Trekking to Hidden Waterfall & Sturgeon Farm for dog-lovers

The best part of this dog-friendly forest trek is the feeling of having the countryside mostly to yourself. From Twin Beans Farm, you walk about 30 minutes through the forest to a waterfall that is not open to the public, often accompanied by the farm’s friendly dogs. You can paddle, climb around the falls, and swim if conditions suit you.

I like the unusual mix of experiences here: a visit to one of Da Lat’s large sturgeon farms, followed by a farm-to-cup coffee stop in a peaceful plantation. I also like the value. At $10 per person, the tour includes the guide, water, welcome drink, entrance fees, and the coffee plantation and roastery visit.

The main drawback is the location. Twin Beans Farm sits about 20 kilometers from central Da Lat, and the final approach can be tricky to find. You will need to arrange your own transport, and the 3 to 6 hour schedule can run longer if you stay for coffee, lunch, or a workshop.

Key points to know before you go

• A private waterfall in the forest: Swim, paddle, or climb around a waterfall that is not publicly accessible.
• Six friendly farm dogs may join you: The dogs often escort the group along the walking route.
• A rare look at sturgeon farming: Visit a large sturgeon farm that normally does not receive public visitors.
• Coffee is part of the setting: Tour the plantation and roastery, then buy beans or order a drink at the café.
• Guide Hieu is a popular choice: He speaks excellent English and explains the farm, forest, and local culture clearly. Guides Hue and Jessie have also led the experience.
• Budget extra time for the farm: Lunch, coffee, or a coffee workshop can turn a short morning into most of a day.

The walk begins at Twin Beans Farm

Your meeting point is Twin Beans Farm in Da Sar commune, Lac Duong district, about 20 kilometers from Da Lat. The drive takes around 40 minutes from downtown, so this is not a quick city activity. It is a countryside outing, and the setting is a big part of its appeal.

The farm combines coffee growing, roasting, accommodation, and food in a rural location. Before or after the trek, you can look across the coffee plantation, visit the roastery, and sit down for a drink. The welcome drink and water are included, but coffee-shop drinks cost extra.

Give yourself plenty of time to find the farm. The approach is easy enough by private car or motorbike, but the last 100 meters can be rough. A Grab taxi may take you there, yet drivers do not always recognize the exact stop. Once dropped off, mobile service may be limited, so save the location and make sure you arrive before the start time.

A taxi from central Da Lat costs around 300,000 Vietnamese dong each way. The farm can help arrange your return, but you should request this early because a taxi may take about 45 minutes to arrive. That extra planning matters if you have a bus, train, or other fixed appointment later in the day.

Walking with the farm dogs

The trek starts with roughly 30 minutes of forest walking. The full route has been described as about 5 kilometers, though the exact duration can vary from 3 to 6 hours depending on stops, swimming, coffee, and the pace of the group.

The dogs are a memorable part of the outing. Several farm dogs may follow you along the road and forest path, acting like cheerful, unofficial guides. This makes the walk especially appealing if you enjoy dogs and prefer a relaxed outdoor activity over a formal sightseeing tour.

The dogs also make this experience different from a standard waterfall trip. You are not simply being driven to a viewpoint, taking a photograph, and leaving. The route gives you time in the forest, with the animals adding company and a little unpredictability.

Still, this is a real trek, not a paved garden stroll. Comfortable shoes are essential. Bring water, even though some is supplied, and pack swimwear if you want to get into the falls. The route can include uneven or rocky ground, and climbing around the waterfall requires care.

Learning how sturgeon become caviar

After about half an hour on foot, you visit a sturgeon farm. The farm is one of the larger operations in the Da Lat area and is not normally open to the public, which gives this stop unusual value.

Your guide explains how the fish are raised and how sturgeon farming works. The focus is on agriculture and production rather than a polished aquarium visit. You can expect to see large fish and learn about the process connected with caviar production.

This stop adds useful local context. Da Lat is widely associated with coffee, flowers, and cool mountain weather, but the surrounding highlands also support other forms of farming. Seeing sturgeon production alongside coffee growing gives you a broader view of the region’s working countryside.

Guide Hieu has received particular praise for his English and clear explanations. Hue has also led the trek, and Jessie has guided the morning walk and later coffee workshop. The experience is strongest when your guide takes time to explain not only the fish farm but also the surrounding forest and Vietnamese culture.

There is one practical point to keep in mind: the farm visit is educational, not a tasting event. The included entrance fee covers access, but lunch and drinks are separate. If you are mainly seeking a food experience, plan to use the café or arrange lunch at Twin Beans Farm afterward.

Reaching the private waterfall

From the sturgeon farm, you continue walking toward the waterfall. The final approach is part of the fun. You may need to climb around rocks and move carefully near the water, so bring shoes with a good grip and do not carry anything you would dislike getting wet.

The reward is a quiet waterfall where your group can spend time without the usual public-site crowd. The exact conditions will depend on weather and water levels, but the activity allows time to paddle, climb up around the falls, and swim.

This is the strongest reason to choose the tour. You are not just looking at a waterfall from a platform. You can use the place as a natural swimming and rest stop, with the forest around you and the farm dogs nearby.

Swimming is optional, of course. If the rocks look slippery or the current is strong, enjoy the setting from the bank instead. The tour information advises bringing swimwear, but it does not promise any particular water conditions, so use normal judgment.

Allow roughly 40 minutes at the waterfall if you want a proper break. Some groups stay longer, and this is one reason the total outing may reach six hours. The schedule is flexible enough for a leisurely stop, but you should not book tight onward transport.

