UrbanVegetation degradation sprawlUrban sprawl inLand-surface temperature tourist destinations has resulted in the degradation of ecosystems in many areas of the world in recent decades. Unsustainable urbanizationUrbanization due to the pressure from population rise and booming tourism resulted in vegetation loss and an increase in impervious surfacesImpervious surfaces in Dalat City in southcentral Vietnam, which is a popular destination among national and international tourists. The present study investigated the growth of urban areas during the past five decades (1973–2022), vegetation degradationVegetation degradation, and changes in land surface temperaturesLand-surface temperature (LSTLand-surface temperature) in this area. The present study used Landsat imagery series and a recent high-resolution PlanetScope data, field survey data, and statistical data. In addition, ERA5 air temperature data (2011–2022) was also used. Urban sprawlUrban sprawl and vegetation degradationVegetation degradation were estimated using the Normalized Difference Vegetation IndexVegetation indices (NDVI). The present study used NDVI and Landsat thermal data for estimating LSTsLand-surface temperature of the study area. The results indicated that Dalat City underwent unprecedented and unsustainable urban growth during the study period, accompanied by vegetation loss and an increase in LSTLand-surface temperature during the study period. Spatiotemporal analysis of ERA5 data indicated a continuous rise in the air temperature since 2011 with a slight decline in the same in 2020–2021. It is believed that the establishment of green corridors and environmental zoning can be effective in reducing environmental stress due to urbanizationUrbanization in the study area.