Zoodoo: A Kid-Friendly Zoo in Dalat for a Family Fun Time

Dalat Zoodoo Zoo is one of the best things to do in Dalat with young children. They prioritize animal care and raising them in a gentle manner to be comfortable around humans.

The well-nurtured wallabies, alpacas, ponies, meerkats, capybaras, otters, raccoons, ostriches, and others are sure to be great new friends for your kids. In addition, the trained zookeepers are there to make sure your kids have the best experience possible hanging out with these residents of Zoodoo.

The Services

There are specific visiting slots at each hour from 9 AM to 4 PM. One visit lasts 45 minutes. This is to make sure the animals don’t get overwhelmed and the zookeepers can fully attend to visitors.

The zookeepers have expert knowledge on each animal which they can explain to you in both English and Vietnamese. They are stationed around the zoo and will come to assist you when you need them. When you go in a group, a zookeeper will be assigned to guide the whole group.

If you feel like feeding the animals, you can buy them a jar of treats at the Zoodoo Cafe inside. By keeping the jar and giving it back to the cafe, you’ll get a small amount of money back as thanks for preserving the environment.

The zoo also has a playground as a spot for day-picnics. You can bring your own food or buy some basic food and beverages at the cafe. There’s also the Zoodoo Bus which is a coach that can pick you up in the city center.

The Animals in Zoodoo

One of the unique aspects of Zoodoo is that even though the animals here come from many regions of the Earth, most of them were brought from Australia. The climate in Dalat is suitable for the residents here and Zoodoo is the only zoo in Vietnam with an official license for them.

Wallabies

Wallabies (chuột túi wallaby) are small or middle-sized macropods native to Australia. They are closely related to kangaroos but are generally much smaller. A group of wallabies is called a mob, court, or troupe. Like their kangaroos, baby wallabies are called joeys.

Ponies in Zoodoo

Ponies or short horses (ngựa lùn) are usually trained to be good steeds for children. The ponies in Zoodoo are from Australia. Unfortunately, pony riding isn’t available here. Young ponies are called foals.

Alpacas

Alpacas (lạc đà alpaca) are a member of the camelid family and originated from South America. They were bred specifically for their fleece and can successfully crossbreed with llamas. Alpacas tend to spit when they’re in distress, fear, or want to show dominance.

They chew the cud and defecate in groups of the same gender. Alpacas can be trained with food to compete in obstacle courses. They have been used in U.S. nursing homes and hospitals as trained, certified therapy animals.

Capybaras

Capybaras (chuột lang nước) are semi-aquatic and native to South America. They look like overgrown guinea pigs and are actually a very close relative.

Capybaras can sleep in water by keeping their nose just above the surface. They’re so chill, smaller animals can sit on them while they’re eating.

Meerkats in Zoodoo

Meerkats (cầy meerkat) mainly eat insects and are in the mongoose family in South Africa. They live in areas of clumpy grassland and deserts thanks to their specialized thermoregulation system. 

A family group of meerkats can be called a mob, gang, or clan. They have an unobstructed vision of 300 m. A clan will always have one guard to watch out for predators while the others forage for food.

Otters

Otters (rái cá) are in the same family as skunks, weasels, and have the thickest fur of any animal. The ones in Zoodoo are European river otters.

A group of otters resting on the water is called a raft. They know how to use rocks to break open hard-shelled prey. Otters have a loose patch of skin under their armpit to store food and their rocks.

Raccoons

Raccoons (gấu mèo/ gấu trúc Mỹ) are native to North America and can migrate by adapting to new environments. They can eat just about anything, and their hands have sensitive nerves that send information to the brain.

Tips for Visiting

1. Even though the animals here are all friendly and mainly herbivores, it’s still advised that visitors don’t provoke them. Strong physical contact like kicking, smacking, pulling tails, and so on are prohibited.
2. Keep in mind to not stand behind the ponies to avoid being kicked. Another thing is not to mess with the alpacas or you’ll get spat in the face.
3. It’s recommended that you wear sports clothes because the animals may chew on any fabric sticking out from your clothing. Also, you should wear walking shoes because the ground is all soil to make it easy on the animals’ feet.
4. If you happen to visit during the rainy season, prepare a raincoat and a pair of rubber boots. Zoodoo sells them but they’re a little more expensive than outside.

Ticket Prices

Entrance ticket: 

• Adult: 100 000 VND.
• Children from 90 cm to 120 cm in height: 50 000 VND.
• Children below 90 cm in height: free.

Zoodoo Bus round-trip:

• Adult: 80 000 VND.
• Children from 90 cm to 120 cm in height: 40 000 VND.
• Children below 90 cm in height: free.

Booking tickets beforehand is a good way to save yourself the trouble of waiting in line. Klook is a booking agency with an English interface. It’s convenient for booking entrance tickets and Zoodoo Bus tickets with a discount.

How to Get to Zoodoo

• Zoodoo Bus: Pick-up times are at 07:30, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00. You can book tickets using the contact information on their Facebook page. They can pick you up anywhere within 6 km from the center of Dalat.
• Grab makes it easy to book a car, which is similar to Uber.
• Renting a motorcycle is probably the most convenient way to drive yourself here and also around Dalat.

Check out our article on ‘20 Best Things To Do in Dalat’ for further details on how to get to Dalat and from there to Zoodoo, as well as where to stay and eat.

More about Places in Dalat