as its leading open properties:
| Resort | Grade | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Dalat Edensee Lake Resort & Spa | 5-star | Resort on the lake shore |
| Terracotta Hotel & Resort | 4-star | Large lakeside resort, popular with groups |
| Dalat Wonder Resort | 4-star | Lakeside resort |
| Sam Tuyen Lam Golf & Resort (Swiss-Belresort Tuyen Lam) | 4-star | Resort beside the Sam Tuyen Lam golf course |
| Cereja Hotel & Resort Dalat | 4-star | Resort in the tourist area |
| Lang Binh An Village | Approved lodging | Small village-style lodging |
Many other projects have stalled. A provincial inspection in May 2026 found that Robin Dalat Resort, licensed in 2008, had built three villas in 17 years (CafeF, 2 August 2026), and the province approved a new general plan for the area to 2050 in June 2026. Expect building sites on some stretches of shore.
Staying at Tuyen Lam or in town?
Stay at Tuyen Lam Lake if you want a resort: grounds, a pool, forest walks, golf, space for children, and quiet nights. Stay in central Da Lat if you want to walk to cafés, the night market and dinner. The trade-off is the car: from the lake, every trip into town is a 15 to 30 minute drive, there and back.
Many families split the difference: a few nights at the lake and a day hire with a driver for the sights. A 7-seater fits a family with bags and the golf clubs, with child seats on request.
Getting to Tuyen Lam Lake
From central Da Lat, the road to the lake leaves the Prenn pass road near Datanla falls; allow 15 to 20 minutes, or up to 30 for resorts on the far shore.
From Lien Khuong airport (DLI), the lake is about 30 to 40 minutes: up the four-lane highway and the Prenn pass, then off before you reach town. That makes it a little closer to the airport than the centre. Our Da Lat airport guide has the flights and the meet at arrivals.
From Saigon, it’s the same 6 to 7 hour drive as to Da Lat, ending at your resort’s door rather than in the centre. Pick “Any hotel in Da Lat” in the booking box and type the resort’s name; the driver will take you to the lobby. From Nha Trang or Mui Ne, it’s 3 to 4½ hours depending on the road.