Crazy House (Hang Nga Guesthouse)
Biệt thự Hằng Nga
A fantastical tree-house-style building designed by Vietnamese architect Đặng Việt Nga, with twisting staircases and rooms shaped like mushrooms and giraffes. It is Da Lat's most photogenic landmark.
The Crazy House stands on Hoang Dieu Street, southwest of the city center. Architect Đặng Việt Nga, daughter of former Vietnamese President Trường Chinh and a graduate of the Moscow Architecture Institute, began construction in 1990 and has kept expanding it since. Its official name is Hang Nga Guesthouse. Not a single right angle appears in the building. The concrete is shaped into giant tree trunks, mushrooms, spider webs and animal forms. Narrow staircases and walkways wind through the air like branches, linking several towers. From the top you can see Da Lat's red-roofed houses and pine forests. Several travel media have listed the building among the world's most unusual. Inside are 10 guest rooms named after animals, such as the Kangaroo Room, Tiger Room and Ant Room, all decorated in the same fantastical style. You can book a stay for about 40 to 100 US dollars, though tourists pass through during the day. Admission is 80,000 Vietnamese dong, or 30,000 for children 1.2 to 1.4 meters tall, and children shorter than that enter free. It is open 08:30 to 19:00, and a visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Because construction is ongoing, the route keeps changing, so simply follow the arrows around once. The aerial walkways are narrow with low railings, so visitors who fear heights or have young children should take care, and they are slippery when it rains. Nearby, it is a 10-minute walk to Bao Dai Palace No. 3 and a 15-minute walk to Xuan Huong Lake, so the three make a good half-day city tour. Getting there: 15 to 20 minutes' walk from the center, or about 20,000 dong by Grab motorbike. Notes: tour groups gather between 10:00 and 15:00, so you may need to queue on the stairs when it is crowded. The whole site is open-air, so bring an umbrella or sun protection.
Opening hours
8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Nearby sights
- Bao Dai Summer Palace (Dinh III)
- Da Lat Cathedral
- Da Lat Night Market
- Domaine de Marie Church
- Lam Vien Square
- Xuan Huong Lake
- Da Lat Flower Park
- Da Lat Railway Station