Dalat Night Market: Street Food & What to Buy
Cho Dalat (the central market) turns into the night market every evening — the steps in front of the market building and the surrounding streets fill with food stalls, clothing, and the general buzz of a highland city after dark. It's touristy in parts, genuinely local in others, and worth an evening regardless.
When to go
Stalls start setting up around 5–6pm, and it runs until roughly 10–11pm, busiest from about 7pm onward. It's every night, not a weekend-only event — so no need to plan your trip around it.
What to eat
- Bánh tráng nướng — "Vietnamese pizza": grilled rice paper with egg, dried shrimp, scallion and chilli sauce. The signature Dalat night-market snack.
- Nem nướng — grilled pork skewers wrapped in rice paper with herbs, dipped in a peanut-based sauce.
- Hotpot stalls — small individual hotpots are a Dalat night-market specialty, well suited to the cool evening air.
- Sữa đậu nành nóng — hot soy milk, a good way to warm up if you're out late.
- Roasted chestnuts and corn — simple, cheap, and everywhere.
For a broader look at where to eat beyond the market, see our where to eat in Dalat guide.
Prefer food delivered from a trusted local cook?
Some of the same home cooks behind the market's best flavours also cook for the Dalat App community — order homemade meals straight to where you're staying, no market trip required.
What to buy
Beyond food: warm clothing and jackets (Dalat is Vietnam's coolest city, and market clothing shops know it), strawberries and dried fruit, local coffee beans, and flowers — Dalat supplies a large share of Vietnam's cut flowers.
Tips for a good evening
- Food prices are mostly fixed and cheap — no need to haggle over a skewer of nem nướng.
- Bargain gently on clothing and souvenirs — it's expected, but keep it friendly.
- Bring a light jacket. Evenings here get genuinely cool, even if the day was warm.
- Follow the queues. A line of locals at a stall is the best quality signal you'll get.
FAQ
What time does it open?
Stalls set up from about 5-6pm, busiest from around 7pm, running until 10-11pm — every night.
Is the food safe?
Generally yes — pick stalls with a visible queue of locals and food cooked fresh in front of you.
Do vendors bargain?
Food is mostly fixed-price. For clothes and souvenirs, gentle bargaining is normal.