I have to confess that when I saw I was going to the “Valley of Love” I had no real idea what to expect. It was apparently a famous place, but one of those famous places I knew nothing about. I am not sure I’d even heard of it before coming to Da Lat.
What I have come to accept, though, is that Vietnam love its theme parks. Everything I heard pointed to this being another one. In this case, that theme is Love.
And as it turned out, that is pretty much what it is – a giant theme parked filled with things that couples can explore together. For couples, photo opportunities abound with heart-shaped decorations and love-themed sculptures throughout the park.
I guess you could describe many of the displays as ‘Kitsch’. That said, it all seems to work in a way.
Fortunately, there’s more to it than that. There’s plenty of natural scenery to look at, and it could be quite a relaxing place to spend some time.
A Brief History
The Valley of Love first opened as the Vallée D’amour in 1930. The original purpose was to provide a botanical garden for French tourists to getaway to. The cooler mountain climate made the area ideal for romantic weekends.
Even after the French began to leave, the people, err couples, of Vietnam continued to visit the valley. For a time, the valley was renamed Valley of Peace as part of trying to remove traces of French influence. But when you’re in the honeymoon capital of Vietnam, it was just a matter of time before it switched back to the Valley of Love (actually its name is Thung Lung Tinh Veu – the Vietnamese translation of Valley of Love).
Attractions
It’s a big place, with lots of attractions in various areas. For the most part, there is no additional charges for these attractions. There’s a couple of exceptions, but there’s still plenty included in the park admission fees.
As it is spread out, the park provided transport in the form of to get around the park. There are stations around the park, and you can pretty much hop on and hop off at your desired locations.
As it is a big park, there’s quite a lot to look at. The following is just a selection of things done over a few hours in the park. It is by no means exhaustive.
Valley of Love’s Area
The Green Love Maze
It had been many years since I had wandered around in a maze, What I hadn’t realised that the maze itself is built in the shape of a heart. From ground level, it is a bit hard to tell, but you could get a better sense of this when viewing from a bridge or platform.
Love Tunnel
After the maze, we came across a row of floral heart shaped arches. It was now becoming apparent that there were heart shaped things all over the park. I guess they jump right into the romantic idea of the park.
Wax Museum
Madam Tussauds it is not, but it has a wax museum. Here, you come face to face with lifesize wax figures of famous people.
Da Thien Lake
After the wax museum, it was time to jump on a tram and head over to see the lake. This lake is apparently 13 hectares in size.
Valley of Flowers Area
Sculptures
There are a few replicas of number of famous sculptures set among the flower gardens. One notable pair are replicas of Adam and Eve by Giovanni Bonazza. Some of the others include sculptures of Cupid and hands exchanging rings.
Topiary
There something to be said about the craft of topiary, of which there are examples around the gardens. Who doesn’t like plants being crafted into the shapes of ducks, There’s also deer, cactus and more.
30 Wonders of the World
Another tram ride – this time to look at the Wonders of the World. Here, there are small replicas of many of the worlds monuments. Think things like Sydney Opera House, Arc de Triomphe, the Sphinx, and so on.
Key Information
- Address: No. 5 – 7 Mai Anh Dao Street, Ward 8, Da Lat City
- Opening Hours: 08:30 – 17:00
Getting There
- Package Tour: In my case, I went as part of an organised tour, and there are many options
- Motorbike Rental: You may want to take a motorbike – it looked like it would be a scenic ride.
- Taxi or Private Tour Van: If you are travelling as a family or a group of some sort, then a taxi or private van would be convenient.
