Trekking to Hidden Waterfall & Sturgeon Farm for dog-lovers

Leave Dalat’s busy sights behind. This low-cost outing pairs a forest walk with a private waterfall, a working sturgeon farm, and coffee grown and roasted at Twin Beans Farm. I especially like the friendly farm dogs that often escort you along the route, and the chance to see a side of local agriculture that most short Dalat tours skip. The main drawback is the location: Twin Beans Farm sits about 20 kilometers from central Dalat, and the final approach can be hard to find.

The tour costs $10 per person, which is unusually good value for a three to six-hour experience. You get a guide, water, a welcome drink, entry to the sturgeon farm and waterfall, plus a coffee plantation and roastery visit. You should still allow extra time for transport, a cafe stop, or lunch if you add either.

The walk is not a polished park stroll. You may tackle uneven ground, climb around the waterfall, and get wet if you swim. That is part of the appeal, but comfortable shoes and swimwear matter. Guide Hieu, also written as Hue in some bookings, receives especially warm praise for his English, humor, and clear explanations. Other guides, including Jessie, have also led the walk.

Key points to know before you go

• Six farm dogs may join the trek: The dogs from Twin Beans Farm often walk with you through the forest and add a warm, playful touch to the outing.
• The waterfall is not open to the general public: You can enjoy a quiet swim and spend time there without the usual crowds found at better-known Dalat sights.
• The sturgeon farm is a working agricultural stop: You learn how sturgeon are raised and see large fish at one of the area’s major farms.
• The coffee stop is part of the setting, not just a tasting: You return to a plantation and roastery where you can rest, order a drink, and buy beans.
• Plan for about five kilometers of walking: One account describes the route as roughly 5 kilometers, though the advertised duration varies from three to six hours.
• Getting there takes planning: A taxi or Grab costs about 300,000 Vietnamese dong each way, and phone service may not work after you arrive.

Starting at Twin Beans Farm in Da Sar

Your meeting point is Twin Beans Farm in Da Sar commune, Lac Duong district, Lam Dong province. From central Dalat, the drive takes about 40 minutes for roughly 20 kilometers. The distance is manageable, but this is not a tour that sweeps you up from a downtown hotel.

You can reach the farm by motorbike, private car, or taxi. A Grab may work for the outward journey, but make sure you are dropped at the correct entrance. Once you leave the main road, navigation can become less reliable, and the final 100 meters may be rocky. You may also have little or no phone service at the farm, so save the location and meeting details before leaving Dalat.

A taxi costs around 300,000 dong one way. The farm can help arrange a taxi back, but you should request it early. One practical estimate suggests allowing around 45 minutes for the return taxi to arrive. If you rent a scooter, the road is reported to be in good condition apart from the short rough section near the property.

Arrive on time. The setting is peaceful and rural, but it is not the kind of place where you want to wander around trying to find the correct entrance while the group waits. The farm also has a small restaurant and coffee shop, so you can arrive early enough to get oriented without wasting the trip.

A gentle forest start with a canine escort

The trek begins at the farm and reaches the sturgeon operation after about 30 minutes of walking through the forest. The route has been described as roughly 5 kilometers overall, though your exact time can vary depending on stops, the group, and how long you spend at the waterfall.

The most unusual part of this walk is the company. Several dogs live at or around Twin Beans Farm, and up to six may follow along. They are a natural part of the outing rather than a formal attraction. For dog-lovers, this changes the mood of the walk. You have cheerful company on the trail, and the dogs often seem to know the route better than anyone.

The forest setting also gives the tour a useful sense of place. You are not simply being driven from one photo stop to another. You walk between working farms and natural areas, with your guide explaining the surroundings and talking about life in Vietnam. Hieu has been praised for his excellent English, good humor, and patient explanations. Jessie has also led the route and shared information about the forest and farm.

