Building a Welcoming Da Lat Ahead of the 2026 Flower Festival
As Da Lat prepares for its 11th Flower Festival in 2026, efforts to improve the city's appearance are being matched by everyday acts of honesty and kindness. These gestures by local residents are helping shape Da Lat's image as a friendly and safe destination for visitors.
Young Students Set an Example of Honesty
In recent days, many roads, public areas and urban spaces in Da Lat have been undergoing improvements to create a greener, cleaner and more attractive environment for the 11th Da Lat Flower Festival 2026. The highland city is taking on a refreshed appearance as it prepares to welcome residents and visitors to one of its signature cultural and tourism events in late December 2026.
Beyond its flowers, architecture and scenic landscapes, an equally important element is the promotion of Da Lat's image as a place defined by friendly, honest and responsible people. Several recent cases in which lost belongings were returned to their owners have highlighted this spirit through the simple but meaningful actions of students, residents, taxi drivers and police officers.
In early September 2026, three students found a handbag near Robin Hill while travelling home from school along Dong Da Street. They were Tran Minh Long, a ninth-grade student in class 9A2 at Tay Son Secondary School; Tran Nguyen Quan, a fifth-grade student in class 5A7; and Phan Thanh Khoi Nguyen, a third-grade student in class 3A5, both from Le Quy Don Primary School.
The bag contained important documents and VND 18.5 million in cash. The students immediately informed their parents and then, together with their family members, took the belongings to Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward Police. After verification, the bag was identified as belonging to Nguyen Thi Hong Phuc, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City. She was delighted to receive all her belongings and expressed appreciation for the students' honesty and the police's assistance.
Another act of honesty by a student helped Malaysian visitor Nurul Nadia Nabilah recover an Insta360 action camera worth approximately VND 10 million on the night of October 24. The camera contained photos and videos documenting her journey through Vietnam. After losing it, she and her companion searched several times without success.
Fortunately, the camera had been found by Nguyen An Gia Huy, a third-grade student at An Duong Vuong Primary School, on a road near his home. Gia Huy took it home and handed it to his father, Nguyen Dang Bao An, so they could find its owner.
With assistance from Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward Police, Nurul Nadia Nabilah was reunited with her camera. She thanked Gia Huy, his family and the ward police for their enthusiastic support.
Although the two incidents occurred at different times, they reflected the same clear choice made by the students: upon finding someone else's belongings, they took steps to return them to their owner. These actions reflect not only individual honesty but also the values instilled by families and schools, demonstrated through practical behaviour in everyday life.
For visitors, the relief of recovering lost belongings is accompanied by appreciation for the sincerity and sense of responsibility shown by local residents. The image of young students voluntarily handing over lost property has added another warm and uplifting dimension to the character of Da Lat, the city of flowers.
Spreading the Image of a Welcoming Da Lat
Students are not the only ones helping promote the principle of returning lost property to its rightful owner. Many Da Lat residents are also contributing to this spirit of honesty.
On September 21, Ha Van Thang, a resident of Lam Vien - Da Lat Ward, found a bag by the roadside and took it to the ward police station. Using information found inside, officers identified its owner as Jang Ju Hwan, a South Korean national staying in the area.
The backpack, along with personal belongings and important documents, was returned intact. Upon receiving his property, Jang Ju Hwan expressed his gratitude for the sense of responsibility shown by the resident and the timely assistance of the ward police. Ha Van Thang's actions, together with the officers' prompt verification, helped the visitor avoid considerable inconvenience during his trip.
On October 11, Nguyen Quynh Chi, a resident of Lam Vien - Da Lat Ward, found a red handbag at Tuyen Lam Lake Tourist Area. It contained identification documents, bank cards and approximately VND 1 million in cash. She took the bag to Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward Police and asked officers to help locate its owner.
The owner was a visitor from Duc Linh Commune. She had accidentally left the bag behind before travelling to another area and searched several places without finding it. Thanks to the honesty of the person who found it and the police's timely verification, the visitor recovered all her belongings before checking out.
This sense of responsibility is also reflected in the conduct of police officers. On September 18, while on duty, Nguyen Thai Hiep, an officer of the Lam Dong Provincial Police Department's Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue Division, found a wallet containing VND 1.6 million and several documents. He immediately handed it over to Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward Police. The owner was identified as a student at Da Lat University from Tay Ninh Province, and the wallet was returned that same day.
In another incident, the responsible cooperation of a transport service provider helped a Chinese visitor recover a mobile phone she had left in a taxi. On the evening of October 7, Miao Tingyu, a Chinese national, reported the loss to Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward Police.
After reviewing the journey, police identified Nguyen Van Manh, a resident of Cam Ly - Da Lat Ward, as the driver who had transported the visitor. Manh promptly cooperated in locating and returning the phone. Upon receiving her belongings, Miao Tingyu expressed her relief and appreciation for the timely assistance of the ward police and the driver's cooperation.
Each case involved different circumstances, but together they demonstrate the connection between residents, service providers and local police. People who find lost belongings voluntarily hand them in; drivers actively cooperate; and police officers promptly receive, verify and arrange their return. Visitors' expressions of gratitude and relief offer genuine testimony to the friendly and responsible way people in Da Lat treat others.
The 11th Da Lat Flower Festival 2026 will showcase it's floral displays, landscapes and distinctive tourism products to a wide audience. Yet what makes Da Lat memorable in the long term is not only the beauty of its highland scenery, but also the people and the way they treat one another. This welcoming spirit is being strengthened through simple, sincere acts in everyday life.