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Voykit pocket guide · Vietnam
Bao Loc
Bảo Lộc
Use Bao Loc as a half-day stop between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat on Highway 20: one lunch and a walk around the lake, not a base.
Bao Loc is a mid-size town on Highway 20 between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat. It has a pleasant central lake and park, a few vegetarian restaurants and cheap hotels. Most travellers pass through on a motorbike or bus; a couple of hours is enough to stretch legs and eat.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Local name
- Bảo Lộc
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season, landslides on Hwy 20)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- VND
- Money
- VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₫300,000–500,000 excl. bed · Mid ₫500,000–1,000,000 excl. bed · High ₫1,000,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Fire 114 · Ambulance 115
- Plugs
- Types A, C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · Two-pin sockets take flat US pins and round European pins; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and cafés: Nothing; leave small change if you like.; Sit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Grab / taxi: Round up; tip in the app if you want.; Spa and massage: ₫50,000–100,000 to the therapist directly; some spas ask for more.; Guide and driver on a day tour: ₫100,000–200,000 per person for the guide, about half that for the driver.; Hotel porter: ₫20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled and filtered water everywhere; hotel refill stations are common. Café ice is factory-made.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues. Old plumbing: paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian meal | ₫40,000–80,000 |
| Coffee (local robusta) | ₫20,000–40,000 |
| Hotel double room | ₫200,000–600,000 |
| Motorbike rental, one day | ₫150,000–250,000 |
| Bus HCMC → Bao Loc | ₫150,000–250,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SGN · Tan Son Nhat International (Ho Chi Minh City)
- About 6–7 h by bus or motorbike via Hwy 20.
Typical fares
- Bus HCMC → Bao Loc
- about ₫150,000–250,000, 6–7 h (check)
- Bus Bao Loc → Da Lat
- about ₫100,000–200,000, 2 h (check)
- Motorbike rental, one day
- ₫150,000–250,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is walkable; the lake and park are in the middle. For the surrounding tea hills, rent a motorbike or hire a xe ôm (motorbike taxi).
See and do
Known for
- Central lake and park
- Vegetarian restaurants
- Coffee and tea farms in the surrounding hills
- Gateway between HCMC and Da Lat
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Da Lat | Bus or motorbike on Hwy 20, about 2 h | 2–2.5 h |
| Thac Mo | Motorbike or taxi, about 30–40 min | 1 h |
| Gia Nghia | Bus or motorbike on QL14, about 1.5 h | 2 h |
Sleep
- Near the central lake (hồ Bao Loc)
- Most hotels are here; walk to the park and restaurants.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chàosin chow |
| Help me! | Cứu tôi với!kuh-oo toy vuh-ee |
| 1, 2, 3 | một, hai, bamoht, hai, bah |
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu tiền?bow nyew tyen |
| Please take me to this address | Làm ơn chở tôi đến địa chỉ nàylahm uhn chuh toy den dee-ah chee nay |
| Excuse me! (to a younger server) | Em ơi!em uh-ee |
| I have a booking | Tôi đã đặt phòngtoy dah daht fong |
| What time? | Mấy giờ?may zuh |
| Thank you | Cảm ơnkahm uhn |
| Call the police! (113) | Gọi cảnh sát! (113)goy kahn saht |
| 4, 5, 6 | bốn, năm, sáubohn, nahm, sow |
| Too expensive! | Đắt quá!daht kwah |
| I booked a Grab | Tôi đặt Grabtoy daht grab |
| I'll have this one | Cho tôi cái nàychaw toy kai nay |
| Do you have a room free? | Còn phòng không?kon fong khohm |
| Now | Bây giờbay zuh |
| No, thank you (street sellers) | Không, cảm ơnkhohm, kahm uhn |
| Fire! Call the fire service! (114) | Cháy! Gọi cứu hỏa! (114)chai! goy kuh-oo hwah |
| 7, 8, 9, 10 | bảy, tám, chín, mườibay, tahm, cheen, muh-ee |
| Come down a bit | Bớt đibuht dee |
Say it for greetings, prices and 'no ice'. Show the screen for addresses, allergies, medical problems and anything you need done exactly — a wrong tone on those costs more than the embarrassment of pointing at a phone.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nod and smile; handshake with men, let women offer first; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses with people you have just met
- Names: Title plus given name — 'Anh Nam', 'Chị Lan' — the given name comes last; avoid: Calling someone by the family name alone (Nguyễn, Trần)
- Handing things: Both hands, especially money, cards and gifts to older people; avoid: Tossing things across a table
- Conversation: Expect questions about age, marriage and income; they place you, not pry; avoid: Raising your voice or correcting someone in front of others
- Temples and pagodas: Covered shoulders and knees; step over the raised threshold; enter by the right-hand door; avoid: Sitting with your back to an altar; climbing statues for photos
- Photos: Ask first, especially in minority villages; avoid: Paying children for photos — it keeps them out of school
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit, tea or sweets; accept at least a drink; avoid: Pointing your feet at people or the family altar
- Beckoning: Palm down, fingers waving towards you; avoid: Curling one finger — it is used for animals
Scams and watch-outs
- Hwy 20 can be slow with trucks and rain; leave early if continuing to Da Lat.
- Some hotels list prices in dong but may quote higher for foreigners; confirm the rate before you stay.
- The vegetarian restaurant may be called Quan Chay or Quan Che on Google Maps; check the address before relying on it.
Bao Loc is a quiet, safe town. The main risks are traffic on Hwy 20 and motorbike theft; lock your bike and keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bao Loc yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Central lake and park
- Vegetarian restaurants
- Coffee and tea farms in the surrounding hills
- Gateway between HCMC and Da Lat
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bao Loc, revision 5339073 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5339073
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bao-loc). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.