City Infrastructure Strained as Tourism Reaches New Peak

Đà Lạt has shattered previous tourism records during the Tết Nguyên Đán 2026 holiday period, with an estimated 480,000 visitors descending on the highland city between January 26 and February 2, according to figures released by the Lâm Đồng Department of Tourism.

The influx represents a 35% increase compared to Tết 2025 and marks the highest visitor count in the city's recorded history. Hotel occupancy rates exceeded 98% throughout the week, with many establishments fully booked months in advance.

"We've never seen anything like this," said Nguyễn Thị Mai Lan, owner of a boutique hotel on Trần Hưng Đạo street. "By mid-December, we had no rooms left for Tết. Some guests were offering double the normal rate just to secure accommodation."

Popular Sites Overwhelmed

Iconic destinations struggled to manage the crowds. Xuân Hương Lake's walking path was packed shoulder-to-shoulder during peak hours, while Langbiang Mountain implemented a visitor cap of 5,000 people per day after concerns about trail degradation and safety.

Đà Lạt Market experienced unprecedented congestion, with vendors reporting sales increases of 60-80% compared to last year. Local specialties including strawberries, artichokes, and Arabica coffee flew off shelves as visitors sought gifts to bring home.

Traffic gridlock plagued the city center throughout the holiday week. Lê Văn Thành, Deputy Director of Lâm Đồng Tourism Department, acknowledged the challenges: "The success of our tourism industry has created new problems. We must invest in infrastructure to sustain this growth responsibly."

Economic Boom with Growing Pains

Local businesses celebrated the economic windfall, with preliminary estimates suggesting tourism revenue exceeded 2.8 trillion VNĐ (approximately $115 million USD) during the eight-day period. Flower gardens, coffee shops, and adventure tour operators all reported exceptional earnings.

However, residents voiced concerns about overtourism's impact on daily life. "I couldn't even buy vegetables at the market," complained Trần Minh Hoàng, a longtime Đà Lạt resident. "The streets were impossible to navigate, and garbage was overflowing everywhere."

Looking Ahead

City officials announced plans to develop additional parking facilities and improve public transportation before the summer holiday season. Discussions are also underway about implementing reservation systems for popular attractions and promoting lesser-known sites like Cam Ly Falls and the Valley of Love to distribute visitor traffic more evenly.

As the holiday period concludes and Đà Lạt returns to relative calm, the city faces a crucial question: how to balance the economic benefits of tourism with preserving the tranquil charm that makes the "City of Eternal Spring" so appealing in the first place.

City Infrastructure Strained as Tourism Reaches New Peak

Đà Lạt has shattered previous tourism records during the Tết Nguyên Đán 2026 holiday period, with an estimated 480,000 visitors descending on the highland city between January 26 and February 2, according to figures released by the Lâm Đồng Department of Tourism.

The influx represents a 35% increase compared to Tết 2025 and marks the highest visitor count in the city's recorded history. Hotel occupancy rates exceeded 98% throughout the week, with many establishments fully booked months in advance.

"We've never seen anything like this," said Nguyễn Thị Mai Lan, owner of a boutique hotel on Trần Hưng Đạo street. "By mid-December, we had no rooms left for Tết. Some guests were offering double the normal rate just to secure accommodation."

Popular Sites Overwhelmed

Iconic destinations struggled to manage the crowds. Xuân Hương Lake's walking path was packed shoulder-to-shoulder during peak hours, while Langbiang Mountain implemented a visitor cap of 5,000 people per day after concerns about trail degradation and safety.

Đà Lạt Market experienced unprecedented congestion, with vendors reporting sales increases of 60-80% compared to last year. Local specialties including strawberries, artichokes, and Arabica coffee flew off shelves as visitors sought gifts to bring home.

Traffic gridlock plagued the city center throughout the holiday week. Lê Văn Thành, Deputy Director of Lâm Đồng Tourism Department, acknowledged the challenges: "The success of our tourism industry has created new problems. We must invest in infrastructure to sustain this growth responsibly."

Economic Boom with Growing Pains

Local businesses celebrated the economic windfall, with preliminary estimates suggesting tourism revenue exceeded 2.8 trillion VNĐ (approximately $115 million USD) during the eight-day period. Flower gardens, coffee shops, and adventure tour operators all reported exceptional earnings.

However, residents voiced concerns about overtourism's impact on daily life. "I couldn't even buy vegetables at the market," complained Trần Minh Hoàng, a longtime Đà Lạt resident. "The streets were impossible to navigate, and garbage was overflowing everywhere."

Looking Ahead

City officials announced plans to develop additional parking facilities and improve public transportation before the summer holiday season. Discussions are also underway about implementing reservation systems for popular attractions and promoting lesser-known sites like Cam Ly Falls and the Valley of Love to distribute visitor traffic more evenly.

As the holiday period concludes and Đà Lạt returns to relative calm, the city faces a crucial question: how to balance the economic benefits of tourism with preserving the tranquil charm that makes the "City of Eternal Spring" so appealing in the first place.