Thuy Ta Da Lat - from 'Frog Lagoon' to 'shaken coffee'

Thuy Ta is one of the images associated with the poetic Xuan Huong Lake in Da Lat (Lam Dong).

In the early 1930s, the French dug up the lake, creating a small island as a visual highlight. On it, they built a water sports club, with a 3-level diving board for swimming. The structure was built on a system of columns embedded in the lake bed, creating the feeling of "flying" above the water.

Thuy Ta is like a white boat moored on Xuan Huong Lake - painting by architect Duy Huynh

Thuy Ta was originally a water sports club - sketch by architect Bui Hoang Bao

This is a private club, reserved for French entertainment. The Vietnamese call it Thuy Ta, the French call it "La Grenouillère" (Frog Pond) to recall the famous entertainment venue of the same name in the suburbs of Paris, where world- famous painters Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir used to include it in their paintings.

Bridge over Thuy Ta restaurant - sketch by architect Thang Ngo

Thuy Ta Restaurant is one of the favorite check-in photo spots for tourists - sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh

Due to many reasons, Thuy Ta was later renovated into a refreshment shop and restaurant. "Shaking coffee" is what locals often say when sitting here drinking coffee in the evening. Simply because Da Lat is cold, customers sitting in coffee near the railing on the windy Thuy Ta all shiver.

Pedaling ducks on Xuan Huong Lake - sketch by architect Tran Xuan Hong

Thuy Ta was built on an oasis created by the French by digging a lake - sketch by architect Thang Ngo

Before 1975, Thuy Ta was a place where musician Hoang Nguyen (author of famous songs Ai len xu hoa dao, Bai tho hoa dao ) often visited. It was also here that he imparted his musical knowledge, gradually guiding his student Nguyen Dinh Anh (who later became musician Nguyen Anh 9, author of songs Co don, Khong, Buon oi chao mi... ) into the music path.

Thuy Ta seen from Xuan Huong Lake - sketch by designer Le Quang Khanh

From a water sports club, Thuy Ta has been converted into a restaurant - sketch by architect Tran Xuan Hong

At the end of 2023, the small oasis was abuzz with an auction to rent this place for more than 15 billion VND/year. However, the winning bidder forfeited the deposit and withdrew because he wanted to change the name but was not allowed (the reason is that Thuy Ta belongs to the national scenic spot Xuan Huong Lake and cannot be rebuilt or renamed).

From Thuy Ta looking towards Hoa Binh area - painting by architect Phung The Huy

Thuy Ta has become one of the highlights associated with Xuan Huong Lake - sketch by architect Nguyen Hoang Quan

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thuy-ta-da-lat-tu-dam-ech-den-ca-phe-run-185250823203116315.htm