PERSIMMON SEASON AT ANA MANDARA VILLAS DALAT: AUTUMN BY THE VERANDA OF A FRENCH VILLA
Some seasons in Dalat are not defined by specific dates, but recognised by a colour. When the trees begin to bear vibrant orange persimmons, when the leaves gradually turn shades of golden yellow and crimson, when the rain veils the landscape in mist and the gentle sunlight shimmers through the clouds, Dalat welcomes the arrival of autumn and persimmon season — one of the most beautiful and distinctive seasons in the highland city.
Here at Ana Mandara Villas Dalat, the persimmons have also begun to ripen. Plump fruits peek through the lush green foliage, basking in the golden sunlight and embracing the delicate sweetness that makes autumn in Dalat so uniquely enchanting.
Ripe Persimmons by the Verandas of French Villas
For guests returning to Ana Mandara Villas Dalat in September, the sight of persimmon trees laden with ripe, blushing fruit is perhaps a familiar one — their warm orange-red hues brightening a corner of the garden, with some branches reaching all the way to the bedroom windows.
Their gentle colours blend naturally into the setting of the French villas, which have stood here for decades. Among the timeworn architecture, lush gardens and winding pathways, the ripening persimmons become an effortless part of the autumn landscape.
The persimmon trees at the resort are not tended as meticulously as commercial orchards. They receive only a little organic fertiliser from Le Jardin Organic Garden, along with Dalat’s gentle sunlight and unpredictable rain, and the attentive care of the gardeners who quietly nurture them throughout the seasons.
The fruits may not be particularly large, nor do they have the flawless, glossy appearance of those grown for commercial harvest. Yet beneath their humble skin lies a delicate sweetness — simple, wholesome and wonderfully unforgettable.
A Memory, an Experience, a Reason to Return
For some of our returning guests, persimmon season has become a reason in itself to come back to Dalat — to watch the ripening fruit beyond the windows, to set their worries aside, pick up a basket and wander into the garden to gather the first ripe persimmons by hand.
At their perfect ripeness, the persimmons offer a delicate sweetness, cool and refreshing, with just a lingering hint of astringency on the tip of the tongue — like a gentle reminder of a cherished memory, a moment of peace quietly held in the heart.
Perhaps the most delightful part of persimmon season is not simply tasting the ripe fruit, but the moment of picking it yourself. There is something quietly healing about focusing on such a simple experience — a small moment that allows you to be carefree, unhurried, and wonderfully childlike once again.
Photo: Võ Thái Thảo
Leaving Them on the Trees, Saving a Few Memories
In previous years, when the persimmon season arrived, our gardeners would harvest a small portion of the fruit and bring it to the kitchen at Le Petit Restaurant, where our chefs would prepare batches of crispy persimmons to offer guests during breakfast.
But with so many persimmons ripening at once, some would naturally fall to the ground. Guests would sometimes ask why we did not harvest them all, as leaving them to fall seemed such a waste. Yet if we gathered every fruit, those who wandered through the gardens would miss the simple pleasure of picking a ripe persimmon and tasting it straight from the tree. So, we choose to leave some fruits where they are.
We save a portion for our guests to discover and harvest themselves, and leave another portion for the squirrels, birds and little creatures that call Ana Mandara Dalat’s gardens home.
These persimmons have grown with the climate and nature of Dalat. And now, a part of their harvest is simply left to return to nature and nourish the ecosystem around them.
Because we believe that growing alongside nature, rather than apart from it, is one of the most enduring and sustainable ways to move forward.
Visit Ana Mandara Villas Dalat, When Autumn Is at Its Most Beautiful
Perhaps you need not venture far to experience the persimmon season in all its charm. A stay at Ana Mandara Villas Dalat might begin with an unhurried morning among the French villas, followed by a leisurely stroll through the lush grounds, where you can reach for ripe persimmons yourself and experience autumn through all your senses.
Persimmon season in Dalat is a gentle invitation. Nothing loud, nothing hurried — just clear skies, soft sunlight, a touch of coolness in the air, and orchards quietly coming into harvest.
The ripe persimmons are waiting on the trees, the fruit-picking baskets are ready beneath their branches, and our Ana Mandara Villas Dalat team is always happy to accompany you on your first persimmon-picking adventure.
If you are looking for a reason to return to Dalat, perhaps persimmon season is just the right one.
Ana Mandara Villas Dalat awaits your visit.