Originally built by the French to escape the stifling heat of Saigon, the high mountain city of Đà Lạt is uniquely unlike the rest of Vietnam. As the Paris of Vietnam, Đà Lạt boasts classic European architecture; wide, tree-lined avenues; elegant, colonial-era gardens; and refreshingly cool, spring-like air. The climate is perfect for growing artichokes, coffee, strawberries, and strawflowers.