Rainy Café in Da Lat is really more of a park with paths running around a pond and through gardens.

The Central Highlands resort town of Da Lat is Vietnam’s premier romantic getaway.

But if you want to explore a different side of the foggy city, close your guidebook and steer clear of the downtown tourist attractions.

Head for Rainy Cafe, one of the most distinct cafes in a city full of unique coffee shops.

Not far from the heart of the city, but a full world away, Rainy cafe can turn a short coffee break into a half-day retreat.

Located at the end of an alley on 24B/1 Hung Vuong Street, Rainy’s quaint garden sits peacefully beneath a cover of green willows and old trees.

Something about the small pond and lush plant life seems to loosen up all tension turning weariness into refreshment.

At first glance, Rainy is more of a Japanese garden than anything else, meticulously bedecked with all types of carefully pruned bonsai.

But then again, the 3,000-squaremeter garden is really more of a park with an eclectic array of colorful plants, trees and flowers.

Walking along the small paths in the chilly, crisp breeze is about as pleasant a stroll as you can find anywhere.

The paths near the pond are lined by grassy banks dotted with flower patches and pine trees.

Pines are found in only a few places in Vietnam outside Da Lat, so getting a chance to walk amongst them is a real treat.

Thin willow tree branches dangle down onto Rainy’s pond and a small stream winds through the cafe.

The sound of the man-made rain curtain and the murmuring stream are particularly relaxing.

This hideaway is less like a cafe and more like a nature walk.

Whether you stop by Rainy at dawn or in the late evening, the cafe never fails to provide a romantic, cozy place where your thoughts can drift above the willow trees, wandering to the rhythm of the rain.

Reported by Thuy Nhien