Thac Voi, Da Lat: A Traveler's Guide to Elephant Falls

What Thac Voi is — and why it's worth the drive

"Thac Voi" translates to Elephant Falls, named for a massive boulder near the base that — with some imagination — resembles an elephant's head. It sits about 25 km southwest of central Da Lat in Nam Ban commune, part of Lam Ha district in the broader Lam Dong province. The waterfall drops roughly 30 meters over a wide, mossy rock face, and the volume of water is genuinely impressive, especially compared to the more manicured falls closer to Da Lat's center.

The site has a longer history than most visitors realize. The surrounding area is home to a sizable K'Ho ethnic minority community, and a Linh An Pagoda sits right at the entrance — built in the 1990s with a large reclining Buddha and a towering Quan Am statue visible from the parking area. The pagoda and the falls together make this more than a quick nature stop.

Unlike Datanla or Prenn Falls, which lean heavily into the tourist-attraction playbook with cable cars and alpine coasters, Thac Voi is rougher around the edges. That's the appeal. You scramble down wet, uneven stone steps to reach the base, the mist soaks your clothes, and you're standing next to a wall of water with maybe a dozen other people around. It feels earned.

Why travelers go

Most people visiting Da Lat (달랏 / 大叻 / ダラット) hit the big-name waterfalls and move on. Thac Voi draws a different crowd — travelers who want to get a little muddy and don't mind trading convenience for atmosphere. The falls are wider and more powerful than Datanla, the setting is less commercialized, and the Linh An Pagoda grounds are genuinely peaceful. It's a good half-day trip if you're spending a few days exploring Da Lat and want to get outside the city's orbit.

The K'Ho village nearby also offers a glimpse into highland minority culture that you won't find on Xuan Huong Lake. Some local families sell woven goods and coffee harvested from their own smallholdings.

Best time to visit

The rainy season — roughly June through October — is when Thac Voi is at its most powerful. August and September deliver the heaviest flow. The trade-off is obvious: the stone steps down to the base get slippery, and afternoon downpours are almost guaranteed. Wear shoes with grip, not sandals.

Dry season (November through March) is easier for the descent but the falls thin out considerably. If you want the middle ground, aim for late May or early June — the rains have started but the steps aren't yet covered in algae.

Da Lat's elevation keeps temperatures between 15–24°C year-round, so heat isn't a concern regardless of when you go.

How to get there from Da Lat

Thac Voi is about 25 km southwest of Da Lat, mostly along Highway 20 before turning off toward Nam Ban. The drive takes 40–50 minutes by motorbike or car.

• [Motorbike rental](/posts/renting-motorbike-vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム)-legal-insurance): 120,000–150,000 VND/day for a semi-automatic in Da Lat. The road is paved the whole way, no off-roading required. This is the most flexible option and lets you stop at coffee farms along the route.
• Grab car: Around 200,000–280,000 VND one way from central Da Lat. Arrange a return pickup or have the driver wait — Grab availability near Nam Ban is thin.
• Guided tour: Many Da Lat day tours bundle Thac Voi with a silk factory and a cricket farm. These run 300,000–500,000 VND per person. They're efficient but rush the waterfall portion.

Entrance fee to the falls is 20,000 VND per person.

Photo by 1500m Coffee on Pexels

What to do

Descend to the base of the falls

The main event. A stone staircase winds down through boulders and tree roots to the base of the waterfall. It takes 10–15 minutes and requires some careful footwork — there are sections where you're gripping rocks with your hands. At the bottom, the mist is heavy and the noise is constant. It's not a casual stroll, but it's manageable for anyone with basic mobility.

Explore Linh An Pagoda

Right at the entrance, the pagoda grounds are free to walk through. The large Happy Buddha statue at the gate is hard to miss, and the reclining Buddha further inside the complex is one of the larger ones in the Central Highlands (중부 고원 / 中部高原 / 中部高原). It's a working pagoda, so dress modestly and keep voices down.

Walk through the K'Ho village

A short walk from the falls entrance, the village gives context to who actually lives in this part of Lam Dong. You'll see traditional stilt houses alongside more modern construction. Some families sell coffee beans and handwoven textiles directly — prices are fair and negotiation is minimal.

Visit a coffee farm

The road between Da Lat and Thac Voi passes through coffee-growing country. Several small farms welcome visitors, and you can try robusta brewed the local way — strong, sweet, with condensed milk. If you're a "ca phe sua da" person, this is the source material. A bag of fresh-roasted beans runs about 80,000–120,000 VND.

Climb behind the falls

At certain water levels (usually dry season), you can pick your way around the side and stand partially behind the cascade. It's not a hidden cave — more of a rocky overhang — but the perspective is worth the wet shoes.

Where to eat nearby

Nam Ban town doesn't have a restaurant scene, but two things are worth seeking out:

• "Com tam" — broken rice plates with grilled pork — shows up at small roadside spots along the main road. Expect 35,000–50,000 VND for a full plate.
• Grilled corn and sweet potatoes from vendors near the falls entrance. Simple, cheap (10,000–15,000 VND), and good fuel for the climb back up.

For a proper meal, eat before you leave Da Lat or after you return. The city's food scene is deep — "banh mi" stalls near the central market, "bun bo Hue" shops on Phan Dinh Phung street, and the night market for grazing.

Where to stay

Thac Voi is a day trip from Da Lat, not an overnight destination. Stay in Da Lat and base your explorations from there.

• Budget: Hostels and guesthouses around Da Lat market run 150,000–300,000 VND/night for a private room.
• Mid-range: Boutique hotels in the Xuan Huong Lake area go for 500,000–900,000 VND/night with decent breakfast included.
• Splurge: The handful of resort-style properties outside the city center — particularly toward Tuyen Lam Lake — charge 1,500,000–3,000,000 VND/night.

Photo by Tuan Minh on Pexels

Practical tips locals would tell you

• Wear proper shoes. The steps are slippery even in dry season. Flip-flops are a genuine injury risk.
• Bring a dry bag or ziplock for your phone. The mist at the base is heavier than you expect.
• Go in the morning. By early afternoon, tour buses arrive and the staircase gets congested in both directions.
• The pagoda has a small donation box, not an entrance fee. A 20,000 VND contribution is appropriate.
• Motorbike riders: the turnoff from Highway 20 to Nam Ban is easy to miss. Look for the signed junction about 2 km past the K'Long village marker.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Wearing the wrong shoes — this is the number one issue. The descent is not a boardwalk.
• Skipping the base — some visitors look at the falls from the top platform and leave. The entire point is getting down to the bottom.
• Not budgeting enough time — between the pagoda, the descent, and the climb back up, plan for 1.5–2 hours minimum. Tour groups that allocate 45 minutes always feel rushed.
• Arriving after 2 PM — the light fades, the crowds peak, and in rainy season the afternoon storms roll in fast.

Practical notes

Thac Voi isn't the most famous waterfall near Da Lat, which is exactly why it's worth the ride. Pair it with a coffee farm visit on the same morning, eat lunch back in the city, and you've got a solid half-day that covers highland nature and culture without the theme-park treatment. Keep your shoes grippy and your expectations calibrated for raw over polished.