When our neice Kailyn was in town (July 2007), we took a trip to the city of Dalat.

Sarah and Kailyn

Though Dalat is only a few hours from Saigon, its higher elevation makes for a much cooler climate.  In the surrounding hills they grow coffee and grapes and avocadoes and flowers.  Anything that needs a temperate climate.

Our friend Hoan met us in Dalat.  She showed us around town.

Hoan graduated from Dalat University, so she knows the town quite well.  She took us on a tour of her alma mater.

This is the university library.

These fields are part of the agriculture school.

Out there above the houses is a seated Buddha.

Big Buddha

University field house

Dunno.

This was parked outside the library.

Dalat University used to be a catholic school, but when the communists took over, everything changed.

Underneath that big red star is the original cross.

The window features the hammer & sickle.

Valleé D'amour

That's Vietnamese for Valley of Love.

The actual valley in question is down behind this rainbow thing, but they were having a drought, so the picturesque lake is dried out.

Hoan at the bumper cars

The Valley of Love featured a jeep made out of potted plants.

Vietnamese are quite good at making cheap sculptures out of concrete and rebar.

Sarah poses with the bitchin' dragon.

Kailyn

Sacombank is a good bank.

The Pied Piper of Dalat is famous for attracting...

...Tchotchke Injuns.

We waited for a taxi to take us away from the Valley of Love.