Do not expect a fully paved path or a clearly marked public trail. Wear shoes with a firm grip, and avoid anything you would worry about getting muddy. The operator asks you to bring water and swimwear, although water and a welcome drink are included.

Seeing sturgeon and learning about caviar production

After the first section of the walk, you visit a sturgeon farm that is not normally open to the public. The farm is described as one of the largest in Dalat, and the stop provides a close look at a type of agriculture that many people do not associate with the Central Highlands.

Your guide explains the sturgeon farming process and the production of caviar. You can see large fish and ask questions about how the operation works. This is not a quick photo stop. The value comes from access and explanation, especially if you are interested in food production, farming, or the less familiar parts of Vietnamese agriculture.

The sturgeon visit also gives the trek a useful middle point. You are walking through the forest, then switching to a working farm before continuing toward the waterfall. That mix keeps the half-day outing from feeling like a single-purpose hike.

The stop may be less exciting for young children who only want to reach the water, and it is not a fish market or tasting tour based on the information available. You are there to learn about the farming process. If you enjoy seeing how local products are made, it adds real substance to the day.

Climbing to a waterfall with no public access

From the sturgeon farm, you continue on foot to the waterfall. This is the tour’s main reward. The waterfall is not publicly accessible, so you can spend time there without the crowds found at more established attractions around Dalat.

The walk to the water is described as an adventure rather than a simple stroll. You may need to climb around the waterfall, and one account describes paddling and moving upward through the falls. The exact conditions can change, so take care on wet rocks and listen to your guide.

Once you reach the waterfall, you can rest, take photographs, and swim. The stop often lasts around 40 minutes, but the total tour time can stretch if the group wants a longer break. The quiet setting is the point. You are not rushing through a popular attraction with a line of people behind you.

Bring swimwear even if you are unsure about getting in. The water is one of the reasons this stop feels like more than a forest walk. At the same time, this is not a place for anyone seeking a fully controlled swimming area. Wet stones, climbing, and uneven ground call for sensible footwear and basic caution.

The waterfall is best for people who enjoy a little effort in exchange for privacy. If you have mobility limitations or prefer flat paths, this may not be the right activity. The supplied details do not describe accessibility arrangements, so you should ask the operator before booking if that is important for you.

Returning to coffee country

After the waterfall, you walk back to Twin Beans Farm. The farm-to-cup coffee visit is included, covering the coffee plantation and roastery. This gives you a chance to see where the beans grow and how they are processed before you settle in at the cafe.

The coffee itself is not included. You pay separately for drinks, but that is a fair trade for having time to rest in a scenic plantation setting rather than being pushed straight back to Dalat. You can order a coffee, enjoy the view, and buy beans as a souvenir.

I like this part because it completes the agricultural theme. The day begins with coffee country, moves through sturgeon production, and ends back at the farm’s own coffee operation. You get a better sense of how much work and land sit behind an everyday cup.

The cafe stop can add 45 minutes or more to the day if you decide to linger. Keep that in mind when booking a return taxi or planning an evening reservation in Dalat. You may also be able to arrange lunch for an extra cost. A small restaurant is available at the farm, and the lunch option makes sense if you are combining this trek with another workshop.

Add a coffee workshop or scented candle session

Twin Beans Farm offers a practical way to extend the visit. You can combine the morning trek with a coffee workshop in the afternoon, or choose a scented candle workshop. One booking included lunch followed by the coffee workshop, where the visitor made coffee and spent the full day at the farm.

This combination works well if you dislike rushing from one attraction to another. The trek fills the morning with walking and local agriculture, while the workshop gives you a slower activity afterward. It also makes the long drive from Dalat feel more worthwhile.

The extra activities are not included in the $10 trek price. Confirm the added cost and timing before you book, especially if you need transport back to town. The basic outing already lasts three to six hours, and a workshop or meal can turn it into most of a day.

Is $10 good value?

At $10 per person, this is one of the better-value outdoor activities near Dalat. The price includes an English or Vietnamese-speaking guide, entry to both the sturgeon farm and waterfall, water, a welcome drink, and the plantation and roastery visit.

The value comes from the combination. A short forest trek alone might not justify a long taxi ride, but here you also receive access to a private waterfall and a farm that is not open to the general public. The guide adds context that you would miss by finding the area on your own.

You should budget beyond the tour price for transport, cafe drinks, and possibly lunch. A taxi from Dalat and back can cost about 600,000 dong in total, depending on the arrangement. A scooter may cost less if you are comfortable riding, but the final road section is rough and the location can be difficult to find.

For a small group, the transport cost may be reasonable when divided among several people. Solo visitors need to think more carefully about the return ride, especially if they want to stay for coffee or a workshop.

Who will enjoy this outing most?

This activity suits you if you want a quiet, active day outside Dalat and prefer local farms to crowded sightseeing stops. It is particularly good for:

• Dog-lovers who enjoy walking with friendly animals
• People curious about coffee production and fish farming
• Swimmers who like natural water spots
• Couples, solo visitors, and small groups looking for a personal guide
• Visitors willing to spend extra time and money getting beyond town

The outing may not suit you if you want a short, effortless excursion with hotel pickup. It also may not work well for anyone who dislikes uneven paths, wet rocks, or an uncertain return time.

Group size can affect the feel of the day. Several bookings were private or very small, which allowed the guide to answer questions and adjust the pace. You should confirm the group arrangement when booking if personal attention matters to you.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Wear comfortable shoes with good grip. Pack swimwear, a change of clothes if you plan to enter the water, and extra drinking water even though water is provided. A towel is not listed among the inclusions, so ask before you go if you want one available.

Save the farm’s location before leaving Dalat. Do not rely entirely on a driver knowing Twin Beans Farm, and check that your Grab or taxi has taken you to the right entrance. If you plan to return by taxi, ask the farm to arrange it before you finish the trek.

Allow more time than the shortest advertised duration. The walk, waterfall break, coffee stop, lunch, and transport can easily turn a three-hour plan into a half-day or longer. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Dalat schedule is still shifting.

Should you book the Twin Beans Farm trek?

I would book this if you want access rather than a standard sightseeing circuit. The private waterfall, closed-to-the-public sturgeon farm, coffee plantation, and farm dogs give the day a character that is hard to find in a basic Dalat tour.

Book it with realistic expectations. You need to arrange your own transport, the route is not completely easy underfoot, and cafe drinks or lunch cost extra. But at $10, with guides such as Hieu and Jessie, the experience offers a strong mix of nature, agriculture, swimming, and friendly local contact. For dog-lovers and curious walkers, it is an easy recommendation.

FAQ

Where does the trek begin?

It begins at Twin Beans Farm in Da Sar commune, Lac Duong district, Lam Dong province.

How far is Twin Beans Farm from Dalat?

The farm is about 20 kilometers from Dalat downtown, or roughly 40 minutes by car.

How much does transport from Dalat cost?

A taxi or Grab costs around 300,000 Vietnamese dong one way. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

How long does the activity take?

The advertised duration is three to six hours. The walking route has been described as roughly 5 kilometers, and the day can take longer if you stay for coffee, lunch, or a workshop.

Is swimming allowed at the waterfall?

Yes. You can swim at the waterfall, so swimwear is recommended.

Is the waterfall open to everyone?

No. The waterfall is not publicly accessible, and entry is included in the activity.

What will I see at the sturgeon farm?

You will learn about sturgeon farming and the production process. The farm has large fish and is described as one of the largest in Dalat.

Are coffee drinks included?

No. The coffee plantation and roastery visit are included, but drinks at the coffee shop cost extra.

Can I have lunch at Twin Beans Farm?

Lunch can be arranged for an additional cost. The farm also has a small restaurant.

What languages does the guide speak?

Guides are available in English and Vietnamese. Guides including Hieu and Jessie have led this activity.