Thac Gia Long: A Traveler's Guide to the Central Highlands' Quiet Cascade

What it is

Thac Gia Long is a broad, tiered waterfall that drops roughly 10 meters across a wide basalt ledge before pooling into a calm basin below. It sits in the volcanic plateau country west of Da Lat, surrounded by coffee plantations and patches of secondary forest. The waterfall is named after Emperor Gia Long — the first ruler of the Nguyen dynasty — though the historical connection is more folk legend than documented fact. What's real: the basalt columns framing the falls are remnants of ancient lava flows, and the surrounding landscape is peppered with similar geological features.

Unlike the more famous waterfalls closer to Da Lat (달랏 / 大叻 / ダラット) (Elephant Falls, Datanla, Pongour), Thac Gia Long sits off the main tourist corridor. That isolation is its best feature.

Why travelers go

Three reasons, mostly:

1. Solitude. On a weekday you might share the site with two or three other visitors. Even weekends stay manageable.
2. Swimming. The pool below the main cascade is deep enough for a proper swim, and the current is gentle outside of heavy rain season.
3. Photography. The wide curtain of water over dark basalt, flanked by green vegetation, gives you a frame that doesn't need filters or clever angles.

It's not a full-day destination on its own — most people combine it with Dray Sap and Dray Nur, two larger waterfalls within 15 km. Together they make a solid half-day or full-day loop through the highlands.

Best time to visit

The Central Highlands (중부 고원 / 中部高原 / 中部高原) have two clear seasons:

• Dry season (November–April): Water flow is lower but the pool is clearest. Best for swimming. Trails are dry and easy.
• Wet season (May–October): The falls hit full power — impressive to watch but the pool turns muddy brown, and trails get slippery. July–September is peak volume.

The sweet spot is late October or early November, when flow is still strong but rain tapers off. Avoid Tet holiday week if you want the place to yourself.

How to get there

Thac Gia Long is roughly 130 km southwest of Da Lat by road, or about 30 km south of Gia Nghia town.

From Da Lat

Rent a motorbike (150,000–200,000 VND/day from shops along Phan Dinh Phung street) and ride QL20 west, then cut south on QL28. Total ride time: 3–3.5 hours one way. The road is paved and in decent shape, though the last 5 km to the falls is a narrower concrete lane through farmland.

From Saigon

Drive or bus to Gia Nghia (roughly 250 km, 5–6 hours by car). From Gia Nghia, the waterfall is a 30-minute motorbike ride south. Buses from Saigon's Mien Dong station run daily to Gia Nghia; expect to pay around 200,000–250,000 VND.

From Buon Ma Thuot

About 120 km south on QL14, then turn off toward the falls. Under 3 hours by motorbike.

There's no public transport to the waterfall itself — you'll need your own wheels or a local xe om (motorbike taxi) from the nearest town.

Photo by Mr Alex Photography on Pexels

What to do

• Swim in the basin. Bring a towel and water shoes. The rocks are slippery near the base.
• Walk the upper trail. A short path (under 1 km) leads above the falls for a top-down view. Not marked well — ask at the ticket booth for directions.
• Combine with Dray Sap and Dray Nur. These two connected waterfalls are about 10–15 km north. Dray Sap is the wider of the pair; Dray Nur is taller and more dramatic. A combined ticket for all three used to run around 30,000–50,000 VND per site.
• Stop at a coffee farm. The surrounding area is robusta country. Some farms along the road sell fresh-roasted beans for 80,000–120,000 VND per kilo — far cheaper than Da Lat tourist shops. Vietnamese coffee from this region tends toward chocolate and nutty notes.

Where to eat

There's no real restaurant scene at the waterfall. Your options:

• Pack food. Grab "banh mi" and fruit in Gia Nghia before heading out. The area around the falls has a few basic stalls selling instant noodles and drinks, but nothing substantial.
• Gia Nghia town. After your visit, eat "[com tam](/posts/com-tam-saigon (사이공 / 西贡 / サイゴン)-broken-rice)" (broken rice plates) or "bun" noodle soup at the small restaurants along the main road. Meals run 35,000–55,000 VND. Look for places with locals sitting outside — same rule as everywhere in Vietnam.
• If heading toward Da Lat afterward, stop in Bao Loc town for a proper meal. Bao Loc has decent "pho" shops and local rice-plate joints.

Where to stay

Near the falls: Accommodation is limited to a handful of basic guesthouses (nha nghi) in the surrounding communes. Expect a clean room with fan and hot water for 200,000–350,000 VND/night. Don't expect English or booking apps.

Gia Nghia: A few mid-range hotels with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and breakfast. Rooms from 400,000–700,000 VND. This is the most practical base if you want to hit all three waterfalls over two days.

Da Lat: If you're day-tripping from Da Lat, the ride back is long but doable. Da Lat has every accommodation tier from 150,000 VND dorm beds to boutique hotels.

Photo by Serg Alesenko on Pexels

Practical tips

• Entrance fee: Around 20,000–30,000 VND (subject to change — prices are posted at the gate).
• Bring cash. No ATMs near the falls. Withdraw in Gia Nghia or Da Lat beforehand.
• Footwear matters. Flip-flops are fine for the main viewpoint, but the trail to the upper falls requires shoes with grip.
• Phone signal: Viettel works; Mobifone is spotty. Download offline maps before you leave town.
• Leeches in wet season. If you hike the forest trail between June and September, tuck your pants into socks. They're harmless but annoying.

Common mistakes

• Trying to do all three waterfalls plus the drive from Da Lat in one day. It's technically possible but exhausting. Better to overnight near Gia Nghia.
• Arriving after 4 PM. The site closes around 5 PM, and the access road has no lights. Give yourself at least 1.5 hours at the falls.
• Skipping sunscreen because it's "cloudy." Highlands UV is strong even under overcast skies. You'll burn.
• Expecting tourist infrastructure. This isn't Datanla with its roller coasters and cafes. That's the point — but come prepared.

Practical notes

Thac Gia Long rewards travelers who don't mind a bit of logistical roughness for genuine quiet. Pair it with Dray Sap and Dray Nur, bring your own lunch, and budget a full day for the loop. It's one of the few waterfalls in the Central Highlands where you can still hear the water over the crowd.