The essential guide to explore Pongour Waterfall, Dalat
Located about 50 kilometers from the center of Dalat City, the waterfall is known as "The greatest waterfall of the South."
Pongour Waterfall, Dalat, is a wild and spectacular landscape. Located about 50 kilometers from the center of Dalat City, the waterfall is known as "The greatest waterfall of the South." Pongour ecosystem is one of the ideal spots of Dalat city, Lam Dong province. It attracts millions of tourists every year of all ages with its magnificent natural beauty and fascinating activities.
Get to know Pongour Waterfall, Dalat.
Pongour Waterfall locates in Phú Hội Commune, Đức Trọng District, Lâm Đồng Province. It's 20 kilometers away from Đức Trọng's center and 50 kilometers from Dalat's center.
Local people say that the presence of Pongour Waterfall came from an ethnic legend of the land. Once upon a time, the land Phú Hội was ruled by a female chieftain named Kanai. She was a beautiful, talented woman who could conquer troubling, dangerous animals to protect the residents. Among those animals which Kanai tamed, there were four massive rhinos. The rhinos were always devoted to supporting Kanai to build the land and save the residents from enemies.
On a full-moon day in January (Lunar month), the chieftain passed away, leaving behind sadness and regret for the locals and also the four rhinos. The rhinos stayed by Kanai's burial place till they died. In the early morning, people surprisingly noticed a magnificent waterfall right at the burial place. They said that Kanai's hairs turned into a gorgeous stream, and the fossils of the rhinos became giant schists; all together created an incredible landscape for Phú Hội Commune.
The Pongour cascade's height is 40 meters, covered by 25,000 square meters of forest, creating majestic scenery. The water flow gushes through 7 separated levels making a breathtaking 3D visual experience for admirers, just like a hair stream of a beautiful young woman. Then the streams of gushing water become soft, reaching the pond at the bottom, just like quiet tears from nature reminiscing the story of Kanai.
- Opening hour: 8:00AM - 6:00PM every day
- Entrance fee: 20,000 VND/person ($0.90) (excluding other activities and services)
- Motorbike parking fee: 10,000 VND/motorbike ($0.40)
How to get there?
From Ho Chi Minh City
You can either book a car with a driver from travel agents or rent a motorbike to explore the path yourself.
For bikers, it will take you around 6 hours from Ho Chi Minh City to Pongour Waterfall, following this route. Remember to turn left when you meet km260 in Đức Trọng, then go straight to the waterfall. You can refer to this site to have more information about motorbike rental.
From Dalat City
Below are the options for your transportation:
By bus
This is a reasonable option that takes you only from 20,000 VND/person ($0.90). You can contact Phương Trang Bus agent via phone ((+84) 263 358 5858) to ask about pick-up locations. Departure hour is from 5:30 AM to 7:00 PM. The important note is that you need to tell the driver to drop you off at the crossroad, leading to Pongour Waterfall. If you are unsure about the crossing, show the driver the name "Pongour Waterfall" and ask him to drop you off at the nearest stop. From the bus stop, there are still around 6.5 kilometers to get to Pongour Waterfall's entrance.
If you have good physical health and would like to challenge yourself, you can go to the waterfall on foot. This route would take an hour and a half and plenty of scenery for the hikers to take in.
On the other hand, there are motor-taxi around the intersection with prices from 100,000VND/bike ($4.50). So you definitely can bargain with the driver to have a more affordable price.
By taxi:
- You can book a taxi trip from Dalat to Pongour Waterfall. It will cost you a lot more than the bus (approximately $100 for a whole day)
By motorbike
Riding from Dalat to Pongour Waterfall in such chilling weather is a great experience. Following the routes, you will reach the waterfall in about 1 hour. Here are some suggested motorbike rental places in Dalat; or else, you can also ask the hotels or homestays you are staying for motorbike rental if they have this service. (tips: they always have)
When is the best time to visit Pongour Waterfall, Dalat?
Pongour Waterfall has flowing water all year round but the amount is different between seasons. The rainy season is expected to begin in the middle of April and end in September. In this period, the waterfall stands out with its full beauty. However, you might get disadvantages when participating in extra activities.
The dry season usually starts in December and ends in March. At this time, Pongour Waterfall presents with a gentle and romantic charm. The stream flows slowly, combining with beautiful sunshine sparkling on the water's surface. This is also the best time for experiencing activities.
Pongour is also the only waterfall having its festival, which occurs on the 15th of the Lunar first month (usually in February in the Gregorian calendar). So if you want to experience Vietnam's ethnic festival, do arrange to visit at this time.
The weather at Pongour Waterfall is a lot similar to Dalat's center. Therefore, you should prepare suitable clothes for the temperature drop at night.
What to experience at Pongour Waterfall, Dalat?
Sightseeing:
The waterfall, the main event of it all, gushes from 40 meters high and spans over a hundred meters wide. The stream falls below over seven stages of rocks, just like a nymph coming down the stairs. The scenery at the fall is mesmerizing in its sheer power while maintaining a zen feeling simultaneously, which French explorers stated to be the most majestic waterfall over the Indochine. Looking at the torrents from above segregated by cascades of rocks, one may feel looking at hundreds of streams simultaneously. The photography here ensures that travelers can bring home hundreds of unique photos that cannot be found anywhere else.
Participate in K'Ho Festival
Participate in K'Ho festival occurring on 15th, Lunar calendar first month at Pongour Waterfall, Dalat, is an annual festival to commemorate the chieftain, Kanai. If you happen to visit Pongour Waterfall at this time, do not miss this unique activity. You will get to know about K'Ho cultural dance, games, songs and cuisines, etc.
Go fishing
Besides admiring the natural beauty of Pongour Waterfall, you can also enjoy sitting by a stream, dropping your line, and catching fish. If you are a skillful fisherman, you may have a complete meal after that with grilled fish.
Canyoning
This is the best way to fully admire the beauty of Pongour Waterfall and other waterfalls around there. All you need is a bit of courage. Professionals will guide you to ensure safety. A canyoning tour ranges from 1,700,000 VND/person ($75), booked at local agents.
With food, you will not find many options at Pongour Waterfall. They primarily serve snacks and tiny meals like grilled meat skewers, grilled eggs, etc. If you plan to spend a day at the waterfall, don't forget to carry on some food, soft drink, fruits, etc.
Nearby attractions
Đại Ninh Lake: located in Ninh Gia Village, Đức Trọng District.
Masara bare hill
Located in Masara Helmet, Tà Năng Village, Đức Trọng District. Masara bare hill is regarded as "The strange land." This is because the flowers in Masara bare hill changes over time, creating different shades of colors.