Romantic afternoon tea culture in Da Lat

/Diem Thuong – Lam Dong Newspaper/

Afternoon tea is a famous cultural beauty of the British. Native British people often joke that “at 3:30 p.m., all work stops to enjoy a cup of tea.” Originating in the 19th century in the United Kingdom, the afternoon tea ritual has spread worldwide and merged with each local culture to become a multidimensional cultural experience. Afternoon tea has also become a cultural feature of “Da Lat identity”, an activity many tourists love to choose when coming to Da Lat.

Young people and tourists enjoy participating in the space and enjoying afternoon tea.

According to fashion enthusiasts, enjoying afternoon tea is not only to relax in the middle of a stressful working day but is also a delicate art of the British upper class. For British women, afternoon tea parties are an opportunity to interact, expand relationships, and simultaneously demonstrate the grace and elegance of an upper-class lady. Middle-class ladies also began to focus on buying luxurious tea sets, tables, and chairs to show wealth and fashion. Afternoon tea culture has been introduced around the world, and when it came to Vietnam, it also created a healthy and civilized culinary trend.

This trend also quickly appeared and was loved in the flower city of Da Lat because of the poetic scenery, European-style architecture, and the chilly atmosphere of Da Lat weather in the afternoon; what else? It’s more romantic and exciting than a cup of tea.

Exciting is the tea – Da Lat’s specialty Oolong tea that resonates with the art of Western afternoon tea, two cultural streams that create a unique feature for afternoon tea sessions in Da Lat.

The hobby of drinking tea has been passed down through generations, making it easy for Vietnamese people to accept tea culture in general. The art of afternoon tea has only recently become popular in Vietnam, and when present in Da Lat, it has also become a spiritual dish, an enjoyment option for tourists. The most fundamental value of an afternoon tea party is the moments of leisurely gathering and the spirit of aesthetics. No matter where it spreads, preparing the afternoon tea table still deserves to be considered a true installation art. Attending an afternoon tea party is to feel the British luxury preserved over the centuries and to enjoy the exquisite beauty of an elaborately prepared banquet table, demonstrating the intersection of cultures between countries and the unique aesthetic tastes of the people there.

In Da Lat City, it is easy to find a place to enjoy afternoon tea, with poetic spaces for visitors to enjoy cakes, taste tea, and immerse themselves in the beautiful sunset at the end of the day at many prices. There are many options, depending on the needs of tourists, such as cafes or high-end hotels.

According to Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Hang (a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City), participating in an afternoon tea party at Dalat Palace Hotel, shared Afternoon tea in Dalat left an unforgettable impression on me and everyone in the group Because of the cool air and beautiful scenery, drinking tea and chatting together in such a space is truly relaxing and comfortable. Not only tourists but also many local young people like to come to afternoon tea sessions to take photos and meet.

From a Western culture, when mixed with the tea flavor of the country famous for its tea products, the cultural space of enjoying tea in Da Lat now has a new feature: afternoon tea sessions. Enjoy a “tea party” in Da Lat, sipping some delicious special tea, a charming tower of cakes, and delicious cream cakes. Looking for a change in the afternoons after a busy, bustling day, afternoon tea is a new, interesting cultural feature that visitors will never forget when coming to Da Lat.