Datanla Falls

You will see Datanla Falls (on your left) when coming from the airport to the city centre. It's about 6km from the city centre which makes it a very convenient place to visit. I visited here 3 times in a week - mainly for birding though. Although it's named Datanla Falls, the real attraction here seems to be the “roller coaster” ride (need to pay extra) which attracted a lot of people, both locals and foreigners. 

Landmark sign at the entrance

Depending on your luck, this coach park could be full.

For those on rented bikes, like me, just look to your immediate right when you reach the park from the city. The bike park is on the high ground on your right, just immediately after the main road. Ride up the stone-paved road to the top – it’s 3,000vnd to park there. The bike park closes at 5pm.

Got this bike park ticket on my first visit but nothing on my 2nd and 3rd visit.

There is a high obstacle course and other activities organised for visitors (please see photos).

A group doing the high obstacles ... with no safety helmets!!

Charges for high obstacles

Another landmark sign next to ticketing booth

The ticketing booth - 30k ticket

Roller Coaster

What you see after the entrance - the restaurant above, small shops below.
You cannot get to the restaurant from here.

It’s a steep walk down to the falls  – which is nothing really spectacular – and then up again. The other way is via the roller coaster. I saw locals in their lovely dresses and holding their high heels in their hands! The path is lined with stone slabs which can be slippery when wet. Quite a tiring walk down and up for the older folks. I understand there are falls even lower down and that a lift is needed to get there but I did not visit there.

Track leads down to the waterfalls

Concrete slabs are slippery when wet

Just to differentiate – the restaurant and the park are two separate places. Entry to the park requires a fee of 30,000vnd. The park closes at 5pm. But if you’re just going to the restaurant, then you do not have to pay for the entrance fee. There is no connection to go from the restaurant to the park. But then again, who goes to Datanla Falls just to eat, right? By the way, the sautéed beef noodles I had there was total crap but the café sua da was quite ok.

Enter restaurant here, no need to pay 30k

Inside the restaurant

Points to note : There are separate toilets for the restaurant and the park as the latter requires a ticket for entry. You cannot go from the restaurant to the park - you need to pay the entrance fee of 30k to get into the park.