Returning for coffee among the plants

After the waterfall, you return to Twin Beans Farm. The included coffee plantation and roastery tour gives you a look at the farm-to-cup process, from growing coffee to roasting beans.

This is not just a quick souvenir stop. You can sit in the coffee plantation, rest after the walk, and order a drink at the café. Coffee-shop drinks are not included, but the setting makes it a sensible place to spend extra time.

You can also buy coffee beans to take home. That makes a more useful souvenir than another generic trinket, particularly if you want something tied directly to the area you visited.

The farm’s calm setting is another reason to avoid rushing away immediately. The trek can be completed in a few hours, but adding a drink or meal lets you enjoy the place at a slower pace. One practical note: tell the farm in advance if you want lunch. Lunch can be arranged for an additional cost.

Add a workshop for a full day

Twin Beans Farm offers a Coffee Workshop and a Scented Candle Workshop in the afternoon. The coffee workshop is the natural pairing with this trek, especially if you are curious about roasting and brewing rather than simply drinking a cup.

A morning trek followed by lunch and a coffee workshop can fill most of your day. Jessie has guided this combination, explaining the farm and helping visitors make their own coffee. If you want to add a workshop, check the timing when you book and leave room for a slow return from the waterfall.

The candle workshop gives you another option if coffee is not your main interest. The tour itself does not include either workshop, so treat them as optional extras rather than part of the $10 price.

Why the $10 price is unusually good

At $10 per person, this is one of the better-value small activities around Da Lat. The fee includes an English or Vietnamese speaking guide, water, a welcome drink, entrance to the sturgeon farm and waterfall, plus the coffee plantation and roastery tour.

You still need to pay for transport from Da Lat, café drinks, lunch, and any afternoon workshop. For a couple, the taxi can cost more than the tour itself, especially if you use a car both ways. A motorbike is likely the cheaper option if you are comfortable riding, and the main roads are reported to be good, with only the final stretch being rough.

The value comes from the mix. A typical low-cost walk might include only a guide and a viewpoint. This one adds a private waterfall, a farm closed to normal public visits, a coffee-growing stop, and time with the dogs. It is an excellent choice if you want several small local experiences in one outing.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this activity if you want fresh air, a quiet setting, and something beyond Da Lat’s main sights. It suits couples, solo visitors, small groups, and families with older children who can manage an uneven forest walk.

Dog-lovers should give it serious thought. The dogs are not a separate paid attraction, and their behavior can naturally vary, but they often accompany the group and are one of the outing’s most distinctive features.

Coffee enthusiasts also get more from this than a standard café visit. You can connect the drink in your cup with the plants, farm, and roastery around you. The optional workshop makes the day even better for anyone who wants to learn by doing.

This is less suitable if you need a tightly timed excursion, dislike walking on rough ground, or want guaranteed solitude without animals. The waterfall is intended to be private, but the number of people in your group and the day’s conditions can affect the feeling of privacy.

Practical details that make the day easier

Wear comfortable shoes with grip. Bring swimwear, sun protection, and extra water. A light change of clothes is sensible if you plan to swim, though only the first three items are specifically requested by the operator.

Arrive early. Finding Twin Beans Farm can take longer than expected, and arriving late may be stressful. Save directions before leaving Da Lat, especially since phone service may not work well after you are dropped off.

If you take a Grab taxi, confirm that the driver knows Twin Beans Farm and check the exact drop-off point. Ask the farm to arrange your return before you finish, not once you are ready to leave. A 45-minute wait for a taxi is possible.

The tour is offered in English and Vietnamese. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours ahead, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Da Lat plans are still shifting.

Should you book the Twin Beans Farm trek?

I would book this if you want a low-cost, active half-day that combines nature, farming, coffee, and dogs. The private waterfall is the main draw, while the sturgeon farm gives the experience a local agricultural angle that most Da Lat day trips skip.

Book it with an open schedule. Plan for at least the stated 3 hours, but allow 5 or 6 if you want coffee, lunch, swimming, or a workshop. Arrange transport carefully, wear proper shoes, and do not treat the route as a simple roadside stop.

At $10, the tour delivers a lot before you even order your first coffee. Its best qualities are its small-scale setting, friendly guides such as Hieu, Hue, and Jessie, and the chance to see a working side of Da Lat while walking with a pack of happy farm dogs.

FAQ

Where does the trek start?

The meeting point is Twin Beans Farm in Da Sar commune, Lac Duong district, Lam Dong province.

How far is Twin Beans Farm from Da Lat?

The farm is about 20 kilometers from Da Lat downtown, roughly 40 minutes by car.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $10 per person.

How long does the tour take?

The activity lasts between 3 and 6 hours. The final length depends on walking time, the waterfall stop, and any time spent at the farm.

Is the waterfall open to the public?

The waterfall is described as not publicly accessible, and entrance is included in the activity.

Can I swim at the waterfall?

Yes, swimming is possible, and you should bring swimwear if you want to take a dip. Conditions may affect how suitable the water is on the day.

Are dogs included in the trek?

The farm’s dogs often accompany the group during the walk. This is a dog-friendly experience.

What is included in the price?

The price includes an English or Vietnamese speaking guide, water, a welcome drink, entrance fees to the sturgeon farm and waterfall, and a coffee plantation and roastery tour.

Are lunch and coffee included?

No. Lunch can be arranged for an extra charge, and drinks from the coffee shop are also separate.

Can I reach the farm by taxi or motorbike?

Yes. You can use your own motorbike or car, or take a Grab or taxi. A taxi costs around 300,000 Vietnamese dong each way, and the farm can help arrange your return.