Accommodations can be tricky, as most reputable hotels are filled by honeymooners. Many a Western tourist has checked himself unwittingly into a brothel/hotel, and although staying at a house of ill repute can be an adventure, those who wish to steer clear of such places should pay close attention to the d?cor of the room ? steer clear of rooms decorated with pictures of scantily clad women. Another pitfall of staying at a brothel is police trouble: if Vietnamese police come pounding on the door, it?s best to be very quiet and hope that they go away, but even better is to avoid the trouble by choosing accommodations carefully. Recently, a number of newer hotels have been built in Dalat with Westerners in mind, so finding a good place to stay should be much easier than it has been in the past.
Many travelers stop at the city of Dalat before setting out for the nearby Montagnard villages. The Montagnards are an aboriginal people who live in the hills of Vietnam. Many of the them fought for the Americans during the Vietnam War, but tensions between the Montagnards and the Vietnamese predate the arrival of Westerners. The Montagnards are a remarkable people with a rich history and culture, but before heading out to their villages, tourists should check through the American embassy or local tourist offices to make sure that times are peaceful.
