Sudo Goes to Da Lat! (And Eats Everything In Sight)

2026/03/19 — Written by Sudo, Age 3, World Traveler and Professional Food Critic

The Birthday Trip With No Cake

Okay. Let me get this straight.

It was Mama’s birthday. MAMA’S BIRTHDAY. And you know what we had? No cake. Zero. Zilch. Not even a cupcake. Not even a single candle I could blow out and make a wish.

Instead, we got a trip to Đà Lạt. Which — okay, fine — was actually amazing. But I’m still logging this grievance officially. A birthday without cake is basically just a regular Tuesday.

Apparently, the plan was to make memories instead of eating cake. Adults are so weird. I would have taken both, personally.

Da Lat is this magical misty city up in the mountains where it’s warm in the sun and then suddenly FREEZING the moment a cloud shows up. According to my very important research (I overheard Baba reading this), you’re supposed to always bring a warm jacket because the weather changes super fast. I wore mine. I looked adorable. Obviously.

Strawberry Fields Forever (Or At Least Until I Ate Them All)

We went strawberry picking. I need a moment to talk about this because it was the greatest experience of my entire life.

There I was. A tiny genius. Standing in the middle of a giant strawberry farm. Red little fruits EVERYWHERE. And the rule was — pick them and eat them.

Pick them. And eat them.

This is the only rule I have ever fully supported. I followed it with my whole heart. My hands were red. My face was red. My soul was red. I was basically a strawberry at that point.

Da Lat strawberries are famous for being sweet and fresh because of the cool highland climate — something about the temperature being perfect for growing them. Da Lat is known for unique local specialties and experiences and honestly, the strawberries alone were worth the whole trip. Don’t tell Mama I said that. She’ll feel bad about the cake situation again.

I also ate:

Many other things in Da Lat
More things
Some more things after that
I lost count honestly

Da Lat food is no joke. I was a very busy girl.

ZooDoo: International Networking Event

We went to ZooDoo — which is basically a zoo but make it fancy — and I made TWO international friends.

First, at the hotel, there was a Russian lady who was pregnant with a baby. I studied her very carefully. She seemed okay. The baby inside her, however, has not introduced themselves yet, which I find quite rude. I’ll give them a pass since they’re not born yet. This time.

Then at ZooDoo, I met a French man. A real French person! From France! He seemed nice. I don’t speak French and he probably doesn’t speak Sudo, but we understood each other in the way that all cool people do.

I’m basically an international diplomat now. You’re welcome, world.

It rained that day, which — not going to lie — was a little sad. But here’s the thing about Sudo: I do not let rain stop me. Rain is just sky water. I have handled worse. (I once spilled my entire sippy cup on myself. I survived.)

Because even in the rain, I got to feed the capybaras.

THE. CAPYBARAS.

Capybaras are the biggest rodents in the world and they are honestly the chillest animals I have ever met in my entire three years of life. I held grass in my tiny hand and those big fluffy potato-shaped legends just… walked right up and ate from me. With their big flat teeth. Looking completely unbothered by everything.

That is the energy I want to have. Capybara energy. Calm, round, and everyone loves you.

It was raining. I didn’t care. Best moment of the trip, possibly of my life so far. Certified iconic.

The Scenic Drive Home (feat. Contraband Fruit)

On the way home, we drove through Đèo Đại Ninh — which is a mountain pass that is currently being built but already looks absolutely STUNNING. Misty mountains, winding roads, green everything. I pressed my face against the car window like a golden retriever and just stared.

When it’s finished, it’s going to be one of the most beautiful roads ever. I’m calling it now. I, Sudo, predicted this. Remember my name.

According to travel experts, having proper arrangements for the journey makes everything smoother. Our journey was smooth. Mostly.

Except.

EXCEPT.

Ba Linh and Baba — two fully grown adults with functional brains — decided to buy watermelon and dragon fruit IN ĐÀ LẠT and then carry it ALL THE WAY HOME in the car.

Watermelon. Which is like 90% water and 100% heavy.

Dragon fruit. Which we could have just… bought… at home.

The mountain scenery was beautiful. The fruit was not invited. But nobody asked me. I’m only three. What do I know.

(I know a lot. They just don’t listen.)

Final Verdict

Da Lat: 10/10. Would return immediately. Strawberries are a gift from the universe. Capybaras are my spirit animals. The mountains are majestic. The food was incredible.

Birthday cake situation: Still unresolved. I’m filing a formal complaint.

The watermelon in the car: Baffling. Truly baffling. A mystery for the ages.

Happy birthday, Mama. 🎂 (This emoji is the closest you’re getting to cake. You chose mountains. This is your life now.)

— Sudo, Age 3, Capybara Whisperer and Reluctant Fruit Transport Passenger

———- tags: [‘Da Lat’, ‘family trip’, ‘strawberry picking’, ‘capybara’, ‘toddler travel’, ‘Mama birthday’, ‘ZooDoo’, ‘Dai Ninh Pass’] categories: [‘Adventures’, ‘Family Trips’, ‘Food Chronicles’] imagePrompts: [‘A cute 3-year-old Vietnamese girl with big bright eyes happily picking red strawberries at a Da Lat strawberry farm, wearing a warm jacket, sunny and cheerful atmosphere, illustrated in a fun diary-style cartoon’, ‘A delighted toddler girl giggling while feeding grass to fluffy capybaras at a zoo in Da Lat, light rain in the background, soft and colorful illustration style’, ‘A family driving through a misty mountain pass in Vietnam, a small girl pressing her face against the car window looking amazed at the scenery, cartoon diary illustration style’]

Original: 3 ngày trước sudo đã đi Đà Lạt.

Hôm trước sudo đã cùng gia đình đi đến Đà Lạt, nhân dịp sinh nhật của mama. haha, mà thật ra thì không có ăn bánh sinh nhật, cũng không có bánh kem gì cả, chỉ có một chuyến đi để làm kỷ niệm thôi. Sudo đã hái dâu, ăn thật nhiều món ở Đà Lạt, gặp gỡ cô gái Nga đang mang thai em bé ở khách sạn, gặp chú người Pháp ở sở thú zoodoo. Hơi buồn vì bữa đó mưa nhưng không sao, sudo đã được tận tay cho các em capy ăn cỏ.

lúc về sudo đi qua đèo Đại Ninh, cảnh thật đẹp, tuy là đường đèo đang làm, sắp hoàn thiện rồi, vài bữa sudo đi lại chắc là đẹp lắm. hehe.

Chuyện buồn nhất trong chuyến đi là ba Linh và baba đem theo trái cây dưa hấu và trái cây thanh long rồi đem về. :